It’s A Great Day For A Mile, Eh? Canadians’ Record-Setting Duel Steals Show At Ncaa Indoor

Canadians Kevin Sullivan and Graham Hood renewed their intense rivalry in the mile Saturday with Sullivan winning the NCAA championship with the second-fastest indoor time by a collegian.

Sullivan, a sophomore at Michigan, caught the Arkansas senior in the homestretch to set a Canadian national record of 3 minutes, 55.33 seconds.

Sullivan, who lost to Hood in the prestigious Millrose Games recently, covered the last 880 in a blistering 1:52.7.

Hood, the NCAA outdoor champion in the 1,500, also was below the old record of 3:57.89 set by Suleiman Nyambui of Texas El-Paso in 1979 at 3:55.72. Paul McMullen of Eastern Michigan, who was leading with 150 meters remaining, placed third in 3:58.21.

“On the last lap, I was far enough back that I could’ve been out of it. But, I also knew if I kept working the last 150 there was a possibility of catching those guys. I was probably 30 or 40 yards back,” Sullivan said.

“I expected a move from someone early, but he (McMullen) went so strong I had to cover it,” Hood said. “He’s a legitimate runner and you can’t let him get away… . Unfortunately, he really slowed down on the last lap and put me in a position I really didn’t want to be in.”

Both runners are anticipating their rivalry will be a long one.

“This is one of the bigger ones,” Sullivan said.

“It’s a great rivalry. He’s a talented runner, and I’m sure it’s one that gonna go for a lot of years to come,” Hood said. “He’s going to get me sometimes, and I’m going to get my fair share, and today was his day.”

The runner-up finish helped Arkansas continue on track to extend its record streak of men’s indoor titles to 12. The Razorbacks were also helped by a fourth-place finish in the 800 by Brandon Rock. Heading into the meet’s final events, the Razorbacks had 43 points and UCLA was a distant second with 22.

In women’s competition, Amy Wickus of Wisconsin won the 800 for the third consecutive year in 2:04.86. Trine Pilskop gave Arkansas a victory in the mile, passing Villanova’s Becky Spies and Candace Lessmeister of Rice on the final lap.

Louisiana State’s bid for a third straight women’s title got some major help when Youlanda Warren won the 400 in 52.39 and LaTarsha Stroman placed sixth for the Lady Tigers.

Villanova and Louisiana State were tied for the lead heading into the final events with 21 points apiece.

Alex Papadimitriou of Texas ElPaso, who finished third in the 35-pound throw last year, won the event Saturday with an effort of 71 feet, 5 1/4 inches. Southern Methodist’s Brian Murer was second for the second straight year.

Michael Williams posted a victory for Manhattan with a 1:48.12 in the 800, finishing more than a second ahead of Georgetown’s Bryan Woodward.

In Division II, Abilene Christian won its third straight women’s championship but had to settle for second in its bid for a third consecutive men’s title. The Wildcats easily won their seventh women’s title in eight years with 67 points. Adams State was next with 38.

The Division II men’s title went down to the final event, and St. Augustine captured the championship by winning the 1,600 relay with a meet record time of 3:08.21. Abilene Christian was also under the old mark of 3:11.55 set by Southeast Missouri in 1985 as it placed second in 3:08.31. St. Augustine finished with 87 1/4 points - three more than Abilene Christian.

St. Augustine’s triumph was boosted by a 1-2-4 finish in the 400. Stenior Ryan Hayden won the event in 46.17, lowering the record of 46.47 he set in Friday’s prelims.

It was one of nine Division II records set Saturday. Savieri Ngidhi set two for Abilene Christian, winning the 1,500 in 3:44.65 and then lowering his own record in the 800 to 1:47.78 about 80 minutes later.