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The NCAA News -- December 7, 1998

Razorbacks keep their string alive with title in men's cross country

Since 1984 when it won its first Division I Men's Cross Country Championships title, Arkansas has not gone three years without winning the crown.

The Razorbacks kept that string intact November 23 at Kansas, but it wasn't easy.

With Michael Power, the squad's top runner, unable to finish the race because of dehydration, Arkansas relied on team depth to fend off two-time defending champion Stanford and claim the team title.

Runner-up at the last two championships, Arkansas turned the tables on the Cardinal to win its record ninth championship. The Razorbacks posted 97 points; the Cardinal finished with 114 points.

Stanford posted a three-point victory over Arkansas in 1997.

Adam Goucher of Colorado won the individual crown, becoming the second Buffaloes competitor to earn the individual honor.

The championships, which featured 31 teams and 255 individuals, were held concurrently with the Division II event for the first time with Kansas serving as host of the Division I races and Emporia State hosting the Division II events.

The title was the 31st for coach John McDonnell, who has guided the Razorbacks to 14 indoor track and eight outdoor track and field crowns.

"We're just happy with the championship," said McDonnell. "It wasn't easy, but after last year, I tell you, when we lost real close I know there were a couple of guys on the team that thought it was their fault.

"Last year was kind of a bitter loss for us because I thought we had a better team on paper but we didn't get the job done. This year, they went and got the job done."

With Power on the sideline, Sean Kaley spearheaded the Razorbacks' charge.

Kaley led Arkansas with a fifth-place finish overall, crossing the finish line in 30 minutes, 12.10 seconds. He placed ninth in 1997.

Andrew Begley was the Razorbacks' No. 2 finisher, placing 16th, while Matt Kerr (19th) and Seneca Lassiter (28th) occupied the squad's Nos. 3 and 4 slots, respectively.

Adam Dailey rounded out the Razorbacks' top five, finishing 49th.

"For us to win with Michael not finishing, that shows a lot for the character of our team," said McDonnell.

While Arkansas was happy to return to the top, Goucher was elated to get there at last.

Runner-up as a freshman in 1994, sixth in 1995, and fourth in 1997, Goucher concluded his collegiate career by shattering the course record with a time of 29:26.90. The time was 23 seconds better than runner-up Abdi Abdirahman of Arizona.

"It just feels amazing," said Goucher, who redshirted in 1996. "Finishing second as a freshman and never bettering that was failure for me. I've been snake-bitten these last couple of years, with some setbacks. But this year, I refused to let that happen again."