The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Indoor Championships
Track & Field Post Pair of Top Five Finishes at NCAA's
03.12.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns claim five NCAA Championships
Complete Day 2 Results | Post-Meet Notes
USTFCCCA Championship Central | Live Results
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas made history on the final day of the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships from the Birmingham CrossPlex. The Longhorns came away with five titles combined between the men and women, and saw one Longhorn become the American Junior record holder.
The Longhorns finished the meet on the podium as one of the top four women's teams, finishing fourth with a total of 44 points. The men just missed getting a team trophy, finishing fifth with a total of 25 points.
"To win five NCAA crowns goes to the entire staff. It's a product of everybody and I'm just so proud and happy for this team and program," Head Coach Mario Sategna said. "There's great things on the horizon. That's the wonderful thing about our sport."
Freshman Teahna Daniels became just the second freshman to ever win the women's 60 meters in NCAA history and set a new American Junior record in the process, clocking in at a blazing 7.11 seconds. That time is the fastest in Texas history, is the fastest ever by a freshman and ranks No. 5 in collegiate history regardless of class.
After her win, Daniels was elated with the victory after out-leaning Oregon's Hannah Cunliffe at the line.
"I really still can't believe it. Honestly, I'm in shock. The key was worrying about what I do in my race, and not about everybody else, and I just had to know how to execute," Daniels said. "The goal coming in to the season was to win as many races as I can, and get PB's every time, and now I've accomplished that and it's time for outdoor."
NCAA Champion Teahna Daniels! 7.11 seconds is fastest freshman EVER and No. 5 in NCAA history! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/YKsdMiArZq
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) March 12, 2016
Senior Morolake Akinosun joined Daniels on the podium in the 60 meters as she finished in fifth place. The pair combined to score 14 points in the event and set the tone for the rest of the day for the women's team.
"For a freshman like Teahna Daniels, what can you say, stepping up and winning an NCAA title as a true freshman," Sategna said. "She's a gamer."
More history came the Longhorns' way as Texas became just the third school in NCAA indoor history to sweep the 400 meters as well.
The Longhorns got their first-ever 400 title in the men's team as senior Zack Bilderback won with a time of 46.03 seconds. Bilderback had to wait to see that he won after he ran in the first of two heats. He set the mark to beat and watched anxiously during Heat 2 before raising his fist in victory and then giving the crowd a Hook 'Em hand sign.
"It was pretty nerve racking because I knew those guys were pretty fast," he said of waiting through Heat 2. "I like going first and setting the bar high because then I know I can just run against myself."
He had to wait for Heat 2 to see the result but Zack Bilderback is NCAA Champ in the 400m! #HookEm #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/s11SX1LAh9
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) March 12, 2016
Sategna said the win was big for Texas because not only is it the first in the school's history for the men but because of the progress Bilderback has made and where he came from.
"He wasn't the highly touted recruit that came out and he's not the vocal type of leader, but he leads by example," Sategna said. "That's the type of leader you need in that locker room."
Senior Courtney Okolo continued her dominance of the event in 2016 running away from the field heading into the final turn. She crossed in 50.69 seconds for the victory to break the school record and post the No. 3 time in NCAA history.
After her win, Okolo said she knew she had to get the victory after Bilderback's win to give Texas the double. Unlike him, she had the benefit of knowing what time to beat by running in the second heat.
"I wanted to run about that time, so I'm happy," Okolo said. "When I saw the time, I was like 'okay, I think I can do that.' So I just tried to focus on how I've been running this whole season and just try to execute my race and not try to change anything."
The women's 400 was a huge event for the Longhorns with junior college transfer Chrisann Gordon running alongside Okolo in the final heat. Gordon crossed in third place with a personal best time of 51.69 seconds and scored six more crucial points for the team standings as Texas took 16 in the event.
Ryan Crouser opened the day for the Longhorns in his final meet wearing Burnt Orange by winning his fourth overall shot put title. He posted a winning mark of 21.28 meters (69-9.75) on his fourth throw. He only trailed briefly in the competition during the third round when he was overtaken by JC Murasky of Ohio State, but Crouser responded and immediately regained the lead with the very next throw of the competition.
"It's tough to sum up in words. It's been a long a long journey and had a lot of ups and downs," Crouser said. "I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and definitely as a teammate. I wouldn't have chosen anywhere else but Texas. I had an excellent experience here and I will miss it."
Crouser will go down as one of the best shot putters in collegiate history with his four combined titles indoors and out. He tied the collegiate record during the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago to leave his mark atop the list of amazing performances.
"We're at the end of a chapter with Ryan Crouser and what better way to go out," Sategna said. "Two weeks ago he ties the collegiate record at Big 12 Championships. Those guys going in there today had nothing to lose. They were 120 miles an hour trying to beat him. He stayed within himself and won his fourth national championship. We're gonna do everything we can to support him as he finishes his Master's and tries to make the Olympic team in July."
That's FOUR career shot put titles for Ryan Crouser! Congrats on a great career in Burnt Orange! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/WjGO9sVGfv
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) March 12, 2016
In her final meet as a Longhorn, Kaitlin Petrillose came away with an All-American performance as she finished fifth to score four team points. She cleared the bar on her third attempt at 4.40 meters (14-5.25) to put herself in fifth place. She attempted to move higher by passing a bar and resting to take three attempts at 4.50 meters but was unable to climb the standings.
The 2014 NCAA champ stepped up when the team needed her this year, winning her seventh Big 12 title in February and ending her career as a first team All-American this weekend. Sophomore Kally Long tied for 12th place in her first NCAA Championship appearance. She cleared 4.20 meters (13-9.25) on her first attempt but could not get over the bar at 4.30 meters, which proved to be the bar needed to score points.
The evening closed with excitement in the men's and women's 4x400 meter relay. The women's team title would be decided by the event and the other three teams fighting for a podium spot would battle it out as Oregon had the title wrapped up.
Texas claimed its NCAA record ninth title in the women's 4x400 meter with the tandem of Gordon, Ariel Jones, Akinosun and Okolo running 3:28.27 to leave the field behind. The Longhorns have dominated the event over the last few years winning last year and finishing second in 2014. LSU is the closest to Texas with seven crowns in the event.
The men's squad took fourth place and scored five points. Bilderback, Chris Irvin, Byron Robinson and AJ Bailey Jr. combined to run 3:05.26 for the Longhorns. That time moved the team up to fifth place as Tennessee's time in a previous heat ensured the Volunteers would finish third overall and LSU's victory in the 4x400 moved the Tigers into fourth.
Sategna listed off a series of accomplishments by his team this weekend from national champions to first-time NCAA qualifiers showing growth that will give the Longhorns momentum as the team transitions into outdoor season next week.
"We're gonna use those things and steamroll into outdoor," he said. "They've gotta be chomping at the bit. You get bodies, as many as you can, to the championship meet because in this setting anything can happen. That's gonna be when we win, not only in the 400 individual championship for the first time ever but when those men can win their first-ever national championship. And we have the program to do that."
Texas will now turn its attention to the outdoor season. The Longhorns will compete at their first outdoor meet next weekend at TCU. Texas will get a chance to test out the facility where this year's Big 12 Conference Championships will be held in May.
Players Mentioned
