Mississippi State
NCAA Championships (O)
MSU Men Claim Top 20 Finish At NCAA Outdoors
June 13, 2009 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? Al Schmidt wanted a Top 20 finish, and on the biggest stage in the collegiate level his team delivered in the clutch.
Saturday on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Arkansas' McDonnel Field and in front of a nationally-televised CBS audience, the Mississippi State men's team closed out the week with junior Dwight Mullings, despite a strained groin, coming in fifth in the 400-meter dash at 45.48 to secure the Top 20 finish.
Mullings, a native of Spanish Town, Jamaica, sustained the injury Friday night during the finals of the 4x100-meter relay, where his team finished fourth at 39.06.
"Our medical staff worked overtime to get Dwight ready," said Schmidt, who has overseen the track program since 1988. "But he's a great performer and did what great performers do. If he could have gotten at it totally, he might have won it. And I expect great things from him next year. He has a lot of races left in him."
Overall, the Bulldogs collected 14 points, their most since recording 15 in 2004 en route to finishing tied for 17th. Texas A&M rallied to win with 48 points, followed by Oregon, Florida and defending champion Florida State with 46. Rounding out the Top 5 was LSU with 37 points.
As for Mullings, his placement earned him All-American honors to give MSU eight for the week.
"This means a lot to me," he said. "I'm proud of myself. I was a little nervous at first, especially with the injury, but I had just enough left to finish like I did."
In the final event of the championships, the 4x400-meter relay team of Trey Charles, Emanuel Mayers, John Bailey and Mullings ran 3:05.25 to finish eighth.
On the women's side, senior All-American Marrissa Harris of Memphis closed out her remarkable career with an 8th-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.53 to give the Lady Bulldogs their lone point of the week.
"She's been mainstay, especially in SEC championships, where she scored every year," Schmidt said. "And in the process, she became a nationally-classed hurdler. She did a lot of great things for this for this program and ends her career as a three-time All-American and SEC champion. That's special and something that can never be taken away."
Texas A&M took the overall title with 50 points to complete the sweep, followed by Oregon with 43. Arizona placed third with 41 points, while Florida State and Texas were next with 40 and 36 points, respectively. LSU, last year's winner, was the top SEC team at sixth with 29.50 points."
