Arkansas freshman Omar McLeod won the 60-meter hurdles and anchored the 1,600-meter relay to a fourth-place finish as the Razorbacks finished second at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday night in Albuquerque, N.M.
Oregon, which got victories from freshman Edward Cheserek in the 5,000 on Friday night and the 3,000 on Saturday night, won the team title team with 62 points.
The No. 2-ranked Razorbacks, who won the title last year, scored 54 points. No.1 Florida was third with 35 points.
Oregon also won the women’s title with 44 points to edge Texas, which was second with 43.5.
Arkansas, which got second-place finishes from junior Dominque Scott in the 3,000 (9:15.05) and senior Stephanie Brown in the mile (4:39.12), was sixth with 30 points.
Arkansas State senior Sharika Nelvis won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.93.
McLeod won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.576 seconds to edge Florida senior Eddie Lovett, who was second in7.578. McLeod then helped the 1,600 relay team - which also included Jarrion Lawson, Neil Braddy and Travis Southard - run 3:06.29.
Arkansas senior Kevin Lazas, the defending champion in the heptathlon, took third with 5,973 points. His marks Saturday were 17-2 ½ in the pole vault, 8.31 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles and2:50.08 in the 1,000.
The Razorbacks got a 3-4 finish in the 800 from senior Patrick Rono (1:49.04) and sophomore Tomas Squella (1:49.23).
Arkansas junior pole vaulter Andrew Irwin, attempting to win his third consecutive NCAA indoor title, finished fourth, clearing 18-0 ½ . Senior Anthony May took eighth in the triple jump (51-8 ½ ) and freshman Clive Pullen was ninth (51-8 ¼ ).
The Razorbacks competed without All-American senior distance runners Kemoy Campbell (foot injury) and Stanley Kebenei (illness).
Arkansas senior Grace Heymsfield took sixth in the 3,000 (9:17.83) and the Razorbacks’ 1,600 relay team of Regine Williams, Chrishuna Williams, Brianna Swinton and Diana Harper finished eighth (3:34.45).
Oregon’s women’s team won its fifth consecutive NCAA indoor title. The Oregon men, ranked No. 6, won their first indoor title since 2009 and ended the SEC’s streak of four in a row. Florida won three consecutive titles from 2010-2012 before finishing second to Arkansas last year.
Final team totals
MEN TEAM PTS
1.Oregon ................................ 62
2.Arkansas ..................... 54
3.Florida ................................. 35
4.Florida State ........................ 28
5.Arizona ................................ 24
24.Arkansas State .............. 9
WOMEN TEAM PTS.
1.Oregon ................................ 44
2.Texas ............................. 43.50
3.Georgia ............................. 40.5
3.Florida .............................. 40.5
5.Texas A&M .......................... 35
6.Arkansas ..................... 30
19.Arkansas State ............ 10
Sports, Pages 33 on 03/16/2014