BOISE, Idaho -- The University of Arizona's fifth-ranked men's and 12th-ranked women's track and field teams opened competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday with two individual NCAA championships. Both teams sit in third place after the first day of competition.
Sophomore Lawi Lalang won the NCAA indoor championship in the 5,000-meter race, clocking a time of 13:25.11. That mark set a meet and facility record. Lalang now has two NCAA championships to his name; he also won the 2011 cross country title. Senior Stephen Sambu took third place in the 5K, posting a time of 13.33.61 and earning six points for the UA men. Sambu took third at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships as well.
“It was my plan to win this title, and I did it,” Lalang said. “I am really happy. It was slow at first, so I decided I would go for it since nobody else was taking it.”
“It was really slow at the beginning, so I tried to push the pace,” Sambu said. “The plan was for me to lead for two or three laps and then Lawi (Lalang) would lead for two or three laps, and we did that. My goal was to be first or second, but I’m happy with third. I am happy with my performance.”
On the women's side, junior Brigetta Barrett won her second-straight NCAA indoor championship in the high jump. Her clearance of 6-1.5 (1.87m) was good for the win, but she continued to jump and finished with a top clearance of 6-5 (1.97m), a facility record. She attempted to clear 6-6.25 (1.99m), which would have been the collegiate record, but just missed on her final attempt.
“You want the world for Brigetta (Barrett) all the time, and she was so close to breaking the collegiate record,” head coach Fred Harvey said. “It is not to downplay the championship or arrogance on her part; she just really wanted to break the record. At the end of the day, I’m just so happy she is the champion.
Sophomore Elvin Kibet came in sixth place in the women’s 5,000-meter race. Kibet had a time of 16:00.91, adding three points to the UA women’s team total.
After the first day, the UA men sit in third place with 16 points. Arkansas sits in first with 22 points, Texas is in third 20.5, Notre Dame is fourth with 15 points and Indiana is fifth with 13. On the women’s side, Arizona sits in third with 13 points. Texas is in first with 17 points, Iowa State has 15 points and is in second place, Texas A&M is in fourth with 12 points and four teams are tied for fifth with 10 points.
“I think it was one of the best first days we’ve had as a team in a championship meet,” Harvey said. “We had two champions, a third-place finish, and a great race for Elvin (Kibet) in the 5,000 meters. I was so excited for her. She’s come a long way and was really competitive. We have the points I thought we would have at this point -- 16 points is a good day for the men.”
