NCAA DII Recap

 

The NCAA Division II Championships in Turlock, California were highlighted by many special performances, and great all-around efforts from both the Abilene Christian men and Grand Valley State on the women's side. 

 

Abilene recaptured the team trophy, and has now won 8 of the past ten NCAA Division II titles! They were led by a group of seniors coined the "Fab Four", who leave ACU after winning 2 National Championship titles. The group of Desmond Jackson, Ramon Sparks, Amos Sang and Nick Jones were responsible for 60 of the ACU men's 68 points! Adams State (CO) finished second, as Lincoln (MO) came in third.

 

On the women's side, Grand Valley State outlasted Lincoln (MO) to take the title. The victory for the Lakers was historic, as this is the first time that a women's program (any division) has won the cross country, indoor and outdoor titles in the same academic year! Unlike ACU, GVSU needed contributions from several different sources on the final day of competition to claim the title. GVSU got scoring in seven different events on Saturday to secure the win.

 

Here are some of the terrific performances from the meet:

 

Sarah Porter - 10k/5k

 

Porter of Western Washington came into the meet ranked #1 in the nation, so her win was no surprise. What was, however, was the manner in which she dominated a terrific field. Porter pulled away from Lauren Kleppin of Western State for a 30 second win, as the Western Washington senior ran a time that would place her 6th in Division I. Her 33:17 winning time was a 31 second improvement upon her seed time, and it represents the fourth fastest DII time ever run. In the 5k, Porter came back to grab a second place finish to Neely Spence of Shippensburg. Porter owns school records in every distance from the 1500 all the way to the 10k.

 

Kleppin impressed as well, as the Western State junior finished 2nd in the 10k in a school record run of 33:47, and third to Spence and Porter in the 5k. Spence continues her incredible run this year, and looks to be in top form heading into USA Championships at the end of June. 

 

Desmond Jackson - 200, 4x100, 100

 

Senior Desmond Jackson, along with Abilene Christian teammates Jordan Geary, Lavance Williams and Paris Robertson, finished second in the 4x100 in 40.18. Jackson then added a 3rd-place finish in the 100 (10.27) and a National Title in the 200 (20.63) to help Abilene win the team title. Jackson and "Fab Four" teammates Amos Sang, Nick Jones and Ramon Sparks were responsible for 37 Day 3 points and 60 of Abilene's 68 championship points.

 

Runa Falch - 1500/5k

 

Sophomore Runa Falch of Augustana (SD) came into the National meet ranked fourth in the 1500, behind a trio of Grand Valley State runners that included 2-time indoor champion, Monica Kinney. Falch showed up huge on the big stage, winning in a kick over Kinney and claiming her first National Title. Perhaps more impressive was Falch's ability to come back in the 5k hours later, claiming fourth to Spence, Porter and Kleppin. Falch's 16:38 was just off her 16:28 PR and she far surpassed her #9 ranking coming into the meet. Only a sophomore, Falch is someone to watch over the next several years.

 

3k Steeplechase

 

Goodman showed up huge for "Steeple U" in claiming his first National Title. The transfer from Southern Indiana has finally adapted to the altitude, and his title wraps up a breakout season for the junior. Goodman pulled away late to win in 8:48, his second sub-8:50 of the year. In the women's steeple, Adams State senior Cassie Mitchell ran a terrific race, in claiming her first National Title. Mitchell bested her 10:24 season best, winning in 10:20. Mitchell beat rivals Hillory Davis and Sarah Lyle of Western State for the win.

 

4x100

 

Lincoln came into the meet ranked #1, and they came away with the victory. Lincoln (MO) and Johnson C. Smith both broke 45, as Lincoln won in 44.57 and Johnson C. Smith finished in 44.79. With a 44.36 coming in, Lincoln had a chance at the DII National Meet record of 44.17, but came up just short. There was a mild upset in the men's race, as #2 Lincoln beat #1 Abilene Christian to take the title, winning 39.92 to 40.18.

 

Shermaine Williams - 110 hurdles

 

There was a much anticipated showdown between Williams of Johnson C. Smith and Indira Spence of Adams State. Shermaine got the best of this one, breaking 13 for the first time this year (12.95) and claiming the title. Williams' time would place her 8th in Division I.