LSU rallied from 31 points behind defending champion Arizona State on the next-to-last day of competition, then survived the Sun Devils’ dominance of the throws and Jacquelyn Johnson’s historic fourth win in the heptathlon to claim its first Division I Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships team title since 2003.

The Lady Tigers battled to a tie with Arizona State after 20 of the meet’s 21 events, then finished five seconds faster and four points better than the Sun Devils in the 1,600-meter relay to claim their 14th outdoor title but first under coach Dennis Shaver.

“It was about our turn, I guess,” said Shaver, who was an assistant under Pat Henry when LSU last hoisted the team trophy and helped the Lady Tigers claim four championships before taking over as head coach. LSU finished second behind the Sun Devils last year.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste provided key points in the comeback, winning the 100-meter dash on Friday. Then, with the team title on the line on Saturday, she made only her second 1,600-meter relay appearance this season and beat the 52-second mark in circling the track on the second leg as LSU finished just a half-second behind winner Penn State in posting a season-best time in the event.

“There’s no better time to run a seasonal best than at the NCAA championships,” Shaver said. “Our girls were well-prepared coming into the meet, and they certainly performed very well out there today when the championship was on the line. I made a point to tell each of them to just be calm and relaxed in the race, and I was confident that they would pull it out.

“If we wouldn’t have beaten Arizona State, then we just weren’t destined to win the track meet. (The Sun Devils) have a great team and Greg Kraft has built a tremendous program over there, and I knew in that last event that they weren’t going to give up until one of us crossed the finish line.”

For awhile, it looked like no one would be able to counter Arizona State’s mastery of the throws, and even as the Lady Tigers rallied, they still had to overcome two event victories by the Sun Devils on the final day of competition.

Arizona State’s Jessica Pressley successfully defended her shot put title on the last day to cap a meet in which the Sun Devils scored 44 of their 63 points in three throwing events. Teammates Sarah Stevens and Tai Battle took the top two spots in the discus throw, and Pressley and Stevens each scored in all three disciplines (including the hammer throw).

Meanwhile, Johnson’s unprecedented fourth win in the heptathlon ensured her place in NCAA track and field annals. She becomes only the fourth woman -- but the first in a multi-discipline competition --  to win an event four times, joining 1,500-meter champ Suzy Favor, discus champion Seilala Sua and 100-meter dash titlist Angela Williams.

Her win came just days after capturing this year’s Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top female student-athlete in track and field.

“It’s a blessing and an honor to be recognized not only as an athlete, but me being in the classroom and taking care of business as well – along with being four-time national champ outdoors,” said Johnson, who also won three indoor pentathlon championships. “I’m honored and excited.”

Despite Johnson’s and the throwers’ efforts, though, LSU rallied again, helped especially by runner-up finishes by Latavia Thomas in the 800-meter run and Nickiesha Wilson in the 100-meter hurdles (a day after winning the 400-meter hurdles) to set up the decisive relay showdown.

In other events, three women posted meet records, including Colorado’s Jenny Barringer, who smashed Anna Willard’s year-old mark for Michigan in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by nine seconds and just missed an American record with her 9:29.20 time. It was Barringer’s second victory in the event in three years.

Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego posted another dominating win reminiscent of victories earlier this year in the cross country championships and in the indoor 5,000-meter run, this time beating the year-old outdoor 5,000-meter mark held by Wake Forest’s Michelle Sikes while finishing 31 seconds ahead of the field at Drake.

Kipyego also bettered the four-year old meet best in the 1,500-meter run, but the record for the event was claimed by Florida State’s Hannah England, who edged Kipyego with a time of 4:06.19.  Both runners beat Tiffany McWilliams’ 2004 performance for Mississippi State.

Two other events yielded repeat champions -- the 100-meter high hurdles, won again by Michigan’s Tiffany Ofili, and the 400-meter relay, won by Texas A&M.

Team results

1. LSU, 67; 2. Arizona St., 63; 3. Texas A&M, 48; 4. Penn St., 39; 5. Texas Tech, 32; 6. Stanford, 31; 7. Michigan, 29; 8. Oregon, 27; 9. Florida, 26; 10. UTEP, 25; 11. Southern California, 21; 12. Florida St., 16; 13. (tie) Tennessee and Minnesota, 15; 15. (tie) Baylor, Auburn, Kansas and Mississippi, 14; 19. Southern Methodist, 13; 20. (tie) Miami (Fla.) and Arizona, 12; 22. (tie) South Carolina, California and Arkansas, 11; 25. (tie) Hawaii, Colorado, Iowa St. and Southern Ill., 10; 29. (tie) Oklahoma and UCLA, 9; 31. (tie) New Mexico, Providence, Jacksonville, Washington St., Western Mich., Alabama, Memphis, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, San Diego St. and Cal Poly, 8; 43. (tie) Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Iowa, 6; 46. (tie) Brigham Young, Texas, UNI, North Carolina, Ohio St., Boston U. and Cal St. Northridge, 5; 53. (tie) Kansas St., Rice, Purdue and William & Mary, 4; 57. (tie) Oral Roberts, Weber St. and Colorado St., 3; 60. (tie) Georgia and Boston College, 2; 62. (tie) Akron, Virginia and Miami (Ohio), 1.

Individual champions

100-meter dash: Kelly-Ann Baptiste, LSU, 11.20.

200-meter dash: Simone Facey, Texas A&M, 22.63.

400-meter dash: Shana Cox, Penn St., 50.97.

800-meter run: Geena Gall, Michigan, 2:03.91.

1,500-meter run: Hannah England, Florida St., 4:06.19 [meet record; old record 4:06.75, Tiffany McWilliams, Mississippi St., 2004]

3,000-meter steeplechase: Jenny Barringer, Colorado, 9:29.20 [meet record; old record 9:38.08, Anna Willard, Michigan, 2007].

5,000-meter run: Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, 15:15.08 [meet record; old record 15:16.76, Michelle Sikes, Wake Forest, 2007].

10,000-meter run: Lisa Koll, Iowa St., 32:44.95.

100-meter high hurdles: Tiffany Ofili, Michigan, 12.84.

400-meter intermediate hurdles: Nickiesha Wilson, LSU, 54.45.

400-meter relay: Texas A&M (Elizabeth Adeoti, Porscha Lucas, Simone Facey, Allison George), 42.59.

1,600-meter relay: Penn St. (Dominique Blake, Aleesha Barber, Gayle Hunter, Shana Cox), 3:27.69.

High jump: Elizabeth Patterson, Arizona, 1.86 (6-1 1/4).

Pole vault: Katie Morgan, California, 4.20 (13-9 1/4).

Long jump: Brittney Reese, Mississippi, 6.93 (22-9).

Triple jump: Erica McLain, Stanford, 14.60 (47-11).

Shot put: Jessica Pressley, Arizona St., 18.13 (59-5 3/4).

Discus throw: Sarah Stevens, Arizona St., 56.14 (184-2).

Hammer throw: Eva Orban, Southern California, 68.71 (225-5).

Javelin throw: Rachel Yurkovich, Oregon, 56.58 (85-7).

Heptathlon: Jacquelyn Johnson, Arizona St., 6,053.

Individual results

100-meter dash: 1. Kelly-Ann Baptiste, LSU, 11.20; 2. Simone Facey, Texas A&M, 11.27; 3. Lakecia Ealey, Florida, 11.35; 4. Nickesha Anderson, Kansas, 11.37; 5. Jessica Onyepunuka, Southern California, 11.43; 6. Alexandria Anderson, Texas, 11.44; 7. Samantha Henry, LSU, 11.63; 8. Juanita Broaddus, LSU, 12.44.

200-meter dash: 1. Simone Facey, Texas A&M, 22.63; 2. Porscha Lucas, Texas A&M, 22.67; 3. Nickesha Anderson, Kansas, 22.91; 4. Kelly-Ann Baptiste, LSU, 22.95; 5. Samantha Henry, LSU, 23.22; 6. Natalie Knight, Florida, 23.24; 7. Alexandria Anderson, Texas, 23.35; 8. Tiffany Townsend, Baylor, 23.36.

400-meter dash: 1. Shana Cox, Penn St., 50.97; 2. Trish Bartholomew, Alabama, 51.29; 3. Carol Rodriguez, Southern California, 51.39; 4. Jessica Beard, Texas A&M, 51.75; 5. Kenyata Coleman, Mississippi, 51.81; 6. Brandi Cross, South Carolina, 51.86; 7. Jenna Griffin, Ohio St., 52.36; 8. Kineke Alexander, Iowa, 52.53.

800-meter run: 1. Geena Gall, Michigan, 2:03.91; 2. Latavia Thomas, LSU, 2:04.38; 3. Becky Horn, Western Mich., 2:04.67; 4. Zoe Buckman, Oregon, 2:04.69; 5. Heather Dorniden, Minnesota, 2:05.86; 6. Phoebe Wright, Tennessee, 2:06.56; 7. Carlee Clark-Platt, Brigham Young, 2:06.61; 8. Anna Layman, Washington St., 2:06.93.

1,500-meter run: 1. Hannah England, Florida St., 4:06.19 [meet record; old record old record 4:06.75, Tiffany McWilliams, Mississippi St., 2004]; 2. Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, 4:06.67; 3. Sarah Bowman, Tennessee, 4:07.50; 4. Dacia Barr, Arkansas, 4:11.02; 5. Emily Anderson, William & Mary, 4:14.73; 6. Nicole Edwards, Michigan, 4:15.00; 7. Lauren Hagans, Baylor, 4:15.43; 8. Susan Kuijken, Florida St., 4:17.28.

3,000-meter steeplechase: 1. Jenny Barringer, Colorado, 9:29.20 [meet record; old record 9:38.08, Anna Willard, Michigan, 2007]; 2. Silje Fjortoft, Southern Methodist, 9:55.54; 3. Bridget Franek, Penn St., 9:58.74; 4. Lindsay Allen, Stanford, 10:05.26; 5. Irene Kimaiyo, Texas Tech, 10:05.29; 6. Angela Wagner, Brigham Young, 10:06.05; 7. Sarah Madebach, Georgia, 10:07.16; 8. Sariah Long, Weber St., 10:07.77.

5,000-meter run: 1. Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, 15:15.08 [meet record; old record 15:16.76, Michelle Sikes, Wake Forest, 2007]; 2. Angela Bizzarri, Illinois, 15:46.08; 3. Nicole Blood, Oregon, 15:49.22; 4. Teresa McWalters, Stanford, 15:50.18; 5. Rebecca Lowe, Florida, 15:50.73; 6. Tasmin Fanning, Virginia Tech, 15:54.38; 7. Gwen Jorgensen, Wisconsin, 16:10.85; 8. Hollie Knight, Auburn, 16:11.46.

10,000-meter run: 1. Lisa Koll, Iowa St., 32:44.95; 2. Danette Doetzel, Providence, 33:44.23; 3. Alexandra Gits, Stanford, 33:49.73; 4. Marisa Ryan, Boston U., 33:54.38; 5. Katrina Rundhaug, Wisconsin, 34:00.62; 6. Meghan Armstrong, Iowa, 34:01.87; 7. Morgan Haws, Weber St., 34:05.56; 8. Racheal Marchand, Iowa, 34:05.87.

100-meter high hurdles: 1. Tiffany Ofili, Michigan, 12.84; 2. Nickiesha Wilson, LSU, 13.00; 3. Shantia Moss, Georgia Tech, 13.15; 4. Aleesha Barber, Penn St., 13.18; 5. Latoya Greaves, Oklahoma, 13.30; 6. Jessica Ohanaja, LSU, 13.32; 7. Celriece Law, Tennessee, 13.57; 8. Shalina Clarke, Southern California, 13.58.

400-meter intermediate hurdles: 1. Nickiesha Wilson, LSU, 54.45; 2. Nicole Leach, UCLA, 54.62; 3. Takecia Jameson, Miami (Fla.), 56.75; 4. LaToya James, North Carolina, 56.91; 5. Amelia Anderson, Auburn, 57.12; 6. Danielle Gilchrist, Auburn, 57.81; 7. Danielle Brown, Western Mich., 58.31; 8. Ti'erra Brown, Miami (Fla.), 58.47.

400-meter relay: 1. Texas A&M (Elizabeth Adeoti, Porscha Lucas, Simone Facey, Allison George), 42.59; 2. LSU, 42.85; 3. Baylor, 43.61; 4. Florida, 43.61; 5. Tennessee, 43.83; 6. UTEP, 43.95; 7. South Carolina, 44.04; 8. California, 44.32.

1,600-meter relay: 1. Penn St. (Dominique Blake, Aleesha Barber, Gayle Hunter, Shana Cox), 3:27.69; 2. LSU, 3:28.33; 3. South Carolina, 3:30.78; 4. Baylor, 3:32.67; 5. Arizona St., 3:33.45; 6. Ohio St., 3:33.73; 7. Texas A&M, 3:33.79; 8. UCLA, 3:34.47.

High jump: 1. Elizabeth Patterson, Arizona, 1.86 (6-1 1/4); 2. Sharon Day, Cal Poly, 1.86 (6-1 1/4); 3. Raevan Harris, Auburn, 1.86 (6-1 1/4); 4. Desirae Gonder, Cal St. Northridge, 1.83 (6-0); 5. Amber Kaufman, Hawaii, 1.83 (6-0); 6. Emily Sheppard, Hawaii, 1.80 (5-10 3/4); 7. Jasmin Day, Arizona, 1.80 (5-10 3/4); 8. Kristina Bolterstein, Miami (Ohio), 1.80 (5-10 3/4).

Pole vault: 1. Katie Morgan, California, 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 2. Stephanie Bagan, San Diego St., 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 3. Katie Stripling, Arkansas, 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 4. April Kubishta, Arizona St., 4.20 (13-9 1/4); 5. Rachel Greff, Rice, 4.10 (13-5 1/4); 6. Kelly Phillips, Virginia Tech, 4.10 (13-5 1/4); 7. Jenny Soceka, Wisconsin, 4.10 (13-5 1/4); 8. Melissa Gergel, Oregon, 4.00 (13-1 1/2).

Long jump: 1. Brittney Reese, Mississippi, 6.93 (22-9); 2. Natasha Harvey, Jacksonville, 6.65 (21-10); 3. Blessing Okagbare, UTEP, 6.59 (21-7 1/2); 4. Erica McLain, Stanford, 6.56 (21-6 1/4); 5. Gayle Hunter, Penn St., 6.52 (21-4 3/4); 6. Janay DeLoach, Colorado St., 6.48 (21-3 1/4); 7. Bianca Stuart, Southern Ill., 6.47 (21-2 3/4); 8. Shara Proctor, Florida, 6.36 (20-10 1/2).

Triple jump: 1. Erica McLain, Stanford, 14.60 (47-11); 2. Blessing Okagbare, UTEP, 14.01 (45-11 3/4); 3. Nelly Tchayem, UTEP, 13.82 (45-4 1/4); 4. Kimberly Williams, Florida St., 13.78 (45-2 1/2); 5. Ashika Charan, Texas A&M, 13.50 (44-3 1/2); 6. Toni Smith, Oklahoma, 13.46 (44-2); 7. Crystal Manning, Kansas, 13.40 (43-11 3/4); 8. Yasmine Regis, Texas A&M, 13.39 (43-11 1/4).

Shot put: 1. Jessica Pressley, Arizona St., 18.13 (59-5 3/4); 2. Susan King, Memphis, 17.68 (58-0 1/4); 3. Mariam Kevkhishvili, Florida, 17.43 (57-2 1/4); 4. Rachel Jansen, UNI, 17.36 (56-11 1/2); 5. Patience Knight, Texas Tech, 17.26 (56-7 1/2); 6. Sarah Stevens, Arizona St., 17.21 (56-5 3/4); 7. Keisha Walkes, UTEP, 16.37 (53-8 1/2); 8. Stephanie Horton, Kansas, 16.12 (52-10 3/4).

Discus throw: 1. Sarah Stevens, Arizona St., 56.14 (184-2); 2. Tai Battle, Arizona St., 55.69 (182-8); 3. D'Andra Carter, Texas Tech, 55.34 (181-7); 4. Khadija Talley, Miami (Fla.), 54.73 (179-7); 5. McKenzie Garberg, Washington St., 53.30 (174-10); 6. Rachel Talbert, Oral Roberts, 50.46 (165-7); 7. Jessica Pressley, Arizona St., 50.27 (164-11); 8. Billie-Jo Grant, Virginia, 50.26 (164-11).

Hammer throw: 1. Eva Orban, Southern California, 68.71 (225-5); 2. Brittany Riley, Southern Ill., 67.44 (221-3); 3. Sarah Stevens, Arizona St., 66.37 (217-9); 4. Jessica Pressley, Arizona St., 65.28 (214-2); 5. Loren Groves, Kansas St., 64.12 (210-4); 6. McKenzie Garberg, Washington St., 64.09 (210-3); 7. Brittany Pryor, Virginia Tech, 63.42 (208-1); 8. Stevi Large, Akron, 62.88 (206-3).

Javelin throw: 1. Rachel Yurkovich, Oregon, 56.58 (85-7); 2. Katie Coronado, New Mexico, 54.71 (179-6); 3. Kayla Wilkinson, Nebraska, 54.60 (179-2); 4. Andrea Kvetova, Southern Methodist, 54.47 (178-8); 5. Kara Patterson, Purdue, 53.93 (176-11); 6. Ruby Radocaj, Minnesota, 52.43 (172-0); 7. Amy Backel, Oklahoma, 52.39 (171-10); 8. Evelien Dekkers, Florida, 50.71 (166-4).

Heptathlon: 1. Jacquelyn Johnson, Arizona St., 6,053; 2. Liz Roehrig, Minnesota, 5,811; 3. Bettie Wade, Michigan, 5,738; 4. Brianne Theisen, Oregon, 5,710; 5. Gayle Hunter, Penn St., 5,709; 6. Annett Wichmann, Hawaii, 5,670; 7. Kasey Hill, Boston College, 5,666; 8. Tammilee Kerr, Iowa, 5,633.