Oregon men, Tennessee women win National titles

March 16, 2009 - The Oregon men won their first indoor team title with 54 points, while the Tennessee women won their second team title since 2005 with 42 points over the weekend at the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium College Station, Tex. The Florida men were second to Oregon with 36 points, and Texas A&M's women were second to Tennessee with 37 points.

Oregon senior and 2008 Olympian Galen Rupp led his team to victory and became the first person in NCAA history to win the 5,000 meters, 3,000m and the distance medley relay in the same championship. Rupp started with a win in the 5,000m in 13 minutes 41.45 seconds. Less than 90 minutes later, he anchored the DMR to victory, splitting 3:57.07 over the final 1,600m to cross the line in 9:29.59. On Saturday Rupp cruised to a title in the 3,000m, winning in 7:48.94, more than 5 seconds ahead of the field.

Jenny Barringer became the fifth fastest American ever over 3,000m, winning the race in a collegiate record 8:42.03 to break the 8:48.77 collegiate standard set by Sally Kipyego at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games last month.

Texas Tech's Kipyego won a ninth individual national title. She won won the women's 5,000m, her record-tying ninth national title, in 15:51.14 to match three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton. She then finished as the runner-up in the women's mile, crossing the line in 4:29.75 just .03 behind Tennessee's Sarah Bowman who won in 4:29.72.

University of Texas junior Destinee Hooker won her first national indoor title in the women's high jump, clearing a collegiate record and personal best 1.98 meters/6 feet 6 inches. The previous record of 1.97m/6-5.5 was held by multiple NCAA jumpers, most recently accomplished in 2000.