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Johnson Becomes Tech's First-Ever Male National Champion
June 12, 2004
AUSTIN, Texas - The track and field team not only gave Texas Tech an eighth-place finish, the second-best among Big 12 competitors, but also the school's first-ever male national champion at the 2004 NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. The men's team scored 26.50 points while the women's team finished tied for 48th- place with four points. Johnson proved today why he is the best 800M runner in collegiate track as he paced the competition, leading the entire race. Johnson had no close contenders as the runner-up Jesse O'Connell of Georgetown finished in a time of 1:46.79. This new stadium record time of 1:46.39 bumped the team up to fifth-place after 16 events scored.
Redshirt freshman Sage Thames earned his first career All-American honor as well as set a new personal record with a jump of 18'-0.5" (5.60M) for a sixth-place finish. Thames cleared 16'-10.75" (5.15M) and 17'-4.5" (5.30M) on one attempt each and 17'-8.5" (5.40M) on two attempts. His mark, tying the second best in school history, came on his third attempt. Thames attempted one jump at 18'-4.5" (5.60M) but an aggravated hamstring caused him to pull out of the competition.
Sophomore Bobby Most tied for eighth, earning his first career outdoor All-American honor. Most passed on 16'-10.75" (5.15M), coming in at 17'-4.5" (5.30M) where he cleared the bar on his first attempt. He cleared 17'-8.5" (5.40M) on his second attempt before knocking off the bar on his final attempt at 18'-0.5" (5.60M). After breaking the school record in prelims, the women's 4x400 cracked it again, rolling to a time of 3:29.49. This time was almost four seconds faster than the school record that was in tact when the team entered the Championships. Senior Rachelle Evans led off for the team and handed off to junior Shereefa Lloyd with the team in seventh-place. At the first exchange the two Texas runners collided giving Lloyd the opportunity to move the team into third place. Sophomore Tori Polk ran the third leg handing off to junior Licretia Sibley who ran the anchor leg. Sibley fought off the competition and finished in fifth-place for four points. UCLA women claimed a National title with 69 points while the Arkansas men took home top honors with 65.50 points. The Tech men were within 4.5 points of finishing in the top three. The meet will be televised Sat. June 19 on CBS at 2 p.m. CT. Continue to check www.texastech.com for information on summer competition for Tech's top athletes.
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