The NCAA News - News and Features

June 1, 1998

Division I Men's Outdoor Track

Arkansas looks for seventh straight

Event: 1998 Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Overview: Arkansas has won the last six titles. The Razorbacks are looking to join Southern Cal as the only teams to win seven consecutive outdoor championships. The Trojans accomplished the feat twice, winning nine and seven straight titles, respectively, from 1935-43 and 1949-55. Robert Howard, two-time defending triple-jump champion and defending long-jump champion, and Seneca Lassiter, defending 1,500-meter run champion, are the Razorbacks' top threats. As of May 19, Howard posted the nation's top qualifying mark in the triple jump (17.11 meters) and fifth-best mark in the long jump (7.82 meters), while Lassiter ranked third in the 1,500 (3:39.28). Joining Howard and Lassiter in defense of the Razorbacks' title will be Phillip Price (1,500- and 5,000-meter runs), Sean Kaley (5,000- and 10,000-meter runs) and Matt Kerr, who posted the top qualifying mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:32.05) .... Contenders seeking to end Arkansas' reign include Southern Cal, Texas Christian, Baylor, Arizona and Clemson. Southern Cal, third a year ago, boasts sprinter Jerome Davis (200- and 400-meter dashes) and triple jumper Kedjeloba Mambo .... Baylor showcases sprints standouts Marlon Ramsey (400-meter dash), Brandon Couts (400-meter dash) and Mario Watts (400-meter intermediate hurdles). Ramsey posted the top qualifying mark in the 400 (45.01), while Couts was next in line at 45.04. The Bears' 1,600-meter relay team of Ramsey, Bayano Kamani, Stephan Bragner and Couts recorded the nation's top mark at 3:01.39 .... Texas Christian is led by sprinters Percy Spencer, ranked No. 1 in the 100-meter dash, and Syan Williams. The Frogs also boast the top 400-meter relay team (38.71) of Bryan Howard, Jarmiene Holloway, Williams and Spencer.

Field: The Division I Championships/ Competition Cabinet has approved a qualifying procedure that allows for a maximum of 388 student-athletes.

Dates and site: June 3-6 at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Television coverage: The championships will be broadcast tape-delayed by CBS at 1 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday, June 7.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1620 for dates/site/schedule, 5288 for qualifiers, 5289 for first-day results, 5290 for second-day results, 5291 for third-day results, 5292 for fourth-day results and 5293 for finals results only. Championships results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Results will be published in the June 15 issue of The NCAA News.