ACU and Lincoln run away with DII titles

The Abilene Christian University men's team won its fifth straight victory in the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field championships Saturday at Fran Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kan.

The Wildcats' championship wasn't secured until senior pole vaulter Cory Aguilar scored four points in the final event of the meet, giving ACU 80 points to St. Augustine's 77.5 points. ACU distance standout Nicodemus Naimadu competed in his two specialities, with an easy win in the steeplechase in 8 minutes 59.90 seconds and a sprint to the finish win in the 5,000m in 14:47.90.

On the women's side, Lincoln University (Missouri) captured its fourth straight outdoor title. Davita Prendergast, a sophomore at Lincoln, won the women's 400 meters in a new meet record time of 51.29 seconds. Another meet record was set by Fort Valley State junior Lynnsey Dailey in the 400m hurdles with her time of 57.18. Dailey also won the 100m hurdles (13.46) and placed sixth in the 100m (11.82). Cecilia Barnes of Cal. State-Bakersfield was the high point scorer for the meet with 25 points. She won the discus throw and the hammer throw, and placed fourth in the shot put.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Lacrosse take DIII crowns

Wisconsin schools claimed the men's and women's team titles as UW- Oshkosh won the women's title and UW-LaCrosse recaptured the men's crown at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships hosted by Benedictine University.

UW-Lacrosse garnered 74.5 points for the win. It is their fifth team title in the past six years and record 10th crown overall. Lincoln University, which has seven championships to its credit, placed second in the team standings with 54 points.

The UW-Oshkosh women won the crown with 52 points. Their title is a record seventh crown for the Titans, their last title coming in 2004. Williams College came in second with 42 points.

The United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) named Uzomo Orji of MIT as the Men's Field Athlete of the Meet. Orji won the shot put (18.35m/60-2.5) and was second in the hammer. Macharia Yout of Widener was named the Men's Runner of the Meet. Yout won three distance events, the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:03.88), the 5,000 meters (14:48.96), and the 10,000 meters (30:26.99).

On the women's side UW-Oshkosh's Robyn Jarocki was named the Field Athlete of the meet. Jarocki won the discus (48.20m/158-2) and set an NCAA record in winning the shot put (16.77m/55-0.25). She also placed second in the hammer (58.49m/191-10). Lincoln's Shanda Jackson was named the Runner of the Meet, setting an NCAA record in winning the 100 meters (11.66w), and taking third in the 200 meters (23.92w). Jackson was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that took second (46.42).