The NCAA News - News and Features

June 16, 1997

Arkansas men join elite company with sixth straight title

BY STEPHEN R. HAGWELL
STAFF WRITER

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA -- "It ain't over 'til it's over" is a phrase commonly used in sports other than track and field.

Add track and field to the list.

Displaying the never-say-die attitude that has helped it become the premier team at the Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Arkansas held off all challengers and won its sixth consecutive team title June 4-7 at Indiana.

The Razorbacks, who compiled 55 points, become only the second team to win six consecutive crowns. Southern California won nine consecutive titles from 1935 through 1943 and another seven straight from 1949 through 1955.

Arkansas, which was sixth heading into the final day of competition, compiled 39 points that day to outdistance runner-up Texas (421/2 points).

Southern California finished third (34 points), while Oklahoma, UCLA and Wisconsin tied for fourth with 31 points. The fourth-place showings equaled the best ever for Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

"Everybody wants to be on top and everyone wants to get to you," said Arkansas John McDonnell, who has guided the Razorbacks to seven outdoor and 13 indoor track titles. "It takes a great team to stay on top.

"It feels great. I owe a lot of credit to my assistant coaches and the athletes out there; they all did an outstanding job."

Arkansas' latest victory came via the efforts of five individuals: Robert Howard, Seneca Lassiter, Ryan Wilson, Kevin White and Phillip Price. The quintet accounted for all of the Razorbacks' 55 points.

Howard led the way, contributing 20 points to the Razorbacks' effort with his long- and triple-jump titles. Howard, who claimed his second consecutive triple-jump crown, is only the third athlete (all from Arkansas) who has swept the events both indoors and outdoors in the same year.

Lassiter gave Arkansas a third individual title, winning the 1,500-meter run crown. He fought off Michigan's Kevin Sullivan, the 1995 champion, down the stretch to win by .48 seconds.

"A lot of people were saying, 'Arkansas might not win it, Texas has a chance,' and all that," Howard said. "But we're Arkansas. We're clutch people. We do what we have to do to win."

Wilson, White and Price combined for 25 points in their events.

Wilson contributed 14 points with second- and third-place showings, respectively, in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs. White added eight points with a runner-up finish in the 110-meter hurdles and Price contributed three points by placing sixth in the 1,500-meter run.

"That's what Arkansas is all about: Guys like Kevin White coming in and stepping up, and the Robert Howards continually pounding and pounding, and hopefully myself stepping in and bringing those type points we needed," Wilson said. "Our guys came to fight, and they came to win.

"Everyone laid it on the line the last day and did what they were supposed to do."

Texas, which was vying for its first title, finished as runner-up for the third time. The Longhorns also placed second in 1987 and 1988.

The Longhorns were led by Ivan Wagner, who claimed the high-jump title; Richard Duncan; and Leonard Cobb.

Duncan garnered third-place showings in the long and triple jumps and Cobb was second in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump.

UTEP's Obadele Thompson and UCLA's Mebrahtom Keflezighi occupied the spotlight in individual competition, as they each won two individual titles.

Thompson dominated the sprints, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He is the first athlete to win the two events in the same year since Olapade Adeniken of UTEP in 1992.

Keflezighi became UCLA's first 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs champion and the first athlete to win both events in the same year since Ed Eyestone of Brigham Young in 1985.

Joey Woody of Northern Iowa gave his school its first individual title in Division I by winning the 400-meter intermediate hurdles.

Bengt Johansson of Southern California extended the Trojans' dominance in the hammer throw, securing the school's fifth consecutive championship in the event. Balazs Kiss of Southern California won four consecutive titles from 1993 through 1996.

Wisconsin equaled Arkansas' three individual titles as Reggie Torian (110-meter hurdles), Pascal Dobert (3,000-meter steeplechase) and James Dunkleberger (decathlon) each were first-time winners. The hurdles and decathlon titles are the first ever for Wisconsin.

Division I men's outdoor track and field

TEAM RESULTS

1. Arkansas, 55; 2. Texas, 421/2; 3. Southern Cal, 34; 4. (tie) Oklahoma, UCLA and Wisconsin, 31; 7. (tie) Southern Methodist and UTEP, 28; 9. Minnesota, 191/2; 10. Iowa St., 19.

11. (tie) Baylor and Stanford, 18; 13. (tie) Michigan and North Caro., 17; 15. Nebraska, 161/2; 16. Texas A&M, 16; 17. (tie) Clemson, George Mason, Northern Iowa and Southern U., 15.

21. Eastern Mich., 14; 22. Florida, 131/2; 23. (tie) Arizona and Georgia Tech, 13; 25. (tie) Auburn and Georgetown, 12; 27. (tie) LSU and Texas Tech, 11; 29. (tie) Alabama, Boise St., Dartmouth and Texas Christian, 10.

33. Idaho, 9; 34. (tie) Maryland-Balt. County, Northeast La., Northern Ariz., Texas-Arlington, Western Mich. and William & Mary, 8; 40. (tie) California, Oklahoma St., South Caro. and Washington St., 7.

44. (tie) Boston College, Colorado and Villanova, 6; 47. (tie) Army, Connecticut, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Rice and Tennessee, 5.

53. (tie) East Caro., Houston, Iona, Long Beach St., Michigan St., Missouri and Prairie View, 4; 60. Toledo, 31/2; 61. (tie) Miami (Fla.), Ohio St., Oregon and Wichita St., 3.

65. Purdue, 21/2; 66. (tie) Ark.-Little Rock, Detroit Mercy, Manhattan, Mt. St. Mary's (Md.), Northwestern St., Penn St., Texas-San Antonio and Wyoming, 2; 74. (tie) Florida St., North Caro. St. and Portland, 1.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

100-meter dash: 1. Obadele Thompson, UTEP, 10.13; 2. David Bobb, Maryland-Balt. County, 10.21; 3. Tony McCall, North Caro., 10.35; 4. Carlton Chambers, Clemson, 10.40; 5. John George, Southern U., 10.41; 6. Jason Shelton, Southern Cal, 10.44; 7. Ronnie Powell, Northwestern St., 10.47; 8. Chris Cummings, LSU, 10.48.

200-meter dash: 1. Obadele Thompson, UTEP, 20.03; 2. Percival Spencer, Texas Christian, 20.24; 3. Josephus Howard, Texas Tech, 20.72; 4. Cornelius Cavitt, Texas-Arlington, 20.75; 5. Tony McCall, North Caro., 20.80; 6. Elston Cawley, Texas-Arlington, 20.89; 7. Leo Settle, Ark.-Little Rock, 21.03; 8. Kevin Jefferson, Southern U., 21.07.

400-meter dash: 1. Roxbert Martin, Oklahoma, 44.77; 2. Clement Chukwu, Eastern Mich., 45.24; 3. Jerome Davis, Southern Cal, 45.36; 4. Milton Campbell, North Caro., 45.58; 5. Chris Jones, Houston, 45.75; 6. Davian Clarke, Miami (Fla.), 45.81; 7. Leonard Byrd, Texas-San Antonio, 45.99; 8. Danny McFarlane, Oklahoma, 46.13.

800-meter run: 1. Bryan Woodward, Georgetown, 1:46.45; 2. Anders Christiansen, William & Mary, 1:46.66; 3. Miklos Arpasi, George Mason, 1:47.16; 4. David Krummenacker, Georgia Tech, 1:47.20; 5. Dakari Lenear, Prairie View, 1:47.60; 6. Darrin Strong, Baylor, 1:48.08; 7. Khadevis Robinson, Texas Christian, 1:49.27; 8. Isaac Turner, Southern Cal, 1:49.67.

1,500-meter run: 1. Seneca Lassiter, Arkansas, 3:40.22; 2. Kevin Sullivan, Michigan, 3:40.70; 3. Ben Reese, Eastern Mich., 3:41.87; 4. Bernard Lagat, Washington St., 3:42.12; 5. Bob Keino, Arizona, 3:42.23; 6. Phillip Price, Arkansas, 3:42.43; 7. Daniel Kinyua, Mt. St. Mary's (Md.), 3:43.00; 8. Jason Lunn, Stanford, 3:43.48.

3,000-meter steeplechase: 1. Pascal Dobert, Wisconsin, 8:31.68; 2. Frank Bruder, Idaho, 8:31.93; 3. John Mortimer, Michigan, 8:37.68; 4. Damian Kallabis, UTEP, 8:40.54; 5. John Howell, Northern Ariz., 8:41.26; 6. David Lichoro, Iowa St., 8:41.80; 7. Daniel DasNeves, Oregon, 8:42.01; 8. Bryan Bothwell, Portland, 8:42.61.

5,000-meter run: 1. Mebrahtom Keflezighi, UCLA, 13:44.17; 2. Ryan Wilson, Arkansas, 13:46.18; 3. Adam Goucher, Colorado, 13:49.85; 4. Jon Wild, Oklahoma St., 13:54.57; 5. Kyle Baker, Michigan St., 13:57.21; 6. Brent Hauser, Stanford, 13:59.08; 7. Cormac Smith, Boise St., 14:04.83; 8. Andy Bosley, Wisconsin, 14:15.26.

10,000-meter run: 1. Mebrahtom Keflezighi, UCLA, 28:51.18; 2. Brad Hauser, Stanford, 29:02.58; 3. Ryan Wilson, Arkansas, 29:06.81; 4. Dan Browne, Army, 29:15.13; 5. Martin McCarthy, Iona, 29:22.12; 6. Chris England, Ohio St., 29:29.37; 7. Christopher Kebenei, Oklahoma St., 29:35.60; 8. Robert Reeder, Stanford, 29:40.80.

110-meter high hurdles: 1. Reggie Torian, Wisconsin, 13.39; 2. Kevin White, Arkansas, 13.43; 3. Larry Wade, Texas A&M, 13.49; 4. Dudley Dorival, Connecticut, 13.62; 5. Willie Hibler, Nebraska, 13.70; 6. William Erese, Southern Cal, 13.72; 7. Jeremichael Williams, Clemson, 13.81; 8. Jason Perry, North Caro. St., 13.84.

400-meter intermediate hurdles: 1. Joey Woody, Northern Iowa, 48.59; 2. Angelo Taylor, Georgia Tech, 48.72; 3. Kareem Archer, Villanova, 49.18; 4. Quinton Milner, Rice, 49.49; 5. Robert Bronston, Southern U., 49.63; 6. Neil Gardner, Michigan, 49.96; 7. Edward Clarke, Oklahoma, 50.39; 8. Ian Weakly, George Mason, 51.26.

400-meter relay: 1. Texas A&M (Michael Price, Toya Jones, Billy Fobbs, Danny McCray), 38.80; 2. Clemson, 38.92; 3. LSU, 39.15; 4. Texas Tech, 39.50; 5. Oklahoma, 39.52; 6. Southern Cal, 39.53; 7. South Caro., 39.60; 8. Florida, 39.69.

1,600-meter relay: 1. Oklahoma (Edward Clarke, Danny McFarlane, Ryan Kite, Roxbert Martin), 3:01.25; 2. Baylor, 3:02.02; 3. Southern U., 3:02.61; 4. Southern Cal, 3:03.28; 5. East Caro., 3:04.12; 6. Florida, 3:04.38; 7. Georgetown, 3:05.49; 8. North Caro., 3:06.85.

High jump: 1. Ivan Wagner, Texas, 2.30 (7-61/2); 2. Staffan Strand, Minnesota, 2.19 (7-21/4); 3. (tie) David Furman, Florida, and Shane Lavy, Nebraska, 2.19 (7-21/4); 5. (tie) Richard Duncan, Texas, and Henry Patterson, Toledo, 2.19 (7-21/4); 7. Paul Caraballo, Detroit Mercy, 2.15 (7-01/2); 8. Eric Bishop, North Caro., 2.15 (7-01/2).

Pole vault: 1. Clark Humphreys, Auburn, 5.60 (18-41/2); 2. (tie) Clarence Phelps, California, and Kurt Hanna, Baylor, 5.50 (18-01/2); 4. Juri Rovan, Northern Iowa, 5.40 (17-81/2); 5. Jason Hinkin, Long Beach St., 5.40 (17-81/2); 6. (tie) Randy Miller, Purdue, and Vesa Rantanen, Minnesota, 5.40 (17-81/2); 8. Piotr Buciarski, Oregon, 5.25 (17-23/4).

Long jump (w indicates wind-aided): 1. Robert Howard, Arkansas, 8.21 (26-111/4); 2. Maurice Wignall, George Mason, 8.02w (26-33/4); 3. Richard Duncan, Texas, 7.94 (26-03/4); 4. Joe Laster, Nebraska, 7.91w (25-111/2); 5. Leonard Cobb, Texas, 7.87w (25-10); 6. Stephen Pina, Florida, 7.78w (25-61/4); 7. Chris Wright, Nebraska, 7.73w (25-41/2); 8. Dominick Millner, Florida, 7.73 (25-41/2).

Triple jump (w indicates wind-aided): 1. Robert Howard, Arkansas, 16.93 (55-61/2); 2. Leonard Cobb, Texas, 16.41 (53-101/4); 3. Richard Duncan, Texas, 16.36 (53-81/4); 4. Bryant Wesco, Louisiana Tech, 16.25w (53-33/4); 5. Jerome Douglas, Oklahoma, 16.13 (52-11); 6. Kedjeloba Mambo, Southern Cal, 15.73 (51-71/4); 7. Yago Lamela-Tobio, Iowa St., 15.71 (51-61/2); 8. Chris Kwaramba, Idaho, 15.69 (51-53/4).

Shot put: 1. Adam Nelson, Dartmouth, 19.62 (64-41/2); 2. Josh Hagedorn, Iowa St., 19.27 (63-23/4); 3. Jamie Beyer, Iowa St., 19.19 (62-111/2); 4. Kevin Mannon, South Caro., 19.07 (62-63/4); 5. Ralf Kahles, LSU, 18.67 (61-3); 6. Aaron Ausmus, Tennessee, 18.62 (61-11/4); 7. Matt Spears, Wyoming, 18.55 (60-101/2); 8. Ian Waltz, Washington St., 18.50 (60-81/2).

Discus throw: 1. Jason Tunks, Southern Methodist, 59.72 (195-11); 2. Jarred Rome, Boise St., 59.46 (195-1); 3. David Dumble, UCLA, 59.32 (194-7); 4. James Dennis, Louisville, 58.92 (193-4); 5. Alex Tammert, Southern Methodist, 58.86 (193-1); 6. Jason Schlueter, Minnesota, 58.84 (193-0); 7. Christer Hagberg, Manhattan, 58.22 (191-0); 8. Ian Waltz, Washington St., 58.16 (190-10).

Hammer throw: 1. Bengt Johansson, Southern Cal, 70.12 (230-1); 2. Xavier Tison, Southern Methodist, 69.54 (228-2); 3. Tapio Kolunsarka, Arizona, 68.78 (225-8); 4. Justin Strand, Stanford, 68.64 (225-2); 5. Sean McGehearty, Boston College, 68.24 (223-11); 6. Ilmari Verho, UTEP, 67.92 (222-10); 7. Mark McGehearty, Boston College, 67.58 (221-9); 8. Wes Boudreau, Tennessee, 66.36 (217-8).

Javelin throw: 1. Mats Nilsson, Alabama, 74.90 (245-9); 2. Breaux Greer, Northeast La., 73.62 (241-6); 3. Daniel Gustafsson, Southern Methodist, 72.38 (237-5); 4. Josh Johnson, UCLA, 69.50 (228-0); 5. Darin File, Missouri, 68.54 (224-10); 6. Jay Krom, Wichita St., 68.42 (224-6); 7. Carl Wolter, Penn St., 67.72 (222-2); 8. Justin Johnston, Florida St., 66.84 (219-3).

Decathlon: 1. James Dunkleberger, Wisconsin, 7,924; 2. Phil McMullen, Western Mich., 7,731; 3. Benjamin Jensen, Minnesota, 7,716; 4. Aaron Fox, Texas, 7,699; 5. Tommy Sarenbrant, Northern Ariz., 7,652; 6. Dominic Johnson, Arizona, 7,596; 7. Victor Houston, Auburn, 7,567; 8. Tom Pappas, Tennessee, 7,487.