VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, March 14–15 — Friday night, the distance medley came down to a head-to-head dash between Ethan Strand and Gary Martin, the two fastest indoor milers in NCAA history. The bespectacled Martin of Virginia bided his time before decisively passing North Carolina’s Strand in the final turn, coasting in down the straight. Their eye-opening 1600 splits: 3:48.11 for Martin, 3:49.23 for Strand.
Virginia was timed in 9:15.12, inferior on the ATL only to the Hoos’ 9:14.91 from the Arkansas Qualifier in February. UNC’s 9:17.17 mark was the equal-No. 4 all-time clocking and, significantly, an American Record.
Saturday, a different race, the 3000, offered the same showdown: Strand vs. Martin. This time there were no batons involved, and it was Strand’s turn to cook. He let Martin take the lead at the bell before unleashing a kick Martin couldn’t cover. The speedster with floppy blond hair covered the final lap in 25.39.
“That’s what I’ve prided myself on since high school,” Strand said of his kicking prowess. “To get the opportunity to do that in an NCAA final is awesome.”
Martin too, a smile on his face, had little to complain about after the 3K. “I’m pretty happy with it, honestly,” he told letsrun.com. “Obviously, I wanted to win, but it’s been a really good weekend and I feel like I ran a pretty tactically sound race and, you know, it was smart when I moved up and saved something for the last 200, but I just didn’t have that last gear when I needed it. You know, it happens. I had it last night, didn’t have it today, but just overall really good weekend.”
After an indoor season that saw many Collegiate Records fall — among them absolute standards in the mile and 3000 to Strand, with the indoor 1500 record broken by Strand and equaled by Martin — the championship meet in Virginia Beach saw high drama but no all-time records in the men’s running events. In this era of speedway ovals, the Virginia Beach Sports Center track, less banked than those at other recent hosts, may have been a factor?
A new champion was crowned in all nine men’s running events. Georgetown’s Abel Teffra set a meet record with his 3:53.60 win in the mile, as did Brian Musau of Oklahoma State with his 13:11.34 mark in the 5000.
In the short sprints, the SEC retained its supremacy: Arkansas’ Jordan Anthony with a 6.49 win in the 60, Kentucky’s Ugandan junior Carli Makarawu with a 20.13 clocking in the 200 and Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp in the 60H at 7.45.
Anthony, a wide receiver in the fall, noted how easy it feels to run without pesky cornerbacks slowing his roll. He won after taking 2nd in ’24, thus becoming the first Razorback champion in the event.
“My race is to the yellow tick marks,” he said. “If I beat everybody there, the race is over.”
Tharp celebrated his win with a hyperkinetic happy dance, pumping fists and shouting, “This is what I do!”
“Yesterday [in the heats], I was thinking too much and didn’t really get the best start,” he said. A talk with his coach shifted his approach: “Instead of thinking, just run.” That’s what he did, a mindset that made the ’24 outdoor NCAA 110H runner-up Auburn’s first indoor hurdles titlist.
The middle distance events belonged to our neighbors to the north. Will Floyd, who competes internationally for Canada but grew up in Seattle, became the third straight 400 winner for Georgia, clocking 45.43 while holding off a furious late charge from Baylor’s Nathaniel Ezekiel (known internationally as Ezekiel Nathaniel). Floyd followed in the champion footsteps of past Bulldogs Elija Godwin (’23) and Christopher Morales Williams (’24).
Fellow Canuck Matti Erickson took the 800 in 1:46.43, the first Duck winner in the event since Charlie Hunter in ’21. He didn’t lead until the last lap, edging out Abdullahi Hassan of Mississippi State and Aidan McCarthy of Cal Poly. Erickson’s frosh teammate Koitatoi Kidali, owner of the fastest PR in the field (1:42.66 outdoors), appeared to catch a spike in his heat and tumbled out of contention.
“I didn’t want to leave it to the last 50,” Erickson said. “I felt if I got the lead I had a better chance of holding people off than trying to catch people. And also I just felt good.”
Georgia rubbed in its 400 supremacy, winning the 4×4 in 3:03.44 despite running in the second of three heats. The Bulldog relayists bettered a formidable school record and improved on the school’s fastest ’25 time by 0.67. Floyd, minutes removed from winning the open 400, started the party with a pedestrian-for-him 46.5 first leg, which still was good enough to put Georgia in the lead. His teammates picked up the slack and then some, moving the stick around the track with purpose.
Arkansas, coming in with the No. 3 time on the year list and slotted in the final section, had a chance to win the team battle with a 10-point triumph in the relay. That possibility went up in flames when Texas A&M leadoff Auhmad Robinson tangled at the cut-in with Razorback first leg Steven McElroy, sending McElroy into the infield. The Arkansas crew, left in the dust, jogged home last but list leader A&M was tagged with a DQ for the incident.
Official deliberations over several matters —including Arkansas’ appeal for a solo rerun in the hope of bettering Georgia’s time — lasted an hour before officials announced the results as run would stand.
That sent USC, 4th-place squad in the relay, to the top of the team standings, 39–33 over Georgia. A long wait had ended for the Trojans, who last won the indoor crown in ’72 and scored no 1st-place points this time.
Of SC’s third indoor title (the first was in ’67), head coach Quincy Watts said, “We have been dealing with adversity all season long. I’m just so proud of them. We had scoring opportunities in so many events. Even when we faced adversity, we never gave up, they kept fighting. That’s what we do at USC, we Fight On!”
MEN’S TEAM SCORES
1. USC 39;
2. Georgia 33;
3. Auburn 32;
4. Arkansas 30;
5. Oklahoma State 26;
6. tie, Mississippi State & Virginia 23; 8. tie, North Carolina & Texas Tech 22; 10. tie, Mississippi & Texas A&M 20; 12. tie, Nebraska & Oklahoma 19; 14. BYU 18; 15. Oregon 16; 16. tie, Georgetown, Kentucky & Wisconsin 15; 19. tie, Villanova & Washington 14; 21. tie, South Carolina & South Florida 13; 23. Baylor 12; 24. tie, Missouri & Arizona State 11; 26. tie, Duke, New Mexico, Purdue, Texas & Wyoming 10; 31. Iowa 9; 32. tie, Cal State Northridge, LSU & Northern Colorado 8;
35. Wake Forest 7; 36. tie, Boston U, Cal Poly, Miami & Akron 6; 40. Illinois 5; 41. tie, Cincinnati, Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Alabama & Virginia Tech 4; 46. tie, Harvard, Tarleton State, Utah State & Arkansas Pine Bluff 3; 50. tie, Boston College, Iowa State, Kent State, Louisville, UCLA & Alabama 2; 56. tie, Florida, Houston, Northern Arizona & Penn State 1.
60 RESULTS
(March 15)
1. *Jordan Anthony (Ar) 6.49;
2. **Kanyinsola Ajayi’ (Aub-Ngr) 6.52;
3. ***Israel Okon’ (Aub-Ngr) 6.52;
4. *Saminu Abdul-Rasheed’ (SFl-Gha) 6.53 PR;
5. Travis Williams’ (USC-Jam) 6.54;
6. *JC Stevenson (USC) 6.55;
7. **Malachi Snow (TxT) 6.59;
8. ***Adekalu Fakorede’ (MsSt-Ngr) 6.59
HEATS (March 14)
I–1. Okon’ 6.54; 2. Abdul-Rasheed’ 6.55 PR; 3. Fakorede’ 6.56 =PR; 4. **Jaiden Reid’ (LSU-Cay) 6.56 NR; 5. ***Casey Hood (InSt) 6.59; 6. ***Ajani Dwyer (PennSt) 6.60; 7. *Mason Lawyer (WaSt) 6.62; 8. David Foster (Cal) 6.62.
II–1. Stevenson 6.46 (=4, =4 C); 2. Anthony 6.47 (=6, =8 C); 3. Ajayi’ 6.48 (=8, x C);
4. Snow 6.54; 5. Williams’ 6.56; 6. *Jamarion Stubbs (AlSt) 6.58; 7. *Azeem Fahmi’ (Aub-Mas) 6.61; 8. **Jaylen Washington (NTx) 6.71.
200 RESULTS
(March 15)
1. *Carli Makarawu’ (Ky-Zim)
2. Carli Charamba’ (Aub-Zim)
3. Cameron Miller (Pur)
4. *Garrett Kaalund (USC)
5. **Jaiden Reid’ (LSU-Cay)
6. Johnnie Blockburger (USC)
7. Demar Francis’ (Bay-Jam)
… dnc—*Jamarion Stubbs (AlSt).
Sections:
I–1. Kaalund 20.56; 2. Reid’ 20.75; 3. Francis’ 21.00;… dnc—Stubbs.
II–1. Makarawu’ 20.13 =NR (=WL) (=7, =8 W; =6, =6 C); 2. Charamba’ 20.16 (x, =9 C);
3. Miller 20.49; 4. Blockburger 20.84.
HEATS (March 14)
I–1. Kaalund 20.54 PR; 2. Francis’ 20.70; 3. Trayvion White-Austin (Az) 20.78; 4. Anthony Greenhow (SC) 21.07.
II–1. Stubbs 20.47; 2. Blockburger 20.65; 3. *Mason Lawyer (WaSt) 20.79; 4. Kendrick Winfield (Norf) 20.87.
III–1. Reid’ 20.40; 2. Miller 20.49; 3. Kashie Crockett (TCU) 20.81;… dnf—*Justin Raines (GCan).
IV–1. Makarawu’ 20.20 =PR; 2. Charamba’ 20.21; 3. Dario Matau’ (Aub-SA) 20.81.
400 RESULTS
(March 15)
1. **Will Floyd (Ga)
2. Nathaniel Ezekiel’ (Bay-Ngr)
3. Auhmad Robinson (TxAM)
4. **Jayden Davis (AzSt)
5. *William Jones (USC)
6. *Shaemar Uter’ (TxT-Jam)
7. Antonie Nortje’ (TxAM-SA)
8. TJ Tomlyanovich (Ar)
Sections:
I–1. Robinson 45.54 (21.21/24.33); 2. Davis 45.56 (21.35/24.21); 3. Jones 45.86 (21.76/24.10); 4. Tomlyanovich 46.27 (22.09/24.18).
II–1. Floyd 45.43 (21.15/24.28); 2. Ezekiel 45.44 (21.34/24.10); 3. Uter 46.20 (21.69/24.51); 4. Nortje 46.25 (21.99/24.26).
HEATS (March 14)
I–1. Nortje’ 46.28; 2. Jones 46.33; 3. Tomlyanovich 46.40; 4. ***Jake Palermo (PennSt) 46.48.
II–1. Uter’ 46.35; 2. Solomon Strader (Mia) 46.47; 3. *Brodie Young’ (NM-GB) 46.56; 4. *Judson Lincoln (VaT) 47.01.
III–1. Floyd 45.60; 2. Robinson 46.15; 3. *Jaden Smith’ (Ar-GB) 46.50; 4. ***Edidiong Udo’ (OhSt-Ngr) 46.72.
IV–1. Ezekiel’ 45.44; 2. Davis 45.63; 3. Brandon Battle (Ar) 46.62; 4. **Jacob Andrews (USC) 47.11.
800 RESULTS
(March 15)
1. Matti Erickson’ (Or-Can) 1:46.43
(25.41, 26.70 [52.11], 27.49 [1:19.60], 26.83) (52.11/54.32);
2. Abdullahi Hassan’ (MsSt-Can) 1:46.65
(25.76, 26.74 [52.50], 27.32 [1:19.82], 26.83) (52.50/54.15);
3. *Aidan McCarthy (SLO) 1:46.78
(25.40, 26.92 [52.32], 27.78 [1:20.10], 26.68) (52.32/54.46);
4. **Tinoda Matsatsa (Gtn) 1:47.05
(25.05, 27.06 [52.11], 27.26 [1:19.37], 27.68) (52.11/54.94);
5. ***Dan Watcke (Vill) 1:47.22
(25.58, 26.99 [52.57], 27.96 [1:20.53], 26.69) (52.57/54.65); 6. Justin O’Toole (Wa) 1:47.74
(25.23, 27.03 [52.26], 27.65 [1:19.91], 27.83) (52.26/55.48);
7. Darius Kipyego (IaSt) 1:48.79 (25.02, 26.95 [51.97], 27.87 [1:19.84], 28.95) (51.97/56.82);
8. Olivier Desmeules’ (PennSt-Can) 1:48.84
(25.20, 26.62 [51.82], 27.91 [1:19.73], 29.11) (51.82/57.02).
HEATS (March 14)
I–1. Erickson’ 1:46.11 PR; 2. Matsatsa 1:47.21; 3. Watcke 1:47.28; 4. Hassan’ 1:47.38; 5. Dayton Carlson (AzSt) 1:47.98; 6. Kyle Reinheimer (Wa) 1:49.93; 7. *Cole Lindhorst (Wa) 2:24.83;… dnf—***Koitatoi Kidali’ (Or-Ken).
II–1. O’Toole 1:46.68 PR; 2. Kipyego 1:47.21; 3. McCarthy 1:47.38; 4. Desmeules’ 1:47.51; 5. *Yukichi Ishii’ (PennSt-Jpn) 1:47.55; 6. *Tyrice Taylor’ (Ar-Jam) 1:47.64; 7. Darius Smallwood (PennSt) 1:51.10; 8. **Brian Kweyei’ (Clem-Ken) 1:52.02.
MILE RESULTS
(March 15)
1. Abel Teffra (Gtn) 3:53.60 (30.69, 28.84 [59.53], 29.14 [1:28.67], 30.23 [1:58.90], 30.39 [2:29.29], 29.29 [2:58.58], 28.30 [3:26.88], 26.72)
(26.72, 55.02, 84.31, 1:54.70);
2. *Nathan Green (Wa) 3:53.99
(27.31, 55.53, 84.98, 1:55.31);
3. Foster Malleck’ (BU-Can) 3:54.42
(27.17, 55.54, 84.60, 1:54.92);
4. Fouad Messaoudi’ (OkSt-Mor) 3:54.72
(27.54, 56.01, 85.50, 1:55.96);
5. **Isaiah Givens (Co) 3:54.84 PR
(26.90, 55.32, 84.77, 1:55.11);
6. *Ronan McMahon-Staggs’ (Wa-Ire) 3:55.52
(27.90, 56.62, 85.97, 1:56.26);
7. Steven Jackson (BC) 3:56.07; 8. *Colin Sahlman (NnAz) 3:57.02); 9. **Benne Anderson’ (Syr-Ger) 3:57.63; 10. Harrison Witt (Prin) 3:59.71.
HEATS (March 14)
I–1. Green 3:56.91; 2. Witt 3:56.95; 3. Jackson 3:57.09; 4. Malleck’ 3:57.36; 5. Messaoudi’ 3:58.04; 6. Givens 3:58.05 PR; 7. **Harvey Cramb (MtSt) 3:58.51 PR; 8. **Laban Kipkemboi’ (OkSt-Ken) 3:58.72.
II–1. Teffra 4:01.28; 2. Anderson’ 4:01.69; 3. McMahon-Staggs’ 4:01.76; 4. Sahlman 4:01.88; 5. *Reuben Reina (Ar) 4:01.92; 6. ***Collins Kiprotich’ (NM-Ken) 4:03.59; 7. *Rob McManus (MtSt) 4:05.82; 8. ***Simeon Birnbaum (Or) 4:09.64.
3000 RESULTS
(March 15)
1. Ethan Strand (NC) 7:52.03 (31.07, 35.21 [66.28], 34.74 [1:41.02], 30.60 [2:11.62], 31.48 [2:43.10], 32.66 [3:15.76], 33.60 [3:49.36], 33.35 [4:22.71], 32.45 [4:55.16], 31.62 [5:26.78], 31.37 [5:58.15], 30.11 [6:28.26], 29.71 [6:57.97], 28.67 [7:26.64], 25.39) (25.39, 54.06, 1:53.88);
2. *Gary Martin (Va) 7:52.69 (26.22, 54.50, 1:53.99);
3. Adam Spencer’ (Wi-Aus) 7:52.71 (25.83, 54.49, 1:54.50);
4. Liam Murphy (Vill) 7:53.38 (26.02, 54.23, 1:54.39);
5. **Brian Musau’ (OkSt-Ken) 7:53.40 (26.28, 54.88, 1:55.09);
6. Parker Wolfe (NC) 7:53.98 (27.05, 55.79, 1:55.62);
7. **Marco Langon (Vill) 7:54.25; 8. Luke Tewalt (WF) 7:54.42; 9. **Habtom Samuel’ (NM-Eri) 7:54.42; 10. Matt Strangio (Port) 7:55.41 PR; 11. Yaseen Abdalla’ (Ar-Sud) 7:56.04; 12. Drew Bosley (NnAz) 7:56.35; 13. **George Couttie’ (VaT-GB) 7:57.77; 14. ***Ishmael Kipkurui’ (NM-Ken) 7:58.43; 15. *Colton Sands (NC) 8:00.29; 16. *Colin Sahlman (NnAz) 8:08.96.
5000 RESULTS
(March 14)
1. **Brian Musau’ (OkSt-Ken) 13:11.34 (25.81, 55.12, 1:57.20);
2. **Habtom Samuel’ (NM-Eri) 13:11.78 (26.36, 55.53, 1:57.88);
3. **Rocky Hansen (WF) 13:12.65 PR (6, x AmC) (26.72, 55.93, 1:58.39);
4. Casey Clinger (BYU) 13:13.46 PR (8, x AmC) (27.20, 56.50, 1:58.94);
5. **Denis Kipngetich’ (OkSt-Ken) 13:13.71 PR (27.97, 57.16, 1:59.41);
6. **Marco Langon (Vill) 13:14.16 (28.14, 58.15, 2:00.43);
7. ***Ishmael Kipkurui’ (NM-Ken) 13:15.14 PR (28.48, 57.86, 2:00.60);
8. *Creed Thompson (BYU) 13:19.24 PR; 9. Drew Bosley (NnAz) 13:21.28; 10. ***Evans Kurui’ (WaSt-Ken) 13:23.28 PR; 11. Liam Murphy (Vill) 13:23.91; 12. Joey Nokes (BYU) 13:31.61; 13. Said Mechaal’ (IaSt-Spa) 13:34.55; 14. Patrick Kiprop’ (Ar-Ken) 13:35.62; 15. Yaseen Abdalla’ (Ar-Sud) 13:44.03;… dnf—Sanele Masondo (IaSt).
60 HURDLES RESULTS
(March 15)
1. **Ja’Kobe Tharp (Aub) 7.45 PR (=5, x C);
2. *Jerome Campbell’ (NnCo-Jam) 7.49 PR (=9, x C);
3. **Malachi Snow (TxT) 7.54;
4. Johnny Brackins (USC) 7.54;
5. *Jahiem Stern’ (LSU-Jam) 7.55 PR;
6. *Antoine Andrews’ (TxT-Bah) 7.56;
7. *Ja’Qualon Scott (TxAM) 7.57;
8. *Vashaun Vascianna’ (Ar-Jam) 7.64.
HEATS (March 14)
I–1. Campbell’ 7.54; 2. Snow 7.54; 3. Tharp 7.55; 4. Andrews’ 7.59; 5. Stern’ 7.60; 6. Darius Brown (DeP) 7.61; 7. Tyson Williams (FlSt) 7.77; 8. Jamar Marshall (Hous) 8.10.
II–1. Brackins 7.53; 2. Scott 7.55; 3. Vascianna’ 7.59; 4. **Demario Prince’ (Bay-Jam) 7.60; 5. ***Bradley Franklin (Samf) 7.63; 6. *Jason Holmes (NCAT) 7.64; 7. *Abel Jordan’ (CSF-Spa) 7.69; 8. **Andre Korbmacher (FlSt) 7.76.
4 x 400 RESULTS
(March 15)
1. Georgia
2. Texas Tech
3. Arizona State
4. USC
5. Mississippi State
6. BYU
7. Baylor
8. Florida
9. Virginia Tech;
10. Purdue
11. Arkansas
… dq—Texas A&M
Sections:
I–1. Mississippi State 3:05.39
(Barker 46.73, Jacobs 45.99, Hale 47.29, Hawkins 45.38);
2. BYU 3:05.56
(Hazlett 46.58, Jackson 46.17, Oustrich 47.03, Taylor 45.78);
3. Baylor 3:05.64
(Honeyman 46.99, Bedell 46.08, Ali 47.23, Francis’ 45.34);
4. Purdue 3:08.81
(Miller 48.25, Czajkowski 47.91, Otterbacher 46.51, Spencer 46.14).
II–1. Georgia 3:03.44
(Floyd 46.24, Chambers 45.61, Ricks 46.04, Pearson 45.55);
2. Texas Tech 3:03.77
(Crawford 46.80, Bour 45.75, Garcia 46.00, Boyce’ 45.22);
3. Arizona State 3:03.88
(Davis 46.65, Moyer 45.92, Carlson 46.03, Franklin 45.28);
4. Virginia Tech 3:07.95
(Tillmon 47.01, Herenton 47.69, Kersulis 46.26, Diaby 46.99).
III–1. USC 3:04.76
(Jones 46.88, Kaalund 46.37, Andrews 46.32, Blockburger 45.19);
2. Florida 3:06.93
(Prude’ 46.80, Schwartzman 46.50, Smith-Band 47.00, Nilsson 46.63);
3. Arkansas 3:47.69
(McElroy 59.74, Tomlyanovich 52.05, Battle 53.84, Smith 62.06);
… dq—[5] Texas A&M [3:05.15]
(Robinson 46.61, Hatib’ 46.36, Nortje’ 46.25, Farquharson’ 45.93).
DISTANCE MEDLEY RESULTS
(March 14)
1. Virginia 9:15.12 (x, 2 W, C)
(Porter 2:52.97, Sherman 46.54, Murphy’ 1:47.50, Martin 3:48.11);
2. North Carolina 9:17.17 AR (old AR 9:17.19 North Carolina ’25) (=4, =6 W)
(Wolfe 2:53.19, Steed 46.81, Regnier 1:47.94, Strand 3:49.23);
3. Oregon 9:17.57 (7, 10 W, C)
(Palfrey’ 2:52.23, Omer 47.10, Harding’ 1:46.48, Cook 3:51.76);
4. Texas A&M 9:17.74 (#8 school)
(Santorum’ 2:54.24, Zamzow 46.23, Whitmarsh 1:45.71, Cawthra 3:51.56);
5. BYU 9:18.31 (#9 school)
(Cutting 2:53.62, Taylor 45.87, Mathews 1:46.51, Bons 3:52.31);
6. Oklahoma State 9:20.10
(Stitt’ 2:52.82, Smith’ 46.88, Yanouri’ 1:46.22, Schoppe 3:54.18);
7. Virginia Tech 9:21.69
(Idhammar’ 2:54.68, Kersulis 47.81, Jackson 1:45.75, Plant 3:53.45);
8. Wisconsin 9:23.08 (Spencer’ 3:54.43); 9. Wake Forest 9:24.13 (Specht 3:54.75); 10. Princeton 9:27.25 (McCormick 3:57.54); 11. Washington 9:31.11 (Dashbach 4:01.14); 12. Georgetown 9:42.30 (Dunne 4:03.83).
