Baylor
NCAA Indoor Championships
Track Wins Third-Straight 4x400-Meter Relay Title
3/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
March 15, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -
The Baylor men's 4x400-meter relay won its third-straight national championship with a world-leading time of 3:05.66 on Saturday night at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
"This was a good way to end the indoor season," said head coach
The Bears, who also won the 2007 indoor and outdoor national championships in the event, win their third-straight national title, becoming just the fourth team in NCAA history to accomplish the feat. LSU most recently won three 4x400-meter relay titles in a row, winning the 2005 outdoor and 2006 indoor and outdoor championships. SMU accomplished the feat in 1986-87, winning the 1986 indoor and outdoor titles and the 1987 indoor championship. Baylor also holds the NCAA record, winning five straight relay titles from the 1990 indoor championships through the 1992 indoor title.
Baylor's time of 3:05.66 is the fastest in the world this year, beating the Bears' previous world-leading time of 3:06.89 at the Tyson Invitational in February. Baylor now owns three of the six fastest times in the world this year.
TCU, the eventual national runner-up, owned the fastest time of the meet, clocking 3:06.19 in the second heat. Baylor needed a faster time, since the 4x400-meter relay is run as a three-section final determined by times.
Trey Harts opened up for Baylor with a 46.8 split out of the blocks. Harts came through the first 200 meters in fourth place, but made his kick on the second lap, handing off just behind Texas A&M. Marcus Boyd sat behind the Aggie runner through 200 meters and passed Texas A&M on the backstretch of the second lap, handing off with the lead after a 46.8 split.
Justin Boyd took the stick in first place and held on to the lead on his quarter-mile, splitting 46.4 to pass in first place. LeJerald Betters, who pulled up in the open 400 meters with a leg cramp on Friday afternoon, pulled away from the field on the anchor leg with a 45.2 split, leaning across the finish line to ensure the fastest time.
"After we saw that TCU had run 3:06.1, I went to each guy on the team and told them we weren't just running to win our heat, but that we were running to get the fastest time," said Betters. "When I got the stick, even though I had the lead I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park. When I was coming around the last curve I knew that we were ahead of TCU's pace, so I just wanted to finish strong and make sure that we got the best time."
Baylor wins its eighth indoor national championship, and the school's 17th overall (eight indoor and nine outdoor). Betters earns his third overall national championship, while Harts, M. Boyd and J. Boyd each won their first-ever national title.
Baylor also won its 21st-straight 4x400-meter event against NCAA competition. The Bears' last loss to a collegiate team came at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing third behind LSU and TCU.
The men's team finished in a tie for 19th place overall with 11 team points, while the Lady Bears tied for 56th overall with two team points.
Lauren Hagans earned her second All-America honor in as many days with an eighth-place finish in the women's 3,000 meters. Hagans time of 9:15.12 was a four-second personal best and ranks as the third-fastest 3,000 meters in Baylor history.
"Lauren did a super job for us again today," said Harbour. "This was only her third 3,000-meter race ever, and one of those was at conference after she had already run the mile. She had a four-second PR (personal record) which is really good. She has been sick and injured for about three weeks, so to be an All-American is a good way to end her indoor career."
Tape delayed coverage of the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships can be found on ESPN2 on Thursday at 3 p.m. Baylor concludes its indoor season, and will open its outdoor campaign next weekend as the Bears host the Dr Pepper Invitational on Saturday at the Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex.
National Champions
Trey Harts, Marcus Boyd, Justin Boyd, LeJerald Betters (4x400-meter relay)
All-Americans
Lauren Hagans (3,000m)
Trey Harts (200m)*
Tiffany Townsend (200m)*
Danielle Bradley, Carla Grace, Nichole Jones, Lauren Hagans (DMR)*
Trey Harts, Marcus Boyd, Justin Boyd, LeJerald Betters (4x400-meter relay)
* - honors from Friday night action
Saturday Results
Women's 3,000 Meters
1. Susan Kuijken (
8. Lauren Hagans (Baylor) - 9:15.12
Men's 4x400-Meter Relay
1. Baylor - 3:05.66
Players Mentioned
