Oregon gangs up on rest of field

Arkansas' Omar McLeod celebrates after he broke the collegiate record in the men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.45 secons, during the NCAA indoor track and field championships Saturday, March 14, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Oregon distanced itself from the rest of the men's field thanks to its distance crew as the Ducks defended their title Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Oregon became the first team to win four distance events as it scored 74 points to hold off SEC champion Florida, which finished second with 58 points.

Arkansas finished third with 38 points and finished third, highlighted by Omar McLeod record-breaking performance in the 60-meter hurdles. McLeod defended his national title in the event with a time of 7.45 seconds, breaking a college record that had stood since 1997.

That wasn't nearly enough to challenge Oregon.

The Ducks won the distance medley relay and the 5,000 meters on Friday night, then came back with victories in the mile and the 3,000 meters Saturday night to wrap up the title.

Oregon runners finished first, third and seventh in the 5,000 to account for 18 points in the 5,000, but it did even better in Saturday's 3,000 by taking the top three spots tat earned the Ducks 24 points.

Eric Jenkins won the 3,000 in 7:58.81 and was followed by Edward Cheserek (7:59.42) and Will Georghegan (8:00.44), who edged Arkansas' Kemoy Campbell (8:00.57) at the tape.

"I think the last team to place multiple guys in multiple distance events like that was Arkansas back when they were winning every year," Oregon Coach Robert Johnson said "To be able to follow in the footsteps of a legendary program like that tells you that you are doing something right."

Cheserek led for much of the final two laps only to be passed up by Jenkins down the stretch. It was a good example of how Oregon's core of distance runners help push each other to victory, Johnson said.

"To have all those guys training together, competing against each other every day, is a great advantage," Johnson said. "I know they are always trying to get better and beat each other."

Cheserek won the mile in 3:57.94 , and Jenkins won the 5,000 in 13:48.36 over Campbell, who finished second.

"You saw our guys were the ones out there battling with them," Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam said. "They just have too many of them. We were a little tired after a tough SEC meet two weeks ago probably didn't have our best meet, but hats off to Oregon."

McLeod thrilled the partisan home crowd with his performance to win the 60-meter hurdles. He came out of the blocks strong, accelerated to the lead by the midway point and pulled away from the field to win decisively.

"I knew if I could get out to a good start I'd have a good chance," McLeod said. "Once I saw I had a lead, I knew it was all mine. I had a good, clean race. No problems with any of the hurdles."

McLeod took a victory lap down the home stretch and received a standing ovation from the fans.

"They were great," McCleod said. "I could hear the support. I didn't want to disappoint anyone."

McLeod came in as a heavy favorite to win and the Razorbacks were counting on his 10 points to have any shot at making a move in the team race.

"I just took it as a privilege to have the pressure," McLeod said. "To be here competing with the best athletes in the nation is a great honor, and I tried to make it bring out the best in me.

McLeod, a sophomore, is already a two-time champion in the 60-meter hurdles.

"He was just unbelievable," Bucknam said. "I think we thought it was coming, but to beat an all-time NCAA record like that was a great performance. He is a great teammate and a great all-around guy to have on the squad."

Sports on 03/15/2015