Alistar Cragg of Arkansas:
Cragg claimed the 3000 and 5000 meter titles (Arkansas sports info) |
After a two-year drought, Arkansas claimed their 17th NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship with 52 points. The Hogs put away the title thanks to junior Alistair Cragg who won his second individual title of the weekend in the 3,000 meter run. Cragg successfully defended his title in the 5,000 meters as well the day before when he finished first with a new Arkansas school record time of 13:28.93. He was also named the Indoor South Central Regional Athlete of the Year as announced by the Division I Coaches Association of the United States Track Coaches Association.
The Championship meet alone doesn't do justice for what Cragg was able to accomplish. During the 2003 indoor season, Cragg set two new school records and one collegiate record, while winning all of his races. At the Boston Indoor Games on February 1, he broke the collegiate record in the 3,000 meters with a time of 7:45.22 which included defeating the defending gold medalist from the 2000 Oympics.
At the SEC Indoor Championships on March 2, Cragg was awarded with the Commissioner's Trophy for the second-straight year after garnering the most individual points (20) at the meet by winning the 3,000 meter and mile run. It was an outstanding indoor season for the junior from Johannesburg, South Africa. Cragg looks to keep the performances rolling heading into the outdoor season.
Elva Goulbourne of Auburn:
Goulbourne dominated the long and triple jumps this season (NCAA photo) |
At the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships, no female athlete stood higher than senior Elva Goulbourne of Auburn. It only took one jump, but Goulbourne won the long jump on her first attempt with a mark of 22-04.25. She also claimed her second title of the meet, the triple jump, after only competing in the event at two meets, the SEC Championships and now the NCAA Championships. Her winning distance of 45'2.50 was also recorded on her first attempt.
In her final event of the meet, the 60 meters, Goulbourne came close to sweeping all three of her events at the Championship. However, she came up second with a time of 7.24 behind Muna Lee of LSU giving her eight points for the race and 28 points overall. Auburn's point total for the women moved to 29 after Goulbourne's final event.
It was an outstanding season for the senior from Kingston, Jamaica. Goulbourne's edge was not only being able to dominate both the long and triple jumps all season long, but also being a great short sprinter as well by becoming one of the top sprinters in the country as well. Goulbourne and the rest of the Tigers will kickoff their outdoor season on March 29, when they travel to Athens, Georgia, for the SEC Quad Meet.