Texas A&M and Florida share NCAA men’s title

EUGENE – A dropped baton cost the Texas A&M men an outright NCAA outdoor track and field team title.

The Aggies’ finished last in the 1,600-meter relay after mishandling the baton before the first exchange, propelling event winner Florida into a tie for the title Saturday.

Each team finished with 53 points for the first co-champions since 1978. It was the second consecutive team title for the Gators after a string of three straight for the Aggies.

Florida won the relay in 3 minutes, 1.34 seconds.

In field events, Texas A&M senior Sam Humphries won the javelin at 255 feet, 9 inches, and Florida senior Omar Craddock took the triple jump title in 55-61/4.

University of Idaho senior Ugis Svazs of Latvia earned All-American honors with an eighth-place finish in the javelin with a mark of 232 feet, which came on his first throw.

University of Washington senior Joe Zimmerman, a Lewis and Clark High School graduate, placed 17th at 210-3, not close to his season best.

Oregon’s Mac Fleet thrilled the Hayward crowd as an upset winner of the men’s 1,500. He surged the final 300 meters and pointed to cheering fans as he crossed the finish in 3:50.25.In the, Arizona junior Lawi Lalang won in 13:35.19 for his seventh overall NCAA title. Lalang also won the 10,000 on Thursday and became the 12th man to win double championships in those events.

On the women’s side, top-ranked Kansas wrapped up its first women’s team title earlier in the day and finished with 60 points. Texas A&M was second and Oregon third.

Clemson junior Brianna Rollins broke her own collegiate record in the 100 hurdles, finishing in 12:39 to top her mark of 12.47 set in the semifinals Thursday.

It was the best overall time in the world this season.

LSU senior Kimberlyn Duncan won the 200 for the third consecutive year. Her wind-aided time of 22.04 tied her for the fastest collegiate 200 in any conditions. Oklahoma State’s Natalja Piliusina won the women’s 1,500 in 4:13.25. The junior from Lithuania had twice been a runner-up in the 800.

Texas A&M senior Ameer Webb won the men’s 200 in a wind-aided 20.10. He was runner-up in the event last year and won it at this year’s indoor championships, but wasn’t considered the favorite for the final.

Oregon’s English Gardner, who defended her 100 title on Friday, announced that she will skip her senior year to go pro.