SONGOK GOLDEN IN 10,000-METER RUN
Already the first All-American in school history, Shadrack Songok became the first national champion in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi history late Thursday night winning the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Track and Field Championship.
Songok crossed the finish line in a time of 28:55.83 - just :00.24 seconds ahead of Oregon's Galen Rupp - to claim the title. The Islander junior, who had finished fifth in the 5,000 as a sophomore last spring to earn All-America honors and ninth as a freshman, was running in the finals of the 10,000-meter run for the first time.
Songok, who was an All-American in cross country this fall, led for most of the race, but responded well to a late challenge from several of the favorites. Known for his endurance and a strong kick, the Islander used his late speed to regain the advantage in the final 100 meters
"Shadrack was leading most of the way and then with three laps got passes," said Islander head coach Shawn Flanagan. "He responded well to the challenge. The guys didn't want to push the pace. I knew the longer the pace was slow the more of a chance he would have to out-kick them and that's what happened."
Songok entered the meet with the fourth fastest time during the regular season at 28:16.47. Rupp had the fastest time at 27:33.48. Liberty's Josh McDougal was third in 28:58.28, while Sean Quigley was fourth in 28:59.29. Wisconsin's Tim Nelson rounded out the top five with a time of 29:00.75.
Teammate Hickel Woolery will look to make it two national champions for the Islanders on Friday when he competes in the discus finals.
Other Southland Conference athletes in competition.
Men
Preliminaries:
Pole Vault - Brad Gebauer, McNeese State; 16-10.75, T2nd of 17
Discus - Hickel Woolery, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; 187-04, 10th of 25
Javelin - Chris Hill, McNeese State; 238-01, 1st of 26
Cody Fillinich, Northwestern State; 224-07, 6th of 26
Curtis Moss, Southeastern Louisiana; 213-01, 14th of 26
4x100 Meter Relay - UT Arlington; Jared Connaughton, Bryon Majors, Coby Morrison, Jared Vaughn; 10th of 16
Semifinals:
200m - Jared Connaughton, UT Arlington; 20.72 11th of 17
800m - Larry Brooks, UTSA; 1:49.17, 8th of 16
110m Hurdles - Jon McDowell, UT Arlington; 13.60, 7th of 18
Finals:
Decathlon - Brandon Buteaux, UTSA; DNF, Injury(hamstring) 3,633 points
10,000m - Shadrack Songok, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; 28:55.83, 1st of 26
Women
Preliminaries:
Pole Vault - Jennie Sewell, Sam Houston State; 13-01.50, T1st of 21
Javelin - Betsy Baldwin, Southeastern Louisiana; 48-04, 14th of 27
Heptathlon - After day one; Ryanne Dupree, UTSA; 5th of 27, 3,537 points.
Semifinals:
100m Hurdles - Ryanne Dupree, UTSA; 13.32, 14th of 17