June 13, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Auburn sophomore Joanna Atkins won a national championships in the 400 meters and freshman Marcus Rowland finished third in the 200 meters to highlight the final day of competition Saturday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Tigers ended the four days of competition with eight individuals earning All-American honors, and seven of the eight, including all five that earned the awards in individual events, were freshmen and sophomores.
The men's team finished the meet in 12th place with 18 points, while the women tied for 25th with 11 points.
"We had some young kids that really stepped up these last two days," said head coach Ralph Spry. "I knew coming in we had a young team and we were hoping to crack the top 10 in both races, but we ended this meet on a high note. We return all but two people next year, so we're setting the stage for the next couple of years, which should be pretty exciting. I'm proud of how we lined up this weekend and finished what we started."
Atkins' victory in the 400 meters was particularly impressive, as she shattered her personal best by nearly a second and a half while posting the second-fastest time in the world this year. Running from lane eight after placing sixth in the semifinals, she blazed to a sizeable lead, then held on coming down the stretch to finish in 50.39 seconds. She established her previous best of 51.77 seconds earlier this season, which ranked No. 5 in the NCAA entering the meet.
"I was a little nervous, so I told myself to just run, and I did and I'm so thankful," said Atkins. "I decided if they wanted to beat me they had to come get me. I knew I had a 50 (seconds) in me and it was a little discouraging because I have been a little inconsistent, but I'm just very excited that that 50 finally came."
Atkins, whose time trails only Sanya Richards' time of 49.86 in the world this year, joined Juliet Campbell (1993) as the only Auburn women ever to win the 400 meters at the NCAA outdoor meet. It also marked the 11th straight year that Auburn has had at least one NCAA outdoor champion.
Rowland capped an outstanding freshman year with a third-place finish in the 200 meters. Rowland, who was the only freshman to even reach the finals, posted a time of 20.82 seconds while running into a headwind of 1.6 meters per second. He was also forced to run from lane one after finishing ninth and earning the final qualifying spot during Thursday's semifinals.
"I'm usually hard on myself, but coming out of lane one and getting third, I'm pretty happy with my performance," said Rowland. "I think it was my warm-up. My coaches were there and helped build up my confidence, and that's always good. It helped motivate me."
Rowland, who also anchored Auburn's 4x100-meter relay team that finished seventh on Friday and was ninth in the 200 meters at the NCAA indoor meet, earned three All-American honors during his rookie campaign.
Auburn's other competitor on Saturday was sophomore Cache Armbrister, who competed in the finals of the women's 200 meters. She entered the meet ranked eighth, and finished in that same spot, posting a time of 23.80 into a headwind of 1.2 meters per second. Armbrister earned an All-American honor for the first time with her eighth-place finish.
"I think what got me was my start," said Armbrister. "I didn't fire out like I wanted to, so I ended up running a little bit out of my race on the curve, and having to set it up all over again coming home on the straightaway. Being an All-American helps me feel a little bit better, but I hate to feel like I settled for eighth, so it gives me something to work for next year."
Texas A&M finished as the national champion in both the men's and women's team races. Auburn's 12th-place finish in the men's race marked the ninth time in the last 11 years that Auburn has finished 12th or better. The women finished in the top 25 for the ninth straight year.
Auburn's 2009 USTFCCCA Outdoor All-Americans
So. Cache Armbrister (200m)
So. Joanna Atkins (400m)
So. Michael DeHaven (200m, 4x100m Relay)
Fr. Ryan Fleck (High Jump)
So. Stephen Fly (4x100m Relay)
Fr. Girma Mecheso (10,000m)
Fr. Marcus Rowland (200m, 4x100m Relay)
Sr. Jerod Wims (4x100m Relay)