The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Track and Field makes history with third consecutive Big 12 indoor championship
03.01.2008 | XC: Men_Old, Track & Field / Cross Country
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LINCOLN, Neb. -- The seventh-ranked Longhorns are Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Champions for the third consecutive season.
Texas rewrote Big 12 history as just the second program to win three consecutive indoor conference championships. UT outscored host-school and second-place Nebraska by two points, 106-104, for its fourth overall league crown. Prior to the meet, Texas captured the team championship in 1999, 2006 and tied NU in 2007.
UT won four individual titles and captured one relay championship. Senior Leo Manzano became the first Longhorn to win four consecutive titles in the mile run, and juniors Tevan Everett and Jacob Hernandez defended their event wins from 2007. Redshirt junior Kyle Miller won his first 1,000-meter run event.
The meet came down to the final race for the second straight year. Texas led by three points, 102-99, and needed to finish within three points of Nebraska for the championship. UT placed fifth in 3:11.63, just one point behind NU's fourth-place relay. The 4x400-meter relay consisted of freshman Andre Thomas (St. Peters, Mo.), Hernandez (Magnolia, Texas), Everett (Bel-Aire, Kan.) and freshman Danzell Fortson (Fort Worth, Texas).
Manzano (Marble Falls, Texas) won his fourth consecutive mile title in 4:01.39, and second championship of the meet (anchored the distance-medley relay). During his race, he fought strong surges from Nebraska's Pete van der Westhuizen and Iowa State's Hillary Bor for his record-setting fourth title. He is the first student-athlete in Big 12 history to win four consecutive mile run titles. The 10-time All-Big performer now has nine Big 12 titles (seven indoor and two outdoor).
Hernandez (Magnolia, Texas) repeated as 800-meter champion, finishing in 1:48.96. He stands as the only Longhorn to win a Big 12 800-meter title and also the only two-time 800-meter UT conference champion (Big 12 or Southwest). First-year runner Logan Gonzales (Boone, Iowa) joined the scoring effort in the 800, chipping in five points with a fourth-place finish (1:52.01).
Everett (Bel-Aire, Kan.) grabbed his second consecutive 600-yard run title, and first for Texas. Everett rounded the track in 1:09.64 for the gold medal in the event.
Miller (Katy, Texas) won his first individual Big 12 title. Miller, who placed fourth in 2006, finished in 2:26.78, almost a full second ahead of the second-place performer (Oklahoma's Tony Clement).
Senior Jake Morse (Spring, Texas) contributed 13 points in two distance events. Morse netted five points with a fourth-place showing in the mile run (4:03.64). He returned in the 3,000-meter to earn runner-up honors in 8:08.44.
Junior Elliot O'Hare (Austin, Texas) also scored in two events. He finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles in a season-best 7.93 seconds, and placed eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 49-11.75 (15.23m).
Freshman Maston Wallace (Houston, Texas) opened his Big 12 championship career with a runner-up finish in the pole vault. The first-year Horn cleared 17-0.75 (5.30m) to give Texas an eight-point lift in the score. Sophomore Will Paine (Houston, Texas) vaulted the same height but placed fifth due to a larger number of missed attempts.
Junior Raymond Harris (Nacogdoches, Texas) finished third behind NCAA leaders Scott Sellers (Kansas State) and Dusty Jonas (Nebraska) in the high jump. Harris cleared a season-best 7-1.75 (2.18m) to improve his provisional standing on the national list. Harris cleared four consecutive heights on the first attempt before missing on his first career try at 7-7.75 (2.23m). Senior high jumper Joel Hargett (Conroe, Texas) placed just outside of the top eighth scorers, jumping 6-9.75 (2.08m) for ninth.
Fortson earned his first individual All-Big 12 honor as he won his 400-meter heat and finished fourth overall in 47.42. Thomas joined him on the all-conference team with an eighth-place performance in the quarter-mile in 48.20.
Freshman Devon Bond (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) led the Texas trio in the triple jump. Bond landed in the pit in 50-3.25 (15.32m) for seventh, ahead of O'Hare and senior Joseph Davis (San Antonio, Texas). Davis jumped 49-10.5 (15.20m) for ninth.
Opening the day for Texas, sophomore Shawn Schmidt (Plano, Texas) set personal records in five of seven events en route to scoring a career-best 5,414 points. He met the NCAA provisional standard of 5,300 points. Schmidt, now a two-time All-Big 12 honoree, had his strongest performance in the pole vault today, eclipsing his personal best by a foot to a new height of 15-11 (4.85m). He finished 11th with a personal-best time of 8.72 in the 60-meter hurdles and fourth in the 1,000-meter run (2:44.74).
The Longhorns will light the UT Tower this week to recognize its win at the conference championship. UT will return to the track next weekend (March 7-8) for last chance races before heading to the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship from Friday-Saturday, March 14-15 in Fayetteville, Ark.
BIG 12 RESULTS (day two)
@- NCAA automatic; # - NCAA provisional
400-meter Finals (A: 46.15; P: 47.25)
1. Lejerald Betters (Baylor), 47.63
4. Danzell Fortson (Texas), 47.42
8. Andre Thomas (Texas), 48.20
600-yard Finals (non-NCAA sponsored event)
1. Tevan Everett (Texas), 1:09.64
2. Lamont Adams (Texas Tech), 1:10.12
800-meter Finals (A: 1:48.20; P: 1:50.50)
1. Jacob Hernandez (Texas), 1:48.96#
4. Logan Gonzales (Texas), 1:52.01
1,000-meter Finals (non-NCAA sponsored event)
1. Kyle Miller (Texas), 2:26.78
2. Tony Clement (Oklahoma), 2:27.51
Mile run Finals (A: 3:59.50; P: 4:04)
1. Leo Manzano (Texas), 4:01.39#
4. Jake Morse (Texas), 4:03.64#
3,000-meter Finals (A: 7:54.50; P: 8:05)
1. Ryan Vail (Oklahoma State), 8:06.58
2. Jake Morse (Texas), 8:08.44
10. Erik Stanley (Texas), 9:18.93
13. Leo Manzano (Texas), 8:20.83
24. Brandon Birdsong (Texas), 8:31.10
26. Kyle Miller (Texas), 8:32.71
51. Jay Heller (Texas), 8:59.04
60-meter Hurdles Finals (A: 7.70; P: 7.91)
1. Shawon Harris (Texas Tech), 7.77
4. Elliot O'Hare (Texas), 7.93
4x400-meter relay Finals (A: 3:06.50; P: 3:10.40)
1. Texas, 3:11.63
(A. Thomas, J. Hernandez, Tn. Everett, D. Fortson)
High Jump Finals (A: 2.24m; P: 2.14m)
1. Scott Sellers (Kansas State), 7-6 (2.29m)
3. Raymond Harris (Texas), 7-1.75 (2.18m)
9. Joel Hargett (Texas), 6-9.75 (2.08m)
Shot Put Finals (A: 19.30m; P: 17.75m)
1. Nate Englin (Missouri), 59-7 (18.16m)
11. Nick Baucum (Texas), 50-6 (15.39m)
Pole Vault Finals (A: 5.50m; P: 5.20m)
1. Jordan Scott (Kansas), 18-0.5 (5.50m)
2. Maston Wallace (Texas), 17-0.75 (5.20m)
5. Will Paine (Texas), 17-0.75 (5.20m)
Triple Jump Finals (A: 16.10m; P: 15.40m)
1. Shardae Boutte (Oklahoma), 52-10 (16.10m)
7. Devon Bond (Texas), 50-3.25 (15.32m)
8. Elliot O'Hare (Texas), 49-11.75 (15.23m)
9. Joseph Davis (Texas), 49-10.5 (15.20m)
Heptathlon (A: 5,650 points; P: 5,300 points)
1. Nick Adcock (Texas), 5,795 points
8. Shawn Schmidt (Texas), 5,414 points#
12. Kenny Greaves (Texas), 4,840 points
Heptathlon 60-meter Hurdles
1. Nick Adcock (Missouri), 8.12
10. Andrew Webb (Texas), 8.71
11. Shawn Schmidt (Texas), 8.72
13. Kenny Greaves (Texas), 9.02
Heptathlon Pole Vault
1. Pat Burke (Nebraska), 16-2.75 (4.95m)|
2. Shawn Schmidt (Texas), 15-11 (4.85m)
T7. Kenny Greaves (Texas), 14-7.25 (4.45m)
Heptathlon 1,000-meter
1. Moritz Cleve (Kansas State), 2:38.06
4. Shawn Schmidt (Texas), 2:44.74
13. Kenny Greaves (Texas), 2:57.86
POSTMEET QUOTES
HEAD COACH BUBBA THORNTON
On winning the team title: We started building this team at the [Houston Indoor Opener]. We started talking about everyone's role in winning a team title. I'm so proud of our staff and our student-athletes. I have got to put this down as one of the all-time best feelings I've ever had. We had a total effort from all of our guys. This one is truly about the team.
FOUR-TIME MILE RUN CHAMPION LEO MANZANO
On winning the mile run for the fourth straight indoor season: I didn't know that I won for a fourth time. It's been a long road that actually started here in 2005 when I set the Big 12 record and broke the four-minute barrier. This place [Devaney Center] and that moment are where I moved into the spotlight. What better place and better thing to do at this track.
BIG 12 800-METER CHAMPION JACOB HERNANDEZ
On winning the 800-meter run: Before the race, I talked with my coach [Coach Jason Vigilante] about using my speed to finish strong. There's always pressure when you are the defending champion but I respect my competitors and know that I need to treat the race as if it's my last.
FRESHMAN SPRINTER DANZELL FORTSON
On his anchor leg of the 4x400-meter relay: I wanted to run a smooth race and finish strong. I didn't want to get tight because this is my fourth 400 in two days. When I grabbed the baton, it was all mental. I just knew I had to run my race and finish strong.
JUNIOR 600-YARD CHAMPION TEVAN EVERETT
On defending his title in the 600-yard run: It feels good. Transferring schools and adjusting to a new training program is tough. You just have to do what's necessary. I definitely executed our race plan. Many of the guys in the final were strong 400-meter runners. I knew that I am strong from 400-800. I knew if I get to the break ahead, I would have the strength to finish on top.
BIG 12 1,000-METER RUN CHAMPION KYLE MILLER
On winning the 1,000-meter run: This race was about scoring points for the team so we could win. I felt good running my race. I came out slow, and stayed in good position. I knew I needed to be in first when it was time to go and I was which helped me win.