2-sport standouts win national titles at NCAA track and field championships

Holliday, Hooker win national titles

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One sport isn’t enough for Trindon Holliday or Destinee Hooker.

Holliday and Hooker won titles Friday at the NCAA track and field championships — Holliday in the 100 meters and Hooker in the high jump. They also excel in other sports that involve running and jumping. Holliday plays football for LSU, and Hooker is a volleyball standout.

“We do some drills in football that we also do out here,” Holliday said. “I think they complement each other very well.”

Holliday took the 100 despite a so-so start, finishing in 10.00 seconds. Jacoby Ford of Clemson, another top contender, pulled up at about the midway point with an apparent injury.

“All of the sudden, I didn’t see him anymore,” Holliday said.

Earlier in the day, Hooker won the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 4¾ inches. The Texas junior is the outdoor champion for the third time in four years — she redshirted during 2008 to focus on volleyball. Hooker had been invited to train with the U.S. volleyball team, although she didn’t make it to the Beijing Olympics.

She has her eye on the 2012 Games in both sports, but what if they’re scheduled at the same time?

“I would have to probably beg my volleyball coach,” she said.

Elizabeth Patterson of Arizona finished second in the high jump. Patterson won the title last year when Hooker was absent.

Hooker cleared the first five heights she attempted Friday on the first try.

“I can just sum it up in two words,” Hooker said. “A blessing.”

Oregon led the men’s team competition with 36 points at the end of Friday night. The Oregon men are trying for a “Triple Crown” after winning cross country and indoor track and field titles earlier this season.

The Ducks’ Galen Rupp won the 5,000, one night after taking the 10,000. Rupp finished in 14:04.12 Friday night.

“I knew if I dropped to second, that’s two big points,” Rupp said, his mind on the team competition. “I wanted to do my part to make sure I took care of my end.”

Oregon received a boost when Texas A&M’s 400 relay team was disqualified. The Aggies, among the favorites in the team competition, were tied for 12th at the end of the night.

The Texas A&M women were in better shape in sixth place. Oregon led on the women’s side too with 39 points. Texas A&M’s women’s 400 relay team provided one of the night’s most impressive performances, winning in 42.36 to break a 20-year-old collegiate record.

“It was made the year I was born,” Texas A&M sprinter Gabby Mayo said.

Mayo finished fifth in the 100, one spot behind teammate Porscha Lucas. Alexandria Anderson of Texas won in 11.20.

Jennifer Barringer of Colorado set a collegiate record in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 9:25.54. She’d set the previous mark just last month. Barringer, an Olympian last year, finished nearly 15 seconds ahead of the rest of the field Friday.

“It’s tough to come in and be a heavy favorite,” Barringer said. “I just had to keep my mind right and go out there and take care of business. It felt great.”

Northwest Arkansas was hit by bad weather that became severe around noon, with rain, high winds, lightning and tornado concerns. The meet was delayed until the middle of the afternoon, and when it resumed the shot put areas had turned into small lakes. Fortunately, that event ended Thursday.

Stevi Large of Akron won the women’s hammer throw with a toss of 223-4, and Marcel Lomnicky of Virginia Tech was the men’s winner at 235-6.

Brianne Theisen of Oregon took the heptathlon with 6,086 points.

Jeshua Anderson of Washington State won the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.47, and Nicole Leach of UCLA took the women’s race with a time of 55.39.

Kyle Perry of Brigham Young won the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 8:29.24, and Scott Sellers of Kansas State won the high jump at 7-5.

Jason Colwick of Rice won a pole vault title with a height of 18-8¼, and Kylie Hutson of Indiana State was the women’s champion at 14-5¼.

The men’s javelin went to Georgia’s Chris Hill with a throw of 268-4. Oregon’s Rachel Yurkovich won the women’s competition at 195-7.

Florida won the men’s 400 relay in 38.58.

Angela Bizzarri of Illinois won the women’s 5,000 in 16:17.94.