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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 12, 2009

Track and field: Holliday, Hooker win NCAA titles


NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

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 require 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 2012 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."

LSU led the men's team competition with 30 points after Holliday's win, although third-place Oregon is still in solid position for a "Triple Crown" after winning cross country and indoor track and field titles earlier this season.

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 seventh with a few events remaining Friday night.

The Texas A&M women were in better shape, just a couple points behind first-place Oregon. 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 also set a collegiate record in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 9:25.54. She'd set the previous collegiate record just last month. Barringer, an Olympian last year, finished nearly 15 seconds ahead of the rest of the field Friday.

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.

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.

Florida won the men's 400 relay in 38.58.