The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Crouser defends shot put title at NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
06.11.2014 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Junior wins third-straight national shot put crown during Wednesday’s opening-day action, Hock in position to defend decathlon title
2014 NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
• When: Wednesday, June 11 - Saturday, June 14 - Meet Information | Meet Notes
• Where: Eugene, Oregon (Hayward Field)
• Entries: Men | Women
• Start Lists: Men - Day One | Women - Day One | Men/Women - Day Two
• Results: Day One - PDF
• Live Results: Click here
• Video: NCAA Outdoor meet preview (June 7, 2014) | NCAA news conference (June 10, 2014) | Day One Recap
• Photo Gallery: Media day | Day One
EUGENE, Ore. – Ryan Crouser won his third-straight national shot put title during Wednesday's action at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and Johannes Hock is halfway to defending his decathlon title.
In the final event during first-day action at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon, Crouser defended his outdoor title with a toss of 69 feet, 3 1/2 inches (21.12m) for the fifth-ranked Texas men. The native of nearby Boring, Oregon, also won the 2014 NCAA indoor crown and extended his shot-put winning streak to 14 competitions.
"It feels great and there's no place I'd rather do it than Eugene in front of friends and family," Crouser said. "That was a really special thing to do and the atmosphere was great."
Competing in just his second decathlon since winning last year's national title and having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Hock leads the way after posting a personal-best opening-day total of 4,243 points in the 10-event competition, which concludes Thursday. Hock is ahead of second-place Zach Ziemek of Wisconsin by 20 points and had the top mark of the day in the both the 100 meters – wind-aided (2.4 meters per second) 10.69 – and the shot put – 49 feet, 5 inches (15.06m). He also had a personal-best 49.48 in the 400 meters, to finish third in the final event of the day.
"It's great to see him back to form," head coach Mario Sategna said of Hock, who tossed the javelin with his left arm during this year's Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in order to post a qualifying mark for nationals.
The Texas men are second in the team standings with 11.50 points after three scored events. Sophomore Reese Watson finished tied for seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 18 feet, 1/2 (5.50m).
The top-ranked Texas women entered the meet as one of the favorites and advanced five from running semifinals to finals.
Three of four moved from the semifinal to final in the women's 400 meters. Courtney Okolo, the collegiate record-holder, won her heat in a semifinal-best 50.78, just ahead of teammate Kendall Baisden who crossed the finish line in 51.67 (fourth overall). Briana Nelson was second in her heat (third overall) in 51.40.
Unfortunately, Ashley Spencer will be unable to post her third-straight NCAA title. Spencer, a junior, won a pair of outdoor 400m titles with Illinois, but the first-year transfer reinjured her leg and did not finish her heat. Spencer strained a quad muscle in her left leg during the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
"She said she felt good through about 250 meters of the race today and it just gave way," Sategna said.
Morolake Akinosun advanced to the final of the 100 meters with a personal-best time of 11.04 in the semifinal (second overall).
Akinosun also anchored the 4x100-meter relay, which advanced from the semifinal to final.
"She ran a phenomenal closing leg," Sategna said
Morgan Snow, Baisden and Okolo ran the first three legs of the 4x100m relay, which clocked the fourth-best time (43.69).
Crouser's shot-put victory did come at a price as he suffered foot injury on his final attempt. He had the victory in hand by virtue of his 67-2 1/4 (20.48m) toss on his second attempt, but was trying to improve that on his sixth attempt. He did that posting his winning mark, but landed awkwardly on his left foot.
"We don't really know right now," Crouser said on the extent of the injury. "On my last throw I jammed into the toe board and felt a pop. It's up for grabs right now and I'm going in for an x-ray later."
Crouser is among a number of contenders for the discus title. That event will be contested Friday.
Freshman Senoj-Jay Givans just missed an opportunity to reach the final in the 100 meters. He clocked a wind-aided (2.2 mps) time of 10.15, which was ninth overall in the semifinal. Sophomore Zack Bilderback was 12th in the semifinals with a time of 46.28. Eight reach finals in running events - the top two finishers in three heats and the next two best times. Givans and Bilderback were fourth in their heats.
Freshman Wolf Mahler is making his first appearance at a national meet. He is 17th in the decathlon with a total of 3,819. He ended the day by clocking a 48.33 in the 400, the second-best time in the field.
Thursday's action gets underway at 1 p.m. Central.
"For us to put ourselves in contention for the team title or even a team trophy, it needs to be a complete team effort," Sategna said. "It's not going to be one or two individuals. We're going to do everything we can tomorrow to advance everyone we can to finals. It's also a time for some of our other young ladies to step up."
Broadcast/Webcast Schedule: ESPN3/ESPNU has exclusive rights for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The remaining schedule is as follows (all times Central):
• Thursday, June 12 - ESPN3.com (5:55-10 p.m.)
• Friday, June 13 - ESPNU (6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 14 - ESPNU (4-6 p.m.)
Note: The meet is also available on WatchESPN
Social Media: Check the Texas track and field twitter (@UTexasTrack) for team updates during the meet. More information can also be found at #NCAATF and on the Oregon track and field account (@OregonTF).
Longhorn Notes
• Johannes Hock has nearly the same total after day one of the decathlon as he did in his victory last season. Hock collected 4,224 points on the opening day in 2013 on his way to the ninth-best total in collegiate history (8,267). He was just the second freshman to win the NCAA decathlon title (Tito Steiner of BYU, 1977) and is seeking to become only the fourth athlete to repeat as champion. Previous repeat decathlon champions include Rob Muzzio of George Mason (1984-85), Jake Arnold of BYU (2007-07) and Ashton Eaton of Oregon (2008-10). The decathlon has been an NCAA event since 1970.
• The men's 4x100-meter relay was unable to advance to Saturday's final, but this was just the second time in the last 11 years (also 2011) the Horns advanced both relay units to the national meet.
• With his tie for seventh showing, Reese Watson became the ninth Longhorn to score in the men's pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (Ralph Hammond, 1927; Baylus Bennett; Doug Jones, 1986; Warren Smith, 1990; Scotty Miller, 1991; Wayne Guidry, 1994; Jacob Davis, 1998-99; Brian Hunter, 2002; Maston Wallace, 2008). Davis (1999), Hunter and Wallace won NCAA titles.
• Senior Katie Hoaldridge capped off her career this evening. She finished 23rd in the 800-meter semifinal in 2:08.46. Hoaldridge, who was seeded No. 20 in the race and making her first appearance at a national meet, was a four-time All-Big 12 performer. She clocked a personal-best 2:05.68 at the NCAA West Preliminary Round to advance to the national meet.
• Senior Danielle Dowie finished her career tonight. Dowie did not advance out of the 400-meter hurdles semifinal. She finished 14th in 58.08 and ends her career as a 10-time All-American (six first team/four second team).
• Texas is the first team to advance three to the women's 400-meter final at the NCAA outdoor meet in 12 years, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). South Carolina last did it in 2002 and went on to win the national title.
• Texas has won four NCAA shot put titles and Ryan Crouser has three of them. Crouser has won the last two outdoor crowns as well as the 2014 indoor title. Dana LeDuc captured the shot put at the 1977 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
TEXAS ENTRIES/RESULTS - NCAA Outdoor Championships
Eugene, Oregon • Hayward Field • All Times Central
Wednesday, June 11
Women
• 100 Meters - Semifinal: 2. Morolake Akinosun, 11.04q
• 400 Meters - Semifinal: 1. Courtney Okolo, 50.78q; 3. Briana Nelson, 51.40q; 4. Kendall Baisden, 51.67q; -- Ashley Spencer, DNF
• 800 Meters - Semifinal: 23. Katie Hoaldridge, 2:08.46
• 400-Meter Hurdles - Semifinal: 14. Danielle Dowie, 58.18; 22. Melissa Gonzalez, 1:01.28
• 4x100-Meter Relay - Semifinal: 4. Morgan Snow, Kendall Baisden, Courtney Okolo, Morolake Akinosun, 43.69q
Men
• 100 Meters - Semifinal: 9. Senoj-Jay Givans, 10.15 (w2.2)
• 400 Meters - Semifinal: 12. Zack Bilderback, 46.28
• 4x100-Meter Relay - Semifinal: 19. Charles Anumnu, Zack Bilderback, Senoj-Jay Givans, Chris Irvin, 39.95
• Pole Vault: t7. Reese Watson, 18-0.50 (5.50m)
• Shot Put: 1. Ryan Crouser, 69-3.50 (21.12m)
• 100 Meters - Decathlon: 1. Johannes Hock, 10.69/w2.4 (931); 4. Wolf Mahler, 10.83/w2.4 (899)
• Long Jump - Decathlon: 4. Johannes Hock, 24-3.75/7.41m (913); 21. Wolf Mahler, 22.3.75/6.80m (767)
• Shot Put - Decathlon: 1. Johannes Hock, 49.5/15.06m (793); 19. Wolf Mahler, 38-11.50/11.87m (599)
• High Jump - Decathlon: 11. Johannes Hock, 6-5/1.96m (767); 21. Wolf Mahler, 6-0.50/1.84m (661)
• 400 Meters – Decathlon: 2. Wolf Mahler, 48.33 (893); 3. Johannes Hock, 49.48 (839)
• Decathlon (Five Events): 1. Johannes Hock, 4243; 17. Wolf Mahler, 3819
Thursday, June 12
Women
• 200 Meters - Semifinal (6:15 p.m.): Morolake Akinosun
• 100-Meter Hurdles - Semifinal (7:20 p.m.): Morgan Snow
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Semifinal (8:40 p.m.):
• 10,000 Meters - Final (9:15 p.m.): Olivia Mickle
Men
• 110-Meter Hurdles - Decathlon (1 p.m.): Johannes Hock, Wolf Mahler
• Discus - Decathlon (2 p.m.): Johannes Hock, Wolf Mahler
• Pole Vault - Decathlon (4 p.m.): Johannes Hock, Wolf Mahler
• 200 Meters - Semifinal (6 p.m.): Senoj-Jay Givans
• Javelin _ Decathlon (6:30 p.m.): Johannes Hock, Wolf Mahler
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Semifinal (8:20 p.m.):
• 1,500 Meters - Decathlon (9 p.m.): Johannes Hock, Wolf Mahler
Friday, June 13
Women
• Pole Vault (5:15 p.m.): Kaitlin Petrillose
• 100 Meters - Final (7:07 p.m.): Morolake Akinosun
• 400 Meters - Final (8 p.m.): Courtney Okolo, Briana Nelson, Kendall Baisden
Men
• Discus (6 p.m.): Ryan Crouser, Will Spence
Saturday, June 14
Women
• High Jump (2:45 p.m.): Shanay Briscoe
• 4x100-Meter Relay - Final (4:10 p.m.): Morgan Snow, Kendall Baisden, Courtney Okolo, Morolake Akinosun
• 200 Meters - Final (4:49 p.m.):
• 100-Meter Hurdles - Final (5:19 p.m.):
• 5,000 Meters - Final (5:24 p.m.): Marielle Hall
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Final (5:55 p.m.):
Men
• Javelin (2:35 p.m.): Fabian Jara Dohmann
• 200 Meters - Final (4:42 p.m.):
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Final (5:47 p.m.):
q – qualified for final
