EUGENE, Ore. — There was no single win that Jarrion Lawson was most proud of, and he had three to choose from.
Lawson won the 100 and 200 meters and the long jump at the NCAA track and field championships, becoming the first athlete to win all three since Jesse Owens did it 80 years ago.
“I’m proud of everything. This is just amazing, just to come out and win three events and be put in the same sentence as Jesse Owens,” he said.
Lawson, now a six-time national champion, won the 100 in in 10.22 seconds, closing to the victory over the final 30 meters. Less than an hour later he claimed the 200 in 20.19. He won the long jump Wednesday, the first day of the meet.
He accounted for 31.5 total points for the Razorbacks, also the most since Owens scored 40 in 1935 and 1936 for Ohio State. It was just the third time Lawson ran all three events at one meet.
But Florida ultimately won the men’s team title, its third in five years, pushed into the points lead (62) with a second-place finish in the final event, the 1,600 relay. The Gators, who also won team title in 2012 and 2013, spoiled hometown Oregon’s attempt at a third-straight team title at Hayward Field. The Ducks (48) finished fourth behind Arkansas (56) and Texas A&M (50).
“I think even coming into today that nobody thought that we’d be here — except us,” Gators coach Mike Holloway said after celebrating the victory.
Lawson wasn’t the only record breaker as the athletes navigated periodic showers and the occasional stiff breeze. Texas A&M freshman Donavan Brazier set a collegiate record in the 800. His mark of 1:43.55 broke Kansas star Jim Ryun’s NCAA record set in 1966 and was the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Oregon’s Devon Allen won the 110 hurdles, his second NCAA title in the event
Allen, also a receiver on the Ducks’ football team, made a splash at the NCAA championships two years ago as a freshman. His time of 13.16 seconds set a meet record, besting Olympic gold medalist Aries Merritt’s mark of 13.21 set in 2006 for Tennessee.
“Decent race, pretty consistent for the season, so I’m happy,” said Allen, who was sidelined last year — from both the track and football teams — because of a knee injury.
Arman Hall helped the Gators with a victory in the 400, finishing in 44.82. Hall was also the one who spurred Florida for the title-clinching relay at the end of the night.
“Arman said it best, ‘Let’s go run,”‘ Holloway said.
Akron junior Clayton Murphy, who finished third in the 800 last year, pulled away down the stretch to win the 1,500 in 3:36.38, a personal best and a school record. Washington senior Izaic Yorks was second and Oregon sophomore Sam Prankel, a volunteer at the NCAA championships here two years ago, was third.
“That’s cool, but it’s all about coming back in two weeks and running fast,” Murphy said, referring to the Olympic Trials in July.
Lawson, who had previous NCAA titles in the relays and indoor long jump, plans to run all three of his events at the trials. A finish in the top three will earn him a trip to the Rio Olympics.
“I came here expecting to win three events,” he said. “Obviously it’s hard, but I did all the events because I love to do ’em.”
LSU won the 400 relay in 38.42, a new Hayward Field record.
The women’s team championship will be decided Saturday. This is the second year the NCAA has divided the filed; the men primarily competed Wednesday and Friday, while the women go Thursday and Saturday.
It’s the fourth straight year the championship has been set at Hayward Field, which will also host the trials.
