Mullings, Reid Strike Gold; Taylor and Marshall Win NCAA Men’s Title With Arkansas

Ralford Mullings and Jaiden Reid grabbed individual gold, but Tyrice Taylor and Rivaldo Marshall had their own championship moment, helping Arkansas win the NCAA men’s team title in Eugene to add to their SEC crown from May.

Arkansas topped the men’s standings with 56 points after all 21 events were scored, finishing ahead of Georgia, which had 49, and Tennessee, which ended third with 46. LSU was fourth with 42, while host Oregon completed the top five with 40.

Taylor and Marshall, both key figures in Arkansas’ 800m strength this season, again delivered under pressure. Taylor finished second in the men’s 800m final in a personal best 1:44.30, while Marshall, the top seed, took third in 1:44.93.

At one point on the final lap, the race looked set for a Jamaican one-two finish. Taylor and Marshall were both in strong positions and appeared ready to deliver major points for Arkansas while chasing the individual title.

Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman surged through to win in a personal best 1:44.22, edging Taylor to the line and denying Jamaica the individual 800m crown. Still, Taylor and Marshall delivered valuable points that helped Arkansas secure the overall championship.

Their performances also underlined a big season for the Razorbacks, who won the SEC title in May before claiming the NCAA crown in Eugene.

Jamaica’s lone individual victory on the men’s side came from the discus ring, where Ralford Mullings defended his NCAA title for Oklahoma.

Mullings produced a best throw of 65.81m, or 215 feet, 11 inches, to win the men’s discus final and keep the title in Jamaican hands. It was another major championship performance from the Oklahoma senior, who entered the meet as one of Jamaica’s leading hopes in the field.

There was more Jamaican success in the same event as Racquil Broderick of USC threw a personal best 64.15m, or 210 feet, 5 inches, to finish second. USC teammate Vincent Ugwoke was third with a personal best 63.89m.

Cayman Islands sprinter and former Jamaica College athlete Jaiden Reid also lit up the championships with a stunning sprint double. Reid ran 19.63 in the men’s 200m, setting a personal best, meeting record and championship record as he blew away the field from the gun.

Even Auburn’s Israel Okon, who dipped under 20 seconds with 19.99, had no answer to Reid’s speed around the bend and down the homestretch.

Reid also finished second in the men’s 100m final, clocking 9.82 behind Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi, who won in 9.72. Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins, one of the race favourites, finished third in 9.87.

The men’s 400m also produced one of the performances of the meet as Alabama’s Samuel Ogazi dominated from the gun to win in 43.38. Georgia’s Jonathan Simms also broke 44 seconds, finishing second in 43.92.

Florida’s Vance Nilsson topped the men’s 400m hurdles in an impressive 48.06.

Men’s Team Standings — NCAA Outdoor Championships