The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Track and Field's Manson ends UT career as runner-up at NCAA Championships
06.09.2007 | Track & Field / Cross Country m, Track & Field / Cross Country
SACRAMENTO -- Two-time NCAA national champion and 2007 NCAA high jump runner-up Andra Manson led the 10th-ranked Texas men's track and field team on the third day of competition at the 2007 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.
Manson (Brenham, Texas) finished as the NCAA runner-up in the high jump, clearing 7 feet, 6 inches (2.29m) for all eight of Texas' team points. The Longhorns ended day three tied for No. 22 with four other teams (Colorado, Villanova, Arizona State, Middle Tennessee State). Defending NCAA Champion Florida State is in first place with 34 points.
"It's not about me, it's about the team and the University of Texas, and letting the guys know that we are representing, not just ourselves, but UT as well," Manson commented as he walked off the awards stand.
In today's competition, the seven-time All-American made Texans proud starting the competition clearing with six consecutive bars with zero misses. The six-time Big 12 Champion entered at 6-10.75 (2.10m) with two misses over eight overall attempts. He missed once at 7-3.75 (2.23m) and at 7-5 (2.26m) before making both heights.
"The competition was great," said Manson, who was topped by Kansas' Scott Sellers. "The Big 12 and Midwest Region are just as tough as this is with a lot of the same competition. I knew who I needed to beat, and my hat goes off to Scott because he competed again and he deserves it."
Manson, who took two of his three attempts at 7-7.25 (2.32m) into swirling headwinds, had the same mark as 2007 NCAA Indoor Champion Donald Thomas in the event. Manson took runner-up honors as he had less misses than Thomas.
"The conditions were not the best because of swirling winds," said Manson. "They were kind of what (assistant coach Mario Sategna and I) expected. The headwind played a factor in the qualifying rounds because it puts you farther away from the bar at takeoff. I'm not blaming it on that. I just didn't jump well enough to win. Now, I just go back to the weight room and get stronger from there."
Manson ends his career as the second best high jumper in school history. He has an indoor best of 7-7.75 (2.33m) from the 2007 season and outdoor best of 7-7.25 (2.32m) in winning the 2004 NCAA Outdoor High Jump Championship. In eight NCAA appearances, he has earned All-American honors seven times and finished in the top two on five occasions.
Manson will compete in one more meet for the Longhorns - the 2007 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The four-day meet begins June 21 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Hoping to add to the Texas scoring are senior Samyr Laine (Newburgh, N.Y.) and junior Hamza Deyaf (Richardson, Texas) who advanced to the finals of the triple jump and 400-meter hurdles, respectively.
Laine jumped 50-10 (15.49m) to tie for 12th in the qualifying round.
Deyaf had the best hurdle race of his three-year career as he ran a lifetime best 50.60 seconds. He held the eighth position in the long hurdles and improved to the eighth fastest performer in Texas history.
"Hamza has competed hard and made it to the finals," commented UT head coach Bubba Thornton. "We go tomorrow and hope Samyr, Leo (Manzano), (Erik) Stanley and Hamza can score, and hopefully we'll get the place we need to accomplish our goals."
Another senior ended his career at UT. On his final throw, Derek Randall (Beeville, Texas) recorded a mark of 185-7 (56.56m) for ninth-place in the discus.
Randall leaves the Forty Acres in the No. 4 position on UT's all-time top 10 performers' list with his throw of 200-7 from the 2006 NCAA Midwest Region Championship meet. Randall had a career year in 2007 as he won the 2007 Big 12 and NCAA Midwest Region discus titles. He won four total event crowns this year, taking the top spot at the Texas Invitational and the Texas Twilight.
"I'm sure (Manson and Randall) are a little disappointed in their performances but I'm extremely proud of how they have competed for the University of Texas," Thornton. "Andra went to 7-6 with no misses, but it just wasn't his day. He still finished second. Derek competed well it just didn't happen for him. I'm proud of what they've given to the program."
Four Longhorns are in competition on the final day of the meet. Laine takes the triple jump runway at noon. Deyaf has the first race of the morning at 12:05 p.m. Manzano and Stanley run in the 1,500-meter final at 1:10 p.m.
2007 NCAA Championships
Day Three Results (June 8)
NCAA Champions
NCAA All-Americans (top eight)
Andra Manson (second-place)
High jump final
1. Scott Sellers (Kansas), 7-7.25 (2.32m)
2. Andra Manson (Texas), 7-6 (2.29m)
3. Donald Thomas (Auburn), 7-6 (2.29m)
Discus final
1. Niklas Arrhenius (Brigham Young), 206-2 (62.84m)
9. Derek Randall (Texas), 185-7 (56.56m)
400-meter hurdles semifinal
p1. Isa Phillips (LSU), 49.31
p8. Hamza Deyaf (Texas), 50.60
Triple jump qualifying
p1. Muhammad Halim (Cornell), 52-7.25 (16.03m)
pT12. Samyr Laine (Texas), 50-10 (15.49m)
