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2014 NCAA Division I Championships

March 13-15, Albuquerque, NM

The fifth-ranked Texas women came into the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with the top-ranked 4x400-meter relay unit in the nation. It was probably going to take a tremendous performance to beat the Longhorns in that event and that's exactly what happened.

In one of the most exciting finishes in Division I track and field history, the second-ranked Oregon women set an NCAA record in the 4x400-meter, clocking a time of 3 minutes, 27.40 seconds, to edge not only the Longhorns 4x400 unit of Briana Nelson, Courtney Okolo, Kendall Baisden and Ashley Spencer (which also snapped the collegiate mark with a time of 3:27.42), but also Texas in the team standings.

The Ducks claimed the top spot by totaling 44 points over the two-day meet at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Longhorns, seeking their seventh NCAA indoor title and first since 2006, had 43.50 to finish second. Georgia and Florida tied for third with 40.50 points.

Entering the 4x400, the final of the 17 events, Oregon, Texas and Florida each had a shot to claim the team title. The Horns and Florida were tied with 35.5 points, and Oregon had 34. Georgia was first with 40.50, but did not have an entry in the race.

Oregon senior Phyllis Francis proved to be the difference. Less than two hours after setting the American record in winning the 400 meters, Francis ran the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay in 50.64 and barely edged Spencer, who herself clocked a blazing 50.99, at the finish line.

The Ducks, who their fifth-straight NCAA indoor team title, snapped the Texas collegiate record (3:27.66), which was set by the quartet of Keasha Downer, Raasin McIntosh, Moushaumi Robinson and Sanya Richards in winning the 2003 NCAA crown in the that event.

"We knew it was going to come down to the 4x400," said head coach Mario Sategna, who is in his first season leading the combined men and women's program. "The goal was to come away with a team trophy. But to be second and to get the program on track a little bit is a step in the right direction. Our hats go off to Oregon. They had a great finisher (Phyllis Francis) and she just nipped Ashley at the line."

Oregon swept the team titles, with the men tallying 62 points. Arkansas was second with 54 and Florida third with 35.

The Longhorn women entered the day with 10 points and tied for seventh after Kaitlin Petrillose won the pole vault Friday when she cleared a meet- and collegiate-record 15-1 (4.60m).

The Horns jumped right in the middle of the team competition by collecting 17 points with three entries in the 400 meters, Saturday's third running final. Spencer and Okolo were among the favorites, but Francis took home gold in a NCAA meet-and American indoor record time of 50.46. Spencer was second in 51.71, Okolo was fourth in 51.97 and Baisden clocked a personal-best 52.01 to finish fifth.

In the next race, Morolake Akinosun matched her personal best by clocking a 7.23 in the 60 meters to claim fourth and five points in the team standings. That finish moved the Longhorns in a second-place tie with Florida (each with 35.50 points). Georgia had already reached 40.50 points.

Oregon moved to within 1 1/2 points of Texas and Florida when Laura Roesler won the 800 meters won to set up the exciting finish.

"It was a great meet," Sategna said. "We had a lot of people step up to get us to this position."

The 25th-ranked men tallied 11 points and finished tied for 20th with Ryan Crouser leading the way with another impressive performance.

Crouser claimed his second NCAA shot put title and first ever for the Longhorns at an NCAA Indoor meet, but this did not have the same drama as his victory at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Crouser best toss of 69 feet, 7 inches (21.21m) easily outdistanced the 16-man field. He entered the meet as the No. 1 seed and would have won the event with any of his five legal throws (one foul).

He cleared 68 1/2 (20.74m) on his first attempt and went on to improve on that three times. His winning toss came on his sixth attempt.

"That was the best series by far that I've ever had," Crouser said. "The last time I was here I kind of built up, similar to today, but across the board this was the best meet I've ever had. So that was good. I was really hoping to get (a big one) on the last couple. I felt really good coming into this meet."

This was Crouser's third time competing at the Albuquerque Convention Center this season. Crouser set the school record of 69-8 (21.23m) at last month's New Mexico Collegiate Classic. He also threw 67 feet (20.42m) at the Cherry and Silver Collegiate in January.

Crouser felt the familiarity with the venue was an advantage Saturday.

"It helps a lot. A few of the guys struggled with this ring. It's a faster ring," Crouser said of the wood surface.

Crouser won the NCAA outdoor shot put title last June in Eugene, Ore., but only had one legal toss and won by less than an inch. Saturday's victory was by nearly four feet. Steven Mozia of Cornell, who entered as the No. 2 seed, was second with a mark of 65-9 3/4 (20.06m).

"To have four throws over 68 feet just shows the level he has gotten to." Sategna said. "He's done a lot to put himself there."

Sophomore Zack Bilderback earned is first All-America honor, finishing eighth (47.63) in the 400 meters to add one point to the team total.

Senior Shanay Briscoe ended her indoor career on a high note. After staying alive in the high jump by clearing 5-11 1/4 (1.81m) on third attempt, Briscoe cleared a season-best 6 1/2 (1.84m) on her first attempt, but was unable to get over the next bar. She still finished tied for fifth.