BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, March 11-12 — Our coverage of the climactic collegiate indoor meet of the year is divided into four parts, field and track getting separate reports for each sex.
Unlike the women’s side, there were no records set, but competition was of a uniformly high level. The only yearly world leader came from North Carolina A&T’s Randolph Ross in the 400. In addition to Ross, yearly U.S. leaders were produced by the Texas DMR and Oklahoma high jumper Vernon Turner (a tie). Collegiate-pacing marks went to Ross and Turner, plus hurdler Trey Cunningham (Florida State) and putter Turner Washington (Arizona State).
Teams: Texas Comes Through When It Counts
Anyone but Texas, it seems, was the message from the last coaches poll going into the men’s championships. Arkansas and Georgia seemed to be in a virtual deadlock, with Texas Tech, Oregon and North Carolina A&T all getting more love than the Longhorns.
However, Edrick Floréal’s program, in year 4 since his hiring, delivered in astonishing fashion. A surprise win in Friday’s distance medley would be the only title for the Longhorns, but that and Leo Neugebauer’s heptathlon 3rd critically set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday, Tripp Piperi delivered 8 points in the shot, Crayton Carrozza grabbed a couple in the mile, and Jonathan Jones (2nd) and Yusuf Bizimana (4th) overperformed in the 800. That brought it down to the climactic 4×4. Texas sported a 4-point lead over North Carolina A&T going in; the Longhorns the No. 7 seed, while the Aggies, with an Olympian on anchor, were ranked No. 5.
Again the Longhorns came through, finishing 2nd to stretched-thin NCAT’s non-scoring 9th. The 11-point nationals victory was a first-ever for the Texas men, indoors or out. For A&T, the runner-up trophy marked the highest finish in Div. I history by an HBCU. /Roy Conrad/
RESULTS
1. Texas 47;
2. North Carolina A&T 36;
3. Tennessee 31;
4. Northern Arizona 29;
5. tie, Princeton & Texas A&M 26;
7. Arkansas 24;
8. Georgia 23;
9. Oregon 22;
10. tie, Mississippi & TCU 20;
12. Stanford 19;
13. tie, Alabama & Florida State 17;
15. tie, Arizona State & Wisconsin 16;
17. Texas Tech 15;
18. tie, Iowa & USC 14;
20. Florida 11;
21. tie, Kentucky, Oklahoma & Washington 10;
24. tie, LSU, Missouri & Nebraska 9;
27. Auburn 8½;
28. tie, BYU, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Southern Mississippi & Tennessee State 8;
35. tie, Arizona & Sam Houston State 6;
37. Samford 5½;
38. tie, Illinois, Rutgers & Stephen F. Austin 5;
41. tie, Colorado, Drake, Michigan, North Dakota State, Oklahoma State & Washington State 4;
47. tie, Duke, Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Mississippi State, South Alabama, South Carolina, UTSA, Virginia Tech 3;
57. tie, Baylor, Fairleigh Dickinson & Middle Tennessee State 2;
60. tie, Louisville & Virginia 1.
60 Meters: Davonte Burnett (USC) 6.50
His journey to the title featured more plot twists — including a rerun of the final — than one normally associates with the shortest dash, but USC senior Davonte Burnett’s win was thoroughly deserved.
The fun began in the heats, when 5 starts were needed between the two sections with two of them flyers by major players: defending champ Micah Williams of Oregon and yearly list leader Terrence Jones of Texas Tech (although there are those who feel his early-season 6.45 was made with the benefit of a flyer).
With the two top seeds DQed, a wider range of possible outcomes seemed to open up.
Tennessee’s Nigerian frosh Favour Ashe took heat I in 6.51 as Georgia’s Matthew Boling and Indiana’s Rikkoi Brathwaite led heat II, both timed in 6.56.
Boling and Brathwaite were done no favors by the circumstances of the final’s running. The gun fired, 7 sprinters rushed from the blocks, and then the false-start blocks sent out a tone. Boling and Brathwaite stopped, understandably interpreting the unexplained sounds as a callback. The five others dashed on to the end where Burnett crossed the line first in a would-have-been-PR 6.52 from Wisconsin’s Lawrence Johnson.
All the sprinters, though, instantly looked back to decipher what had just happened.
Officials called for a brief period of recuperation and a do-over. At the second time of asking, senior Burnett again got out best, with junior Brathwaite a lane to his right keeping pace.
With craning leans they crossed in 6.50 and 6.52, PRs for each, as Ashe secured 3rd in 6.55 from Johnson (6.56).
“So basically at practice I’m one of the best starters in the nation,” Burnett told ESPN of his two-race dash to the title. “So I tried to stay calm, talked to my coach, drank water. It was just kind of like practice; I didn’t really do nothing different.” /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
1. Davonte Burnett’ (USC-Jam) 6.50 (=10, x C);
2. *Rikkoi Brathwaite’ (In-BVI) 6.52;
3. ***Favour Ashe’ (Tn-Ngr) 6.55;
4. *Lawrence Johnson (Wi) 6.56;
5. **Matthew Boling (Ga) 6.63;
6. Brendon Stewart (USC) 6.64;
7. *Don’dre Swint (FlSt) 6.68;
… dnc—Kasaun James (USC).
HEATS
I–1. Ashe’ 6.51; 2. Johnson 6.57; 3. James 6.59; 4. Sterling Warner-Savage (Louis) 6.61; 5. *Jacolby Shelton (TxT) 6.62; 6. Bralon Robinson (Alc) 6.64; 7. **Lance Lang (Ky) 6.70;… fs—***Micah Williams (Or).
II–1. Boling 6.56; 2. Brathwaite’ 6.56; 3. Burnett’ 6.58; 4. Stewart 6.58; 5. Swint 6.60; 6. *Dedrick Vanover (Fl) 6.61; 7. **Kalen Walker (Ia) 6.64;… fs—***Terrence Jones’ (TxT-Bah).
200 Meters: Javonte Harding (North Carolina A&T) 20.46
The 3 fastest on the seasonal list by a good bit were Georgia’s Matthew Boling (20.27), Kentucky’s Lance Lang (20.32) and North Carolina A&T’s Javonte Harding (20.33).
The busy Boling, at 20.42, was the fastest heat winner, but when the final rolled around the meet had already tested him in the 60 and LJ. The tight format that comes with the men’s and women’s events no longer interlaced affords precious little time to regroup.
TCU frosh Robert Gregory rode the highest line in lane 6 in the final’s first section and rushed past senior teammate Tinotenda Matiyenga and Lang to finish in 20.77. The time looked unlikely to hold up for the overall win though stranger things have happened in indoor 200s.
The Harding/Boling matchup of sophs in lanes 5 and 6 of section II promised fierce competition and Harding forced the pace from the gun. He led Boling by a stride into turn 2, and coming off the tight-ish bend the Bulldog’s legs got squirrely. Boling veered into lane 4 for a couple steps and a DQ awaited.
Harding — who slowed with an injury in last summer’s NCAA Outdoor 200 to finish 9th — increased his lead to 3m on the run-in. After Boling’s result was tossed for the lane infraction, A&T senior Stokes earned 2nd in the section (20.87) but Gregory’s mark held up for that spot on the scoresheet. /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
(2-section time final)
1. **Javonte Harding (NCAT);
2. ***Robert Gregory (TCU);
3. Tinotenda Matiyenga’ (TCU);
4. Daniel Stokes (NCAT);
5. **Lance Lang (Ky);
6. *Evan Miller (SC);
7. *Jacolby Shelton (TxT);
… dq[lane]—[2]**Matthew Boling (Ga).
Sections: I–1. Gregory 20.77; 2. Matiyenga 20.84; 3. Lang 20.87; 4. Shelton 21.22.
II–1. Harding 20.46; 2. Stokes 20.87; 3. Miller 21.05; dq. Boling.
HEATS
I–1. Matiyenga’ 20.72; 2. Gregory 20.84; 3. Isaiah Trousil (NnIa) 21.20;… dnc—**Kennedy Lightner (Ky).
II–1. Boling 20.42; 2. *Courtney Lindsey (TxT) 21.13; 3. **Lance Broome (TxAM) 21.18; 4. ***Toby Makoyawo’ (BU-GB) 21.26.
III–1. Miller 20.87; 2. Lang 20.89; 3. Stokes 20.94; 4. Kasaun James (USC) 22.17.
IV–1. Harding 20.51; 2. Shelton 20.99; 3. **Emmanuel Bynum (Tn) 21.25; 4. ***Alaba Akintola’ (MTn-Ngr) 21.49.
400 Meters: Randolph Ross (North Carolina A&T) 44.62
With a year’s hindsight it almost surprises one to be reminded Randolph Ross placed 2nd at this meet a year ago. The North Carolina A&T star, now a junior eligibility-wise, has been nearly all-conquering on the collegiate level ever since and lowered his indoor best to 44.83 in February.
He led the heats at 45.44 over Iowa frosh Jenoah McKiver’s 45.83. Two notable names failed to make it out of heat IV: Kentucky Olympian Dwight St. Hillaire and Georgia’s OT finalist Elijah Godwin.
In section I of the final the Florida pair of frosh Ryan Willie (45.96) and junior Jacory Patterson (45.97) set the table for the time needed to win.
Ross also had his eye on the meet record 44.52 Michael Norman ran in ’18 at College Station. Though never ratified as a World Record, the Trojan’s time is statistically accepted as the fastest ever.
Transitioning efficiently from lane 5 to the pole as he reached the bell, Ross split 21.09 — faster than Norman’s 21.33 halfway figure as well as Ross’s 21.18 from ’21.
McKiver (21.20) and Texas A&M frosh Emmanuel Bamidele (21.35) settled in behind Ross but over the second lap he ran away, to a 5m advantage entering the last turn and a lead of more than a second at the end. Ross looked to pull out all the stops in the last 30m and stumbled to the track after crossing in 44.62, the No. 3 all-time clocking behind only Norman and Kerron Clement’s ratified WR, 44.57 from ’05. McKiver, timed in 45.65, held off Bamidele 45.65–45.78 for 2nd.
Said Ross, “This track’s a little slower. So we worked hard on the first lap but the second lap’s supposed to be fast regardless.” /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
(2-section time final)
1. *Randolph Ross (NCAT);
2. ***Jenoah McKiver (Ia);
3. ***Emmanuel Bamidele’ (TxAM);
4. ***Ryan Willie (Fl);
5. *Jacory Patterson (Fl);
6. ***Chadrick Richards (Ia);
7. *Wayne Lawrence (Ia);
… dnf—Champion Allison (Fl).
Sections: I–1. Willie 45.96 (21.67/24.29); 2. Patterson 45.97 (21.51/24.46); 3. Lawrence 46.50 (21.81/24.69);… dnf—Allison.
II–1. Ross 44.62 (WL, AL, CL) (3, 3 W; 3, 3 A; 3, 3 C) (21.09/23.53);
2. McKiver 45.65(21.20/24.45); 3. Bamidele’ 45.78 (21.35/24.43); 4. Richards 46.26 (21.50/24.76).
HEATS
I–1. Ross 45.44; 2. McKiver 45.83; 3. Bamidele’ 46.27; 4. Patterson 46.35.
II–1. Richards 46.56; 2. Tyler Johnson (OhSt) 46.59; 3. *James Benson (Ar) 46.65; 4. **Khaleb McRae (Al) 47.28.
III–1. Allison 45.90; 2. Willie 46.26; 3. Lawrence 46.57; 4. **Chevannie Hanson’ (TxAM-Jam) 46.92.
IV–1. Dwight St. Hillaire’ (Ky-Tri) 46.88; 2. **Dubem Amene’ (Mi-Ngr) 46.98; 3. *Elija Godwin (Ga) 47.18;… dnf—Howard Fields (Bay).
800 Meters: Brandon Miller (Texas A&M) 1:47.19
The No. 3 collegiate performer of all-time, Brandon Miller, lined up as the strongest of favorites. The undefeated Texas A&M soph, fresh off his 1:45.24 to win the SEC and claim the American-born CR, raced with no plan other than his usual: get out hard and outrun everybody.
Jonathan Jones came in with a very similar strategy, even though the cards were stacked against him. The Bajan junior, a 44.63 sprinter outdoors, has been making inroads into the 800 and has a best of 1:46.93 from last month, which put him No. 4 in the seeding.
On the first lap Jones got to the pole in front of the favored Aggie, leading through 200 in 25.24. Just before 400, Miller finally moved around him and started applying the hurt. He passed halfway in 52.57 and at 600 (1:20.32), he was still only a stride ahead of Jones, Mississippi’s John Rivera, Texas frosh Yusuf Bizimana as well as Texas Tech’s Moad Zahafi.
Lest any of his pursuers feel hope, Miller then slammed the door, accelerating through the final circuit in 26.87 to win in 1:47.19. Jones held on for 2nd in 1:47.93, while Rivera edged Bizimana for 3rd, 1:48.03–1:48.09. Zahafi stumbled on the final turn and took a DNF.
Said Miller, the Aggies’ first-ever winner of this event, “I had to reestablish position up front and then finish strong in the last 200, because I knew when we came through in 52, there was going to be a lot of people vying for that last 200.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. **Brandon Miller (TxAM) 1:47.19
(25.26, 27.31 [52.57], 27.75 [1:20.32], 26.87) (52.57/54.62);
2. *Jonathan Jones’ (Tx-Bar) 1:47.93
(25.24, 27.59 [52.83], 27.70 [1:20.53], 27.40) (52.83/55.10);
3. John Rivera’ (Ms-PR) 1:48.03
(25.48, 27.77 [53.25], 27.43 [1:20.68], 27.35) (53.25/54.78);
4. ***Yusuf Bizimana’ (Tx-GB) 1:48.09
(25.64, 27.45 [53.09], 27.70 [1:20.79], 27.30) (53.09/55.00);
5. *Tiarnan Crorken’ (Ms-GB) 1:48.60
(25.71, 27.72 [53.43], 27.81 [1:21.24], 27.36) (53.43/55.17);
6. Cole Johnson (Mi) 1:48.88
(25.84, 27.53 [53.37], 27.66 [1:21.03], 27.85) (53.37/55.51);
7. **Luis Peralta’ (Or-PR) 1:53.32
(25.42, 27.65 [53.07], 28.63 [1:21.70], 31.62) (53.07/60.25);
… dnf—Moad Zahafi’ (TxT-Mor).
HEATS
I–1. Miller 1:47.22; 2. Jones’ 1:47.86; 3. Peralta’ 1:47.86; 4. Johnson 1:48.00; 5. Kieran Taylor (Ar) 1:48.09; 6. ***Sam Austin (Fl) 1:48.12; 7. *Ayman Zahafi’ (Mia-Mor) 1:48.37; 8. ***Sean Dolan (Vill) 1:48.55.
II–1. M. Zahafi’ 1:47.03; 2. Rivera’ 1:47.48; 3. Crorken’ 1:47.64; 4. Bizimana’ 1:47.83; 5. **Marco Vilca’ (TxT-Per) 1:49.61; 6. ***Miles Brown (Mi) 1:50.64; 7. ***Cole Lindhorst (Tx) 1:51.56;… dnf—*Aman Thornton (Clem).
Mile: Mario García Romo (Mississippi) 4:07.54
A race that went completely according to one man’s plan — that’s the only way to describe the mile final, which from start to finish was masterfully controlled by Mississippi’s Mario García Romo. The 22-year-old Spaniard wasn’t the fastest in the field. His 3:53.36 from an oversized track ranked behind the 3:52.03 that Michigan State’s Morgan Beadlescomb boasted.
However, Romo ran like the most experienced of veterans, even though it was his first NCAA mile. Last year he placed 3rd in the 3000 in a season that saw him run 5th in the NCAA 1500 and earn silver at the Euro Juniors.
His intent was clear immediately as he shot to the front and slowed the first lap, with no one daring to pass him. Through 409m in 63.18, his next 400 was a sobering 68.73. Behind him, various principals jockeyed for position, with the most aggressive being Indiana’s Jonathan Davis, the Oregon pair of Reed Brown and Jack Yearian, along with Beadlescomb.
After 5 laps, Duke’s Nick Dahl got antsy and tried a move. Romo anticipated it, upping the ante with a 28.84 lap. He smoothly led his very crowded pack of followers with another fast one, 27.48. Then came the mad sprint, and no one could touch Romo. He hit the finish in 4:07.54 with a 25.83 final lap. Beadlescomb’s 25.55 brought him to 2nd, inches short of the win in 4:07.59. Blanket finish defined, as the next 4 runners crossed within 0.19 seconds.
Said Romo, whose last 600 took only 1:22.15, “I knew I was ready for something big.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. *Mario García Romo’ (Ms-Spa) 4:07.54
(30.73, 32.45 [63.18], 33.94 [1:37.12], 34.79 [2:11.91], 33.49 [2:45.40], 28.84 [3:14.24], 27.47 [3:41.71], 25.83)
(25.83, 53.30, 1:55.63);
2. Morgan Beadlescomb (MiSt) 4:07.59
(25.55, 52.97, 1:55.43);
3. Reed Brown (Or) 4:07.64
(25.71, 53.19, 1:55.52);
4. Jonathan Davis (Il) 4:07.69
(25.97, 53.34, 1:55.73);
5. **Isaac Basten (Drake) 4:07.72
(25.45, 52.65, 1:55.06);
6. Nick Dahl (Duke) 4:07.78
(25.59, 52.99, 1:55.40);
7. **Crayton Carrozza (Tx) 4:08.03
(25.82, 53.16, 1:55.47);
8. ***Eliud Kipsang’ (Al-Ken) 4:09.34
(26.58, 54.32, 1:57.00);
9. James Young’ (Ms-GB) 4:09.57
(27.53, 54.82, 1:57.16);
10. Jack Yearian (Or) 4:09.59
(27.60, 55.06, 1:57.45).
HEATS
I–1. Davis 3:57.04; 2. Beadlescomb 3:57.10; 3. Basten 3:57.25; 4. Carrozza 3:57.62; 5. Young’ 3:58.64; 6. Yearian 3:59.03; 7. Adam Fogg’ (Drake-Aus) 4:01.85; 8. **Matthew Payamps (Gtn) 4:05.98.
II–1. Dahl 4:00.99; 2. García Romo’ 4:01.39; 3. Brown 4:02.19; 4. Kipsang’ 4:02.24; 5. **Evan Dorenkamp (PennSt) 4:02.35; 6. Nate Osterstock (SnUt) 4:03.27; 7. Colton Johnsen (WaSt) 4:03.30; 8. **Davis Bove (LSU) 4:05.46.
3000 Meters: Abdihamid Nur (Northern Arizona) 7:59.88
It was a field of heavyweights and any prerace prognostication would have mentioned more than a few as possible winners. Many had tired legs—Northern Arizona’s Abdihamid Nur had won the 5000 the night before, Morgan Beadlescomb had run to 2nd in the mile just an hour earlier, and Notre Dame’s CR holder Yared Nuguse had anchored a DMR the previous night.
The pedestrian early pace surprised no one, even if something faster would have made the going tougher for the doublers. Amon Kemboi of Campbell and Antonio Lopez Segura of Virginia Tech hit 1K in 2:46.65. Nuguse made a brief appearance at the front, leading through 4:28.88 at the 1600. Kemboi led again at 2K (5:30.95).
Who would have the most kick over the final laps? With 5 left, the pack had only dropped one. With 4 to go, Segura put himself back in front. After the next turn, Nur let loose his long stride and moved to the front. Kemboi responded immediately and stayed ahead through the next turn, but on hitting the straight, Nur smiled and went again. Another solid lap finished off a 59.85 for that 400, but with 2 left, Nur still had plenty of company.
No problem; the Lumberjack soph kept smiling and closed with laps of 28.67 and 27.87, fighting off challenges from Colorado’s Eduardo Herrera, Kemboi, and Stanford’s Charles Hicks. He crossed in a modest 7:59.88 with Kemboi (8:00.21) and Hicks (8:00.23) taking the next two spots. /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. **Abdihamid Nur (NnAz) 7:59.88
(30.62, 32.84 [63.46], 34.58 [1:38.04], 35.05 [2:13.09], 34.36 [2:47.45], 34.08 [3:21.53], 34.45 [3:55.98], 33.16 [4:29.14], 31.11 [5:00.25], 30.96 [5:31.21], 32.31 [6:03.52], 29.67 [6:33.19], 30.16 [7:03.35], 28.67 [7:32.02], 27.86)
(27.86, 56.53, 1:56.36);
2. Amon Kemboi’ (Ar-Ken) 8:00.21
(27.91, 56.63, 1:56.87);
3. **Charles Hicks’ (Stan-GB) 8:00.23
(27.53, 56.32, 1:56.49);
4. Olin Hacker (Wi) 8:00.39
(27.02, 56.40, 1:56.48);
5. Eduardo Herrera (Co) 8:00.58
(28.48, 57.15, 1:57.21);
6. Antonio Lopez Segura’ (VaT-Spa) 8:00.70
(28.17, 57.11, 1:57.40);
7. ***Nico Young (NnAz) 8:00.83; 8. ***Cole Sprout (Stan) 8:00.85; 9. Yared Nuguse (NDm) 8:01.53; 10. **Duncan Hamilton (MtSt) 8:03.98; 11. *Cameron Ponder (Furm) 8:03.99; 12. Morgan Beadlescomb (MiSt) 8:04.87; 13. *Wesley Kiptoo’ (IaSt-Ken) 8:05.53; 14. Colton Johnsen (WaSt) 8:05.62; 15. Athanas Kioko’ (Campb-Ken) 8:14.16; 16. Ben Veatch (In) 8:16.23.
5000 Meters: Abdihamid Nur (Northern Arizona) 13:19.01
Defending champ Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State tried a repeat of the tactics that worked for him a year ago and Florida State’s list leader Adriaan Wildschutt also threw in his hat for frontrunning. But Abdihamid Nur of Northern Arizona saved his attack for last and prevailed with a spectacular finish in meet record time, 13:19.01.
The runner-up spot went to Stanford’s surprising Aussie frosh Ky Robinson (13:20.17) ahead of Nur’s teammate Nico Young (13:21.23) as all three PRed and Wildschutt in 4th also ran under Kiptoo’s year-old meet standard, 13:23.77.
Junior Kiptoo, wearing black gloves, opened aggressively as in ’21, hitting 400 in 58.52, 800 in 2:01.83 and the kilo in 2:34.34. Stretching out the field, he passed 1600 in 4:13.96 before South African junior Wildschutt took over around 2K (5:19.91) and led through 3K, Kiptoo close at hand, in 8:05.08. Young ran just behind throughout.
With 8 laps to run, Kiptoo and Wildschutt pressed again trying to blunt the kickers, but with 5 to go, a kilometer out, soph Nur charged to the front and followed coach Mike Smith’s instruction: “Once you get to the front, you stay at the front to the finishline.”
As Kiptoo faded fast, ultimately to 12th, Nur flowed with a smile on his face and suddenly Robinson was with the lead trio.
Nur, who miled 3:55.09 on Washington’s oversized oval in January, ran his final 800 in 2:01.09, 400 in 59.97 and 200 in 30.03. He looked extremely confident as he did so. /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
1. **Abdihamid Nur (NnAz) 13:19.01 PR (8, 8 C; 4, 4 AmC) (in/out: 8, x AmC) (MR)
(30.08, 30.58 [60.66], 30.50 [1:31.16], 32.49 [2:03.65], 32.25 [2:35.90], 32.14 [3:08.04], 32.96 [3:41.00], 33.59 [4:14.59], 33.61 [4:48.20], 32.67 [5:20.87], 32.86 [5:53.73], 33.19 [6:26.92], 33.14 [7:00.06], 33.50 [7:33.56], 32.41 [8:05.97], 32.18 [8:38.15], 32.83 [9:10.98], 32.99 [9:43.97], 32.23 [10:16.20], 30.50 [10:46.70], 31.22 [11:17.92], 30.81 [11:48.73], 30.31 [12:19.04], 29.94 [12:48.98], 30.03)
(30.03, 59.97, 2:01.09);
2. ***Ky Robinson’ (Stan-Aus) 13:20.17 PR
(27.54, 59.01, 2:01.57);
3. ***Nico Young (NnAz) 13:21.23 PR (6, x AmC)
(28.87, 60.13, 2:02.87);
4. *Adriaan Wildschutt’ (FlSt-SA) 13:21.23
(30.11, 61.73, 2:03.10);
5. ***Cole Sprout (Stan) 13:25.67 (9, x AmC)
(30.12, 61.33, 2:05.28);
6. *Brian Fay’ (Wa-Ire) 13:28.48
(28.18, 59.52, 2:05.39);
7. Amon Kemboi’ (Ar-Ken) 13:29.04
(28.53, 60.65, 2:07.85);
8. ***Drew Bosley (NnAz) 13:29.69
(29.02, 61.08, 2:07.31);
9. *Dylan Jacobs (NDm) 13:31.43; 10. Aaron Bienenfeld’ (Or-Ger) 13:32.56; 11. *Barry Keane’ (Butler-Ire) 13:35.01; 12. *Wesley Kiptoo’ (IaSt-Ken) 13:41.71; 13. Ehab El-Sandali’ (Iona-Can) 13:45.40; 14. *Sam Gilman (AF) 13:52.34; 15. Ahmed Muhumed’ (FlSt-Som) 13:58.91; 16. **Alex Maier (OkSt) 14:02.71.
60 Hurdles: Trey Cunningham (Florida State) 7.38
Smooth. Without nicking a single hurdle, Trey Cunningham captured his first NCAA title in a brilliant 7.38 that left the competition floundering a stunning 0.25 behind.
The Florida Stater started in lane 4 and found himself behind LSU’s Eric Edwards (lane 6) after the gun fired. The Tiger junior had a small but clear lead at hurdle 1, with Cunningham pulling even at 2 and slightly ahead at hurdle 3. That caused Edwards to push too hard, and he nailed hurdle 4 and lost his rhythm. Cunningham stretched his margin with every stride, and by the time Edwards was falling over hurdle 5, the Seminole senior was leaning for the finish.
He crossed with a massive lead, his 7.38 making him the second collegian to ever dip under the 7.40 barrier, after only Grant Holloway’s 7.35 CR.
Edwards’ implosion left a pair of frosh, North Carolina A&T’s Leonard Mustari (lane 7) and Arizona State’s Jamar Marshall (lane 5), battling for the runner-up spot. Mustari leaned best, snatching it 7.63–7.64, with another yearling, Jamaican Vashaun Vascianna of Texas Tech, grabbing 4th in 7.67. Edwards picked himself up to cross the line last in 8.24.
“Just happy to be back on the home turf,” said Cunningham, a native Alabaman. “I grew up an hour from here, so it’s like home. I got the job done, that’s all that matters.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Trey Cunningham (FlSt) 7.38 PR (CL) (=11, x W; =8, =16 A; 2, 2 C);
2. ***Leonard Mustari (NCAT) 7.63;
3. ***Jamar Marshall (AzSt) 7.64;
4. ***Vashaun Vascianna’ (TxT-Jam) 7.67;
5. Sam Brixey (WaSt) 7.69;
6. Rasheem Brown’ (NCAT-Cay) 7.77;
7. **Darius Luff (Nb) 7.82;
8. *Eric Edwards (LSU) 8.24.
HEATS
I–1. Cunningham 7.50; 2. Edwards 7.65; 3. Brown’ 7.68; 4. Brixey 7.69; 5. **Giano Roberts (Clem) 7.77; 6. **Gratt Reed (Ia) 7.78; 7. **Jesse Henderson (MsSt) 7.80; 8. *Joshua Zeller’ (Mi-GB) 7.85.
II–1. Marshall 7.63; 2. Vascianna’ 7.64; 3. Luff 7.67; 4. Mustari 7.67; 5. Lafranz Campbell’ (Clem-Jam) 7.72; 6. Devon Brooks (Clem) 7.72; 7. **Phillip Lemonious’ (Ar-Jam) 7.83; 8. **Grant Conway (Ia) 7.84.
4 x 400: Texas A&M 3:04.16
Florida, in section III, may have been the top seed in the 4×4, but the race — both 4×4 and team — was decided in the previous section. When the dust cleared, Texas A&M had won the event, but the runners-up from Texas celebrated the loudest.
In section I Tennessee stayed at the front all the way to beat USC, 3:05.89–3:06.21. Emmanuel Bynum (45.74) held off the fast closer from the Trojan’s Johnnie Blockburger (45.51).
In section II, Jacob Smith gave Kentucky the lead at the first exchange (46.32). Texas A&M leadoff Chavannie Hanson ran 46.91 in 3rd.
On leg 2, Texas stormed to the front, Jonathan Jones blazing a 45.01 an hour after his 800 runner-up finish. Kentucky (Lance Lang 45.63) stayed close, with A&M still 3rd (Omajuma Etiwe 46.23). Then A&M 800 champ Brandon Miller brought the Aggies to Texas’s heels with a 45.45 carry. At the final handoff the Longhorns led by 0.25, but the Aggies’ Emmanuel Bamidele caught them in the final stretch, delivering a 45.58 for a 3:04.16–3:04.55 edge.
In section III the Gators put together most of a winning relay, with a 20-meter lead at the final exchange. But the Gators’ usual anchor, 45.04 performer Champion Allison, had been injured in the 400, and his replacement ran only 48.18. Georgia’s Elijah Godwin reeled him in with a 45.44, finishing first in 3:05.46, good for 4th overall.
While Texas garnered a trophy-clinching 8 points in 2nd, A&M’s Pat Henry lauded his winning squad: “It ended up being the best thing we could possibly do and we ran the best we have all season.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
(3-section time final)
1. Texas A&M;
2. Texas;
3. Kentucky;
4. Georgia;
5. Tennessee;
6. Arkansas;
7. Florida;
8. USC;
9. North Carolina A&T;
10. Mississippi State;
11. Baylor;
12. Iowa.
Sections
I–1. Tennessee 3:05.89
(Hale 47.34, Bailey 45.64, Griffith 47.18, Bynum 45.73);
2. USC 3:06.21
(Ramey 47.49, Shinnick 46.00, Stewart 47.22, Blockburger 45.50);
3. Mississippi State 3:07.74
(Scott 47.71, Moronta 47.11, Eppie 46.89, Clarke 46.03);
4. Baylor 3:08.59
(Bedell 48.35, Barr 48.04, Ezekiel 45.94, Moorer 46.26).
II–1. Texas A&M 3:04.16
(Chevannie Hanson’ 46.91, Omajuwa Etiwe 46.23, Brandon Miller 45.44, Emmanuel Bamidele’ 45.58);
2. Texas 3:04.55
(Willington Wright 46.80, Jonathan Jones’ 45.00, Jon Maas 46.53, Brian Herron 46.22);
3. Kentucky 3:04.64
(Jacob Smith 46.32, Lance Lang 45.63, Brian Faust 46.85, Dwight St. Hillaire’ 45.84);
4. North Carolina A&T 3:06.91
(Jackson 47.89, Stokes 45.93, Young 46.64, Ross 46.45).
III–1. Georgia 3:05.46
(Boling 46.40, Cavanaugh 46.06, McCray 47.57, Godwin 45.43);
2. Arkansas 3:05.96
(Milholen 48.20, Benson 44.65, Washington 46.85, Battle 46.26);
3. Florida 3:06.19
(Patterson 45.89, Willie 45.92, Miley 46.20, Brodie 48.18);
4. Iowa 3:09.79
(Richards 50.59, Lawrence 46.33, Gillum 46.40, McKiver 46.47).
Distance Medley: Texas 9:25.20
Modest pacing by the standards of the “shoes era” made for an incredibly tight contest. It was nowhere near settled until Texas junior Yaseen Abdalla took the baton 2–3m down to Wisconsin’s Jackson Sharp — with 8 squads still potential winners — and then kicked from 5th just before the bell to a 4m victory margin over Yared Nuguse-anchored Notre Dame.
The Longhorn winning time was 9:25.20 as the first four squads crossed within 0.81. Abdalla, who miled 3:57.53 this season, split 3:55.58 for his 1600. Outdoor 1500 CR holder Nuguse took the stick with more work to do than he could manage and split 3:55.07. The anchor carry of the crowded race, 3:54.65, belonged to Iowa State’s Nehemia Too, whose Cyclones placed 6th.
Wisconsin, 3rd at the finish in 9:25.78, led at the end of each of the first 3 legs — Adam Spencer 2:53.49, Davis Wenthe 47.85, Abdullahi Hassan 1:47.54, preceding Sharp’s 3:56.90 anchor — although the contest was so close those leaderships never looked dominating.
Oklahoma State’s Ryan Schoppe essayed a bold mid-leg surge in an attempt to wrest control of the closing 1600 and Princeton’s Sam Ellis took his shot with a lap and a half left, but Abdalla’s acceleration over the final circuit proved decisive.
“The Wisconsin guy was ahead of me for a little bit, but i trusted my preparation and the work i put in to go back ahead. I was focusing on my race,” said Abdalla.“It was a physical race, there was some elbow bumping, but it’s racing, it happens. I tried to stay out of it, and focus on not dropping the stick.” /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
1. Texas 9:25.20 (AL) (2 A)
(Gomez 2:56.20, Wright 45.96, Carrozza 1:47.46, Abdalla 3:55.58);
2. Notre Dame 9:25.77 (3 A, #9 school)
(Voelz 2:55.86, Frye 47.39, Zepf 1:47.45, Nuguse 3:55.07);
3. Wisconsin 9:25.78 (#10 school)
(Spencer’ 2:53.49, Wenthe 47.85, Hassan’ 1:47.54, Sharp’ 3:56.90);
4. Princeton 9:26.01 (6 A)
(Witt 2:55.39, Phillippy 46.38, Rodman 1:48.48, Ellis 3:55.76);
5. Oklahoma State 9:28.11
(Messaoudi’ 2:55.97, McArthur 47.64, Castro’ 1:49.65, Schoppe 3:54.85);
6. Iowa State 9:28.62
(Gomez 2:58.67, Hayes 46.84, Lomong 1:48.46, Too’ 3:54.65);
7. Washington 9:29.27
(Waskom 2:54.83, Smith 47.07 [3:41.90], Elliott 1:48.77 [5:30.67], Houser 3:58.60);
8. Michigan 9:30.46
(Dodd 2:54.57, Amene’ 46.87, Brown 1:49.9, Foster 3:59.08);
9. Arkansas 9:30.86
(Kibet’ 2:55.40, Battle 46.13, Russell 1:49.52, Schreml’ 3:59.81);
10. Indiana 9:33.27
(Marshall 2:56.53, Benton 47.60, Raymond 1:48.76, Veatch 4:00.38);
11. Mississippi 9:35.94
(Culpepper 2:56.98, Dryer 49.54, Dropik 1:49.96, Bracken 3:59.46);
12. Alabama 9:40.85
(Kipsang’ 2:59.03, Forbes 47.89, Lamb 1:47.79, Cheruiyot’ 4:06.14).