Foreign Legion Runs George Mason To Title

The longest streak in the history of NCAA Division I athletics is over for Arkansas.

The Razorbacks, winners of 12 consecutive men’s titles at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, did not go out with a whimper Saturday night as George Mason’s internationally laden team rode victories by Greg Haughton in the 400 and Julius Achon in the mile to win for the first time.

Not since 1983, when Arkansas finished third behind Southern Methodist and Villanova, had the perennially powerful Razorbacks been beaten at the indoor championships.

Arkansas had so dominated the collegiate track and field scene that it also won five outdoor titles, including the last four, and eight cross country titles - a total of 25 in the past 12 years. Four times, it swept the Triple Crown - indoors, outdoors and cross country - in the same school year.

But this was a rebuilding season for the Razorbacks, after losing several of their top performers from last year, and George Mason took advantage.

The Patriots, foreign-dominated like the Texas-El Paso teams that won 19 NCAA titles in track and field and cross country between 1974 and 1983, compiled 39 points in the two-day championships at the RCA Dome. It was the lowest winning score since Washington State had 25-1/2 in 1977.

Arkansas finished third with 29 points, behind Nebraska, the runner-up with 31-1/2.

Louisiana State, the only women’s team to win more than two titles in a row indoors, won its fourth straight and seventh in 10 years, with 52 points, 18 ahead of runner-up Georgia.

George Mason was scoreless after Friday’s six finals, accumulating all its points with a series of sharp performances Saturday.

Corissa Yasen, a Coeur d’Alene High graduate, was second in the women’s high jump at 6 feet, 0 inches, matching the winning leap but losing on number of misses.