(Click on photo at left for .pdf of ATF NCAA Preview)

The 2004 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships begin Friday in all three divisions, headlined by the NCAA Division I Championships March 12-13 at the University of Arkansas' Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Last year, sprinter Muna Lee led the Louisiana State University Lady Tigers to their second consecutive women's team title by becoming the first woman in nine years to win the 60m/200m double. Lee broke the 21-year-old collegiate indoor 200m record with her time of 22.49. She won the 60m title by coming from behind in 7.17 to edge Jamaican Elva Goulbourne of Auburn (7.24), who earlier won the long jump and triple jump.

The LSU women finished with 62 points, with Florida and South Carolina tied in the runner-up spot with 44. The Lady Tigers won their 10th NCAA indoor title and 24th overall track championship under coach Pat Henry.

In men's competition last year, the host Arkansas Razorbacks easily won their 17th indoor championship and 37th track or cross country title for coach John McDonnell. The Hogs ran away with the team competition with 52 points for their first NCAA title since 2000. Auburn was a distant runner-up with 28 points, and Nebraska was third with 26 points.

The NCAA Division II Championships again will take place at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston where last year St. Augustine's easily won the women's team title with 73 points, while Abilene Christian successfully defended its men's team crown with 58 points. Abilene Christian was a distant runner-up in the women's competition with 53 points followed by 2002 national champion North Dakota State with 41 points. Abilene Christian narrowly held on to the men's title, with runner-up Western State finishing just four points behind. Cal State Bakersfield was third with 34 points.

The NCAA Division III Championships will take place at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater after the Wheaton (Massachusetts) College women's team won its fifth consecutive crown last year at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Wheaton totaled 54 points in winning its fifth straight championship in only the ninth season of the program. Lehman College was the runner-up with 48 points, followed by Williams College (3rd-42 points) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (4th-41 points).

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's team won its third straight title at last year's championships, and its 10th overall, winning the crown with a Division III record total of 71 points. Wisconsin-Oshkosh was the runner-up with 34 points, giving Wisconsin-LaCrosse the largest victory margin ever in Division III Championships competition. Nebraska Wesleyan was third with 27 points, with Gustavus Adolphus fourth with 23.

For complete NCAA Indoor Championships coverage, visit www.ncaachampionships.org.