Florida Gators
NCAA Indoor Championships
Clement Breaks 400m World Record; T & F Takes Second At NCAA Indoors
Sunday, March 13, 2005 | Men's Track and Field
Sophomore Kerron Clement (La Porte, Texas) broke the world record in the 400-meter dash with the 4x400-meter relay team setting the collegiate record in leading the Florida men's track and field team to second at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Florida finished second with 46 points as Arkansas won the championship with 56 points. Wisconsin took third with 43.
Clement broke the previous world record in racing to his second career NCAA title with a time of 44.57 in the 400m. U.S. Olympian Michael Johnson set the previous record in 1995 in 44.63, while the Florida men's 4x400m relay team of junior Sekou Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica), freshman Bernard Middleton (Jacksonville, Fla.), junior Stefan Pastor (Columbia, Md.) and Clement broke the collegiate record and posted the sixth-fastest time ever in the event.
Florida posted the 12th top-10 finish in school history and took second for the second consecutive season.
"We talked about things this morning and our goal was to get 45 points and we did that," Florida men's coach Mike Holloway said. "We came here and did what we wanted to do and we got beat by a better team. There's no shame in that. I'm proud of all of our guys."
Clement won the NCAA title in the 400m by nearly a full second in setting the world record. He became the third Gator in school history to win the NCAA title in the event, while his win was the 14th in school history at the indoor meet.
"I can't describe how I feel," Clement said. "When I crossed the line, I wanted to cry. That was my first reaction. It was so overwhelming - breaking Michael Johnson's record. I guess it's mine now."
Arkansas had wrapped up the men's title entering the final event of the evening after scoring 11 points in the 3,000m, but second through fourth place was still up for grabs with the 4x400m left to be contested. Wisconsin entered the event in second with 43 points with Florida and Auburn tied for third with 36. Florida then went on to win the 4x400m by more than a full second with a time of 3:03.51 in breaking the collegiate record.
"Those guys set a goal to break the record this season and they did it," Holloway said. "They achieved their goal and I couldn't be more proud."
Freshman Richard Adu-Bobie (Orleans, Canada) picked up the first All-America honor of his career by taking third in the 60m with a time of 6.66. His time was a personal best and stands as the fourth best in school history. His finish moved the Gators into a tie for second with Auburn at 36 points with Arkansas maintaining its lead with 38 points.
Sophomore Mike Morrison (Willingboro, N.J.) finished fourth in the high jump to earn the Gators five points and claim his seventh career All-America honor. Only one participant in the men's high jump finals cleared 2.26m/7-5 with three clearing the previous mark of 2.23/7-3.75, but Morrison finished fourth on misses. His finish brought the Gators into a six-way tie for third place with 20 points after 11 events were scored with Auburn leading with 28 and Arkansas second with 22.
The Gators kick off the 2005 outdoor season by hosting the Florida Relays March 23-26.
Top-Five Team Standings
Men
1. Arkansas, 56; 2. Florida, 46; 3. Wisconsin, 43; 4. Auburn, 37; 5. Indiana, 30.
NCAA Champions
Kerron Clement - 400m
Sekou Clarke, Bernard Middleton, Stefan Pastor, Kerron Clement - 4x400m
All-Americans
Richard Adu-Bobie - 60m
Sekou Clarke - 4x400m
Kerron Clement - 200m
Kerron Clement - 400m
Kerron Clement - 4x400m
Bernard Middleton - 4x400m
Mike Morrison - High Jump
Mike Morrison - Long Jump
Stefan Pastor - 4x400m
Josh Walker - 60m Hurdles
