UCLA emerged from a highly competitive pack on the last day of the Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, then hung on for dear life through the final relay to win its first team title in 21 years.

The Bruins, who have finished second at the meet eight times since 1988, took advantage of a second chance in the 400-meter relay, then held off a late charge by defending champion LSU in the meet's final event, the 1,600-meter relay, to win the crown June 9-12 at Texas.

UCLA also collected two individual titles en route to the victory, including a record performance by defending champion Sheena Johnson, who improved on her own meet mark in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Chelsea Johnson claimed the Bruins' other title, in the pole vault.

As it turned out, the key to victory was UCLA's first eight points in the meet. UCLA failed to qualify for the final during preliminaries of the 400-meter relay, but got a second chance when Texas' relay team was disqualified. The Bruins took advantage by finishing second in the event on Day 3 of the meet.

Chelsea Johnson's Day 3 victory in the pole vault and Monique Henderson's second-place finish in the 400-meter dash on Day 4 pulled UCLA squarely into contention. Then, Sheena Johnson's victory in the 400 hurdles -- one of three meet-record performances at the championships -- gave UCLA the lead, six points ahead of Nebraska and 20 points ahead of LSU.

The Bruins were helped further when LSU senior Stephanie Durst was disqualified for a lane violation in the 200-meter dash final, scrubbing what appeared to be a second-place finish. But LSU set the stage for one last attempt at denying the Bruins the title when Neisha Bernard-Thomas won the 800-meter run.

The Tigers entered the 1,600-meter relay as a favorite and delivered on that promise with a meet-record victory, but UCLA managed a fourth-place finish in that closing event -- just good enough to finish a point ahead of LSU in the final standings, 69-68.

"I don't like having a dramatic finish like that," said UCLA coach Jeanette Bolden, who coached the Bruins to indoor team titles in 2000 and 2001 but has seen her outdoor teams finish second five times in her 11-year tenure at the school. "It took all of me just to stay in the stadium (during the relay).

"We've been so close and stubbed our toe at this meet so many times. I just got off the phone with Jackie (Joyner-Kersee, a former UCLA student-athlete) and she said, 'It's about time -- it's our time!' "

UCLA won the first two Division I women's team titles in NCAA championships history, in 1982 and 1983.

LSU fell short in its bid to repeat as team titlist but claimed the most event titles of any team at the championships with its sweep of the two relays and the 800-meter victory.

"Anytime you can go to the wire and do your best you can't be unhappy," LSU coach Pat Henry said. "What the ladies' mile relay was able to do tonight was tremendous."

The all-senior team of Bernard-Thomas, HazelAnn Regis, Monique Hall and Nadia Davy broke South Carolina's two-year-old meet record in the event by a second, finishing in 3:25.26. Earlier, the Tigers' other relay, the senior-laden 400-meter team of Lolo Jones, Hall, Durst and anchor Muna Lee, successfully defended the title it won at last year's meet, falling just short of LSU's 15-year-old record in the event.

"We did everything we could do tonight," Henry said. "People say it was the disqualification that hurt us, but we could have scored in other areas. I have faith in the officials; if they use good judgment then that's OK. It's a track meet; anything can happen."

Nebraska never has finished better than third in the championships, but the Cornhuskers did it for the fifth time in school history as Ineta Radevica successfully defended her 2003 title in the triple jump and completed an indoor-outdoor sweep of the event this year. Becky Breisch added a title for Nebraska in the discus throw and finished third in the shot put, an event she won last year.

Host Texas finished fourth behind the only other meet record at the championships, posted by Nichole Denby in the 100-meter hurdles. The Longhorns recorded third-place finishes in three other events, including sophomore Sanya Richards' performance in the 400-meter dash, an event she won last year.

Florida, whose Candice Scott successfully defended her title in the hammer throw, finished fifth.

Two distance runners also successfully defended individual championships. Mississippi State's Tiffany McWilliams again won the 1,500 meters -- following up her March victory in the indoor mile run -- and Stanford's Alicia Craig won the 10,000-meter run. Another distance specialist, Kim Smith of Providence, followed up her indoor sweep of the 3,000- and 5,000-meter run with her third title of the year, in the outdoor 5,000 meters.

Georgia's Hyleas Fountain came up short in her attempt to repeat as heptathlon champion and complete an indoor-outdoor sweep of that event, but she completed a sweep in the long jump with her victory over Nebraska's Radevica. Also, Georgia Tech's Chaunte Howard (high jump) and North Carolina's Laura Gerraughty (shot put) completed indoor-outdoor sweeps of their events.

Team results

1. UCLA, 69; 2. LSU, 68; 3. Nebraska, 58; 4. Texas, 42; 5. Florida, 29; 6. Stanford, 27; 7. (tie) South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, 24; 10. (tie) Miami (Fla.) and Arkansas, 22; 12. Southern California, 18; 13. Texas A&M, 17; 14. North Carolina, 16; 15. (tie) Georgia Tech, Brigham Young and Cal Poly, 14; 18. (tie) Auburn and Washington, 13; 20. Arizona St. 12; 21. Penn St., 11; 22. (tie) Mississippi St., Alabama, Northern Ariz., Providence and Akron, 10; 27. San Diego St., 9; 28. (tie) Georgetown, Princeton, Toledo and Florida St., 8; 32. (tie) Michigan St. and Ohio St., 7; 34. Wyoming, South Fla., Oregon, Clemson, Villanova, Notre Dame and Baylor, 6; 41. (tie) Kansas St., Wake Forest, Norfolk St., Iona, Jacksonville, Idaho and Michigan, 5; 48. (tie) Southern Methodist, California, Texas Tech, Air Force, Boise St., Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and Duke, 4; 56. Western Ill., South Caro. St., Kentucky, Colorado St., Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Connecticut and Nevada, 3; 65. (tie) Illinois, Boston College, TCU, Fresno St., UNLV, Rice, Purdue, Texas Southern, Arizona, Texas St. and Texas-San Antonio, 2; 76. (tie) Virginia, Missouri, Butler, Cal St. Northridge and Virginia Tech, 1.

Individual results

100-meter dash: 1. Lauryn Williams, Miami (Fla.), 10.97; 2. Muna Lee, LSU, 11.12; 3. Marshevet Hooker, Texas, 11.23; 4. LaShaunte'a Moore, Arkansas, 11.31; 5. Tonette Dyer, San Diego St., 11.31; 6. Laverne Jones, Oklahoma, 11.36; 7. Connie Moore, Penn St., 11.37; 8. Fana Ashby, Auburn, 11.43.

200-meter dash: 1. LaShaunte'a Moore, Arkansas, 22.37; 2. Muna Lee, LSU, 22.55; 3. Ashlee Williams, Texas, 22.62; 4. Tonette Dyer, San Diego St., 22.68; 5. Connie Moore, Penn St., 23.05; 6. Emma Wade, South Carolina St., 23.14; 7. Tremedia Brice, Texas Southern, 23.42; 8. Amandi Rhett, Georgia Tech, 23.56.

400-meter dash: 1. Dee Dee Trotter, Tennessee, 50.32; 2. Monique Henderson, UCLA, 50.62; 3. Sanya Richards, Texas, 50.68; 4. Novlene Williams, Florida, 51.02; 5. Tiandra Ponteen, Florida, 51.41; 6. Shellene Williams, Iowa, 51.94; 7. Allison Beckford, Rice, 51.96; 8. HazelAnn Regis, LSU, 52.01.

800-meter run: 1. Neisha Bernard-Thomas, LSU, 2:02.86; 2. Kameisha Bennett, Tennessee, 2:03.11; 3. Alice Schmidt, North Carolina, 2:03.79; 4. Beata Rudzinska, Akron, 2:04.33; 5. Nikeya Green, Wake Forest, 2:04.74; 6. Nicole Petty, Nevada, 2:05.74; 7. Carlene Robinson, Illinois, 2:06.19; 8. Brooke Patterson, Kentucky, 2:06.34.

1,500-meter run: 1. Tiffany McWilliams, Mississippi St., 4:11.59; 2. Treniere Clement, Georgetown, 4:12.21; 3. Marina Muncan, Villanova, 4:13.84; 4. Lindsey Gallo, Michigan, 4:15.33; 5. Hilary Edmondson, Wisconsin, 4:16.64; 6. Iryna Vashchuk, Southern California, 4:17.00; 7. Londa Bevins, Arkansas, 4:17.71; 8. Marlies Overbeeke, Virginia Tech, 4:20.49.

3,000-meter steeplechase: 1. Ida Nilsson, Northern Ariz., 9:48.29; 2. Briana Shook, Toledo, 9:49.44; 3. Michaela Mannova, Brigham Young, 9:56.66; 4. Kassi Andersen, Brigham Young, 9:58.38; 5. Ann Gaffigan, Nebraska, 9:59.75; 6. Julia Budniak, Southern California, 10:14.51; 7. Amber Ferner, Purdue, 10:15.26; 8. Victoria Mitchell, Butler, 10:18.34.

5,000-meter run: 1. Kim Smith, Providence, 15:48.86; 2. Sara Bei, Stanford, 16:24.90; 3. Molly Huddle, Notre Dame, 16:25.44; 4. Emmily Chelanga, Iona, 16:33.97; 5. Clara Horowitz, Duke, 16:34.44; 6. Renee Metiever, Colorado, 16:37.60; 7. Jennifer Kramer, Boston College, 16:40.26; 8. Erika Schneble, Vanderbilt, 16:46.45.

10,000-meter run: 1. Alicia Craig, Stanford, 33:58.27; 2. Vicky Gill, Florida St., 34:02.31; 3. Jamie Krzyminski, Michigan St., 34:02.40; 4. Emily Kroshus, Princeton, 34:21.20; 5. Melissa Gulli, Texas A&M, 34:29.77; 6. Angela Homan, Auburn, 34:40.12; 7. Laura Turner, Brigham Young, 34:56.87; 8. Annie Bersagel, Wake Forest, 34:57.02.

100-meter high hurdles: 1. Nichole Denby, Texas, 12.62 (meet record: old record 12.68, Perdita Felicien, Illinois, 2003); 2. Priscilla Lopes, Nebraska, 12.64; 3. Sheena Johnson, UCLA, 12.75; 4. Lolo Jones, LSU, 12.77; 5. Brittany Littlejohn, LSU, 13.04; 6. Ashlee Williams, Texas, 13.08; 7. Raasin McIntosh, Texas, 13.18; 8. Dawn Harper, UCLA, 13.41.

400-meter intermediate hurdles: 1. Sheena Johnson, UCLA, 53.54 (meet record: old record 54.24, Johnson, 2004); 2. Lashinda Demus, South Carolina, 54.22; 3. Shauna Smith, Wyoming, 55.54; 4. Raasin McIntosh, Texas, 55.56; 5. Dominique Darden, Miami (Fla.), 57.03; 6. Shevon Stoddart, South Carolina, 57.16; 7. Christine Spence, UNLV, 57.20; 8. Alyssa Aiken, Texas, 58.12.

400-meter relay: 1. LSU (Lolo Jones, Monique Hall, Stephanie Durst, Muna Lee), 42.61; 2. UCLA, 43.49; 3. Miami (Fla.), 43.71; 4. South Carolina, 43.83; 5. Arkansas, 43.86; 6. Georgia Tech, 44.18; 7. TCU, 44.43; 8. Stanford, 44.54.

1,600-meter relay: 1. LSU (Neisha Bernard-Thomas, HazelAnn Regis, Monique Hall, Nadia Davy), 3:25.26 [meet record: old record 3:26.46, South Carolina, 2002]; 2. South Carolina, 3:28.09; 3. Tennessee, 3:28.49; 4. UCLA, 3:28.85; 5. Texas Tech, 3:29.49; 6. Texas, 3:30.33; 7. Arizona St., 3:30.65; 8. Miami (Fla.), 3:31.70.

High jump: 1. Chaunte Howard, Georgia Tech, 1.93 (6-4); 2. Sharon Day, Cal Poly, 1.90 (6-2 3/4); 3. Kaylene Wagner, Cal Poly, 1.90 (6-2 3/4); 4. Sheena Gordon, UCLA, 1.87 (6-1 1/2); 5. Miruna Mataoanu, Boise St., 1.87 (6-1 1/2); 6. Deirdre Mullen, Connecticut, 1.84 (6-0 1/2); 7. Nevena Lendel, Southern Methodist, 1.84 (6-0 1/2); 8. Lindsey Metcalf, Brigham Young, 1.84 (6-0 1/2).

Pole vault: 1. Chelsea Johnson, UCLA, 4.30 (14-1 1/4); 2. Kate Soma, Washington, 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 3. Jenny Green, Nebraska, 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 4. Kira Sims, Akron, 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 5. Jackie Nguyen, UCLA, 4.10 (13-5 1/4); 6. Chelo Canino, Princeton, 4.10 (13-5 1/4); 7. Connie Jerz, Arizona, 4.10 (13-5 1/4); 8. Jennifer Lincoln, Arkansas, 4.10 (13-5 1/4).

Long jump: 1. Hyleas Fountain, Georgia, 6.61 (21-8 1/4); 2. Ineta Radevica, Nebraska, 6.55 (21-6); 3. April Holliness, Baylor, 6.55 (21-6); 4. Tianna Goldring, Norfolk St., 6.47 (21-2 3/4); 5. Tina Harris, LSU, 6.44 (21-1 1/2); 6. Chi-Chi Aduba, Penn St., 6.40 (21-0); 7. Lavada Hill, Southern Methodist, 6.40 (21-0); 8. Tabia Charles, Miami (Fla.), 6.37 (21-10 3/4).

Triple jump: 1. Ineta Radevica, Nebraska, 13.87 (45-6 1/4); 2. Nicole Toney, LSU, 13.80 (45-3 1/2); 3. Gisele Oliveira, Clemson, 13.68 (44-10 3/4); 4. Shelly-Ann Gallimore, Auburn, 13.65 (44-9 1/2); 5. Chaytan Hill, Kansas St., 13.62 (44-8 1/4); 6. Rosalind Goodwin, Ohio St., 13.60 (44-7 1/2); 7. Chi-Chi Aduba, Penn St., 13.58 (44-6 3/4); 8. Sherita Williams, Michigan St., 13.18 (43-3).

Shot put: 1. Laura Gerraughty, North Carolina, 18.26 (59-11); 2. Jillian Camarena, Stanford, 18.11 (59-5); 3. Becky Breisch, Nebraska, 17.77 (58-3 3/4); 4. Kim Barrett, Florida, 17.18 (56-4 1/2); 5. L'Orangerie Crawford, Southern California, 17.09 (56-1); 6. Aubrey Martin, Western Ill., 16.90 (55-5 1/2); 7. Tiffany Bunton, Texas St., 16.84 (55-3); 8. Janae Strickland, Missouri, 16.83 (55-2 3/4).

Discus throw: 1. Becky Breisch, Nebraska, 62.31 (204-5); 2. Beth Mallory, Alabama, 58.32 (191-4); 3. Dayana Octavien, South Fla., 58.08 (190-7); 4. Ina Reiber, Idaho, 55.48 (182-0); 5. Stacy Martin, Auburn, 55.30 (181-5); 6. Amarachi Ukabam, Ohio St., 54.64 (179-3); 7. Ildiko Varga, Kentucky, 54.62 (179-2); 8. Carol Stevenson, Cal St. Northridge, 54.54 (178-11).

Hammer throw: 1. Candice Scott, Florida, 68.83 (225-10); 2. Jessica Cosby, UCLA, 66.88 (219-5); 3. Jenny Dahlgren, Georgia, 66.12 (216-11); 4. Jukina Dickerson, Florida, 66.07 (216-9); 5. Cari Soong, UCLA, 64.39 (211-3); 6. Loree Smith, Colorado St., 63.51 (208-4); 7. Beth Mallory, Alabama 62.48 (205-0); 8. Keturah Lofton, Ohio St., 62.37 (204-7).

Javelin throw: 1. Katy Doyle, Texas A&M, 56.57 (185-7); 2. Inga Stasiulionyte, Southern California, 56.48 (185-4); 3. Sarah Malone, Oregon, 54.28 (178-1); 4. Megan Spriestersbach, Washington, 52.90 (173-7); 5. Dana Pounds, Air Force, 51.92 (170-4); 6. Rachel Walker, Texas A&M, 50.50 (165-8); 7. Mallory Webb, Fresno St., 49.64 (162-10); 8. Inge Jorgensen, Virginia, 49.23 (161-6).

Heptathlon: 1. Jacquelyn Johnson, Arizona St., 5,807; 2. Hyleas Fountain, Georgia, 5,785; 3. Ashley Selig, Nebraska, 5,587; 4. Andrea Pressley, Jacksonville, 5,586; 5. Brooke Meredith, California, 5,442; 6. Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt, 5,349; 7. Ryanne Dupree, Texas-San Antonio, 5,316; 8. JaNelle Wright, Kansas St., 5,288.