Women finish second, men 11th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

EUGENE, Ore. – The Texas women's track and field team saved its best for last at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but came up a little short and finished runner-up in the team standings in the four-day meet which was held at the University of Oregon.

The women won the final two events Saturday with Marielle Hall cruising to victory in the 5,000 meters and the 4x400-meter relay unit setting a meet record. However, by that time Texas A&M had clinched the team title. The Aggies finished with 75 points and the Longhorns 66. Oregon was third with 59.

The Ducks rolled to the men's team title, collecting 88 points. Florida was second with 70 and Texas was 11th with 19.50 points.

The Longhorns came in as one of the favorites for the women's team title after finishing second to Oregon by one-half point at the NCAA Indoor meet in March and No. 1 in the final regular season U.S Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association team rankings. Texas collected three individual titles with Courtney Okolo claiming the 400-meter crown on Friday, but were missing one of their key quarter-milers with Ashley Spencer, the two-time defending outdoor 400m champion, reinjuring a leg during Wednesday's semifinal of that event.

The women had their best finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since winning the title in 2005. It was their second top-five showing since that title (fifth in 2009).

Hall won the 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 35.11 seconds to claim the Longhorns' second national title in the event. Annie Schweitzer won the 5,000 at the 1987 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"I can't say enough about Marielle Hall," head coach Mario Sategna. "She was lights out during cross country, did well during indoor conference, but did not advance to the indoor national meet and I don't think she wins today had she not gone through that experience."

Hall knocked off two-time defending champ Abbey D'Agostino of Dartmouth and Aisling Cuffe of Stanford, who had No. 1 regular-season time in the nation (15:11.13). Hall's school-record time of 15:19.26, set at the Stanford Invitational in April, was second. She broke Schweitzer's school record (15:46.00) which was set in winning the 1987 title. Hall's time Saturday is No. 2 in UT history. Cuffe was second in 15:37.74 and D'Agostino third (15:43.54)

"I've been feeling really good since cross country and I haven't had a (5,000m) race (lately) and haven't been able to show that," Hall said. "So to come out here and have it come together, I'm obviously really excited—but I knew that I had it inside me."

In winning the 4x400-meter relay, Briana Nelson, Kendall Baisden, Morolake Akinosun and Okolo, not only set the meet-record (3:24.21), but also posted the second-fastest time in collegiate history. In fact, the Longhorns have posted five of the top 11 best times in collegiate history, including three this season. Texas A&M was second in the race, crossing the finish line in 3:25.63, the eighth-fastest time in collegiate history.

"Morolake has been tremendous all season and she stepped in for Ashley and split 51 seconds, but again we are only as good as our lead leg and Briana Nelson being a senior stepped up and put us into position," Sategna said. "Kendall was also impressive. I just felt that if we were within 10 meters and we got the stick to Courtney if we were behind, she was going run whoever down and it didn't even come to that."

It marked the ninth all-time win in the 4x400 relay at NCAA outdoors for the Longhorns, which is a record. LSU is the next closest with six wins.

The Longhorns also picked up points Saturday in the 200 meters, 100-meter hurdles, high jump and 4x100-meter relay.

In her final collegiate meet, Shanay Briscoe finished fourth in the high jump with a season-best clearance of 6 feet, 1 1/4 inches (1.86m). She was one of five athletes to go over at that height. Briscoe, a senior, and three others went out at the next bar, 6-2 1/4 (1.89m). Leontia Kallenou of Georgia won as the lone competitor to clear that height.

Morgan Snow, who was seventh in the 100-meter hurdles final (12.81w), ran the opening leg of the 4x100m relay which finished third in a season-best 43.19, the ninth-best time in school history Baisden, Okolo and Akinosun ran the second, third and final legs, respectively.

Akinosun ended up scoring in four events (16 points) in the meet. In addition to the relays, she was second in the 100 meters on Friday and fifth in Saturday's 200 (22.89).

Fabian Jara Dohmann was the only member of the men's team in action Saturday. The freshman, who won the Big 12 outdoor title last month, finished 18th with a toss 211-4 (64.41m)

Sam Crouser of Oregon, cousin of Texas' Ryan Crouser, won the javelin with a toss of 252-7 (76.98m),

The UT men finished among the top 15 at the outdoor national meet for the fourth-straight year and eighth time in the last 11 years. The Longhorns had just one senior among the 12 male competitors and only two of the scorers on the women's side (Briscoe and Nelson) are seniors.

Sategna, in his first season as the head coach of the combined men and women's program is excited about the future.

"I think this is a great starting point with this being a very historic year for the University of Texas" Sategna said. "We knew at the beginning of the season we had the people to win a championship and we came half point short indoors, and here at the outdoor meet, when you have a big hitter like Kaitlin (Petrillose) go down and obviously Ashley, that makes it tough. But still it showed the determination of the rest of the young ladies to come through on the final day."

Longhorn Notes
• The women finished third in the 4x100-meter final Saturday in a season-best 43.19. That mark ranks No. 9 on the UT all-time performance list and is the best time since the quartet of Jasmine Lee, Alexandria Anderson, LaTashia Kerr, Melaine Walker posted 42.84 in winning the 2006 NCAA title.
• Texas was 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. The Gamecocks had a 2-3-4 finish in the 400m final. Texas went 1-3-4 during Friday's final.
• Prior to this year, the Longhorn women last won an individual title at the NCAA Outdoor meet in 2009. Destinee Hooker won the high jump, Alexandria Anderson captured the 100 and the 4x400-meter relay of Judy Nwosu, Angele Cooper, Anderson and Chantel Malone were victorious. This year, the women claimed three event titles – 400m, 5,000m and 4x400m relay – which matched 2009 for the most in one season in school history.
• The Longhorns had maybe their most impressive season in school history with the 4x400-meter relay, posting three of the top 11 times in the collegiate record book. The quartet of Briana Nelson, Courtney Okolo, Kendall Basiden and Ashley Spencer posted the top regular-season time in the nation (3:25.05) and now fifth best in collegiate history at the Penn Relays. One month earlier at Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, the same foursome posted a 3:26.38, which now ranks No. 11 in history. With Spencer reinjuring her leg in Wednesday's 400m semifinal, associate head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey adjusted her 4x400 lineup. In Thursday's semifinal, Melissa Gonzalez joined the group, running the third leg with Baisden taking leg No. 2 and Okolo moving to the anchor. They easily advanced to the final with a time of 3:28.89. Akinosun subbed for Gonzalez in Saturday's final and helped produce a meet-record 3:24.21, the second-fastest time in collegiate history.
• Shanay Briscoe finished her Longhorn career by scoring in the NCAA Outdoor meet in the high jump for the third time. Entering the meet as an eight-time All-American (four first team/four second team), Briscoe finished fourth in the high jump with a clearance of 6-1 1/4 (1.86m). She was third as a freshman in 2011 and second the following season.
• Last season, Johannes Hock became just the second freshman to win the NCAA decathlon title (Tito Steiner of BYU, 1977) when he posted the ninth-best total in collegiate history (8,267). This year he was 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.
• Johannes Hock is only the fourth Longhorn to score twice in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships and his 18 points over the last two years is a school record. Greg Hackney was eighth in 1972 and seventh two years later. Donovan Kilmartin was fourth in 2005 and fifth the next season. Isaac Murphy was seventh in 2012 and fourth last year. Trey Hardee's 10 points for winning the 2005 decathlon crown are the most in a Longhorn career.
• On Wednesday, 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. The 4x400-meter relay did not make it out of Thursday's semifinals.
• With his tie for seventh showing on Wednesday, 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 Wednesday. 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 Wednesday. Dowie did not advance out of the 400-meter hurdles semifinal. She finished 14th in 58.08 and ended her career as a 10-time All-American (six first team/four second team).
• 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.

TEAM STANDINGS – NCAA Outdoor Championships
Eugene, Oregon • Hayward Field

Men (21 Events)
1. Oregon - 88.0
2. Florida - 70.0
3. Texas A&M - 41.50
4. LSU - 29.0
    USC - 29.0
6. Georgia - 24.0
7. Arizona - 23.50
8. Baylor - 21.0
9. Arkansas - 20.0
    Wisconsin - 20.0
11. Texas - 19.50
12. Nebraska - 19.0
13. Arizona State- 16.0
      Oklahoma State- 16.0
15. Alabama - 14.0
      Kentucky - 14.0

Women (21 Events)
1. Texas A&M - 75.0
2. Texas - 66.0
3. Oregon - 59.0
4. Florida - 55.0
5. Georgia - 35.0
6. LSU - 34.0
7. Kentucky - 26.0
8. Boise State - 23.0
9. Arkansas - 21.50
10. Akron - 20.0

TEXAS RESULTS - NCAA Outdoor Championships
Eugene, Oregon • Hayward Field

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: 4. Morolake Akinosun, 23.00q
• 100-Meter Hurdles - Semifinal: 5. Morgan Snow, 13.00q
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Semifinal: 1. Briana Nelson, Kendall Baisden, Melissa Gonzalez, Courtney Okolo, 3:28.89q
• 10,000 Meters - Final: 16. Olivia Mickle, 33:33.30$

Men
• 200 Meters - Semifinal: -- Senoj-Jay Givans, DNF
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Semifinal: 21. Chris Irvin, Pieter Conradie, Josh Brudnick, Zack Bilderback, 3:09.84
• 110-Meter Hurdles - Decathlon: 4. Johannes Hock, 14.77 (878); 15. Wolf Mahler, 15.23 (822)
• Discus - Decathlon: 1. Johannes Hock, 160-7/48.94m (848); 11. Wolf Mahler, 132-6/40.38m (672)
• Pole Vault - Decathlon (4 p.m.): t15. Johannes Hock, 14-5.25/4.40m (731); t15. Wolf Mahler, 14-5.25/4.40m (731)
• Javelin - Decathlon: 4. Johannes Hock, 200-5/61.08m (743); 14. Wolf Mahler, 174-2/53.08m (634)
• 1,500 Meters - Decathlon: 1. Wolf Mahler, 4:26.70 (766); 12. Johannes Hock, 4:46.83 (638)
• Decathlon (10 Events): 2. Johannes Hock, 8092; 14. Wolf Mahler, 7444

Friday, June 13

Women
• 100 Meters - Final: 2. Morolake Akinosun, 11.33
• 400 Meters - Final: 1. Courtney Okolo, 50.23; 3. Kendall Baisden, 51.32; 4. Briana Nelson, 51.59
• Pole Vault: -- Kaitlin Petrillose, NH

Men
• Discus: 16. Will Spence, 187-4 (57.10m); -- Ryan Crouser, DNS#

Saturday, June 14

Women
• 200 Meters - Final: 5. Morolake Akinosun, 22.89 (w2.2)
• 5,000 Meters - Final: 1. Marielle Hall, 15:35.11
• 100-Meter Hurdles - Final: 7. Morgan Snow, 12.81 (w2.8)
• 4x100-Meter Relay - Final: 3. Morgan Snow, Kendall Baisden, Courtney Okolo, Morolake Akinosun, 43.19
• 4x400-Meter Relay - Final: 1. Briana Nelson, Kendall Baisden, Morolake Akinosun, Courtney Okolo, 3:24.21
• High Jump: 4. Shanay Briscoe, 6-1.25 (1.86m)

Men
• Javelin: 18. Fabian Jara Dohmann, 211-4 (64.41m)

q – qualified for final
$ - school record
# - scratched due to injury

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

Women finish second, men 11th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

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