Texas Tech - 2005 Big 12 Men's Champion	Nebraska - 2005 Big 12 Women's Champion

Final Results

May 15, 2005

Manhattan, Kan. - The Texas Tech men's team captured its first-ever Big 12 team title (149.50) while the Nebraska women (126.67) grabbed their second conference championship (2000, 2005) in the final day of competition at the R.V. Christian Track on K-State's campus. Coming in a close second on the men's side was defending champ Nebraska (136) while two-time defending titleholder Texas trailed the Husker women by a close 9.67 margin (117).

Sheldon Battle (Kansas) and Marshevet Hooker (Texas) were honored as the high point scorers of the championship with 28 and 32.5 points, respectively. Battle threw to his second title of the meet in the discus (188-10) after winning the hammer throw (210-00) on the first day and placing second in the shot put competition (63-10 1/2). Hooker clinched the 100- (11.12) and 200-meter crown (22.80) today, giving her a total of four titles at this year's meet. She also won the long jump and ran anchor for the first-place UT 4x100-meter relay team. The sophomore snapped a league meet (LaKeisha Backus, Texas, 1999 - 11.16) and facility record (Rosalyn Bryant, Cal State L.A., 1976 - 11.53) in the 100. Hooker now owns the top 100-meter time (fifth in the world) and second-fastest 200 in the nation (sixth in the world).

In the field events, sophomore Agata Kosuda (Iowa State) notched a personal-best and improved her regional-qualifying mark (44-11 1/2) in the women's triple jump, overcoming Big 12 leader Chaytan Hill (Kansas State) to win her first conference championship and the first-ever for the Cyclones in the event. Freshman Ekaterina Sultanova (Kansas) tied the meet record (Erin Anderson, KSU, 2000 & Jenny Green, NU, 2004) in the pole vault competition (13-5 1/4) to edge league leader Breanna Eveland (Kansas State) for the crown. For the men, Aaron Plas (Nebraska) upset defending champ and third-place finisher Andra Manson (Texas), and current Big 12 leader and runner-up Kyle Lancaster (Kansas State) for his first-ever Big 12 title (7-3 3/4).

The nation's top-ranked Texas women's 4x100-meter relay squad (LaTashia Kerr, Melaine Walker, Jerrika Chapple, Marshevet Hooker) raced to the Longhorns' ninth-consecutive Big 12 title in the event (43.95). On the men's end, Nebraska (Arturs Abolins, Oliver Williams, Nate Probasco, Dusty Stamer) clinched its second-straight triumph (39.59) in the event while breaking its own facility record from 1995 (40.65).

Barbora Kuncova (Oklahoma State) snatched the Cowgirls' first conference trophy (10:14.89) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and broke the meet (Lesley Higgins, CU, 2002 - 10:26.16) and R.V. Christian Track record (Sarah Steadman, A&M, 2004 - 11:15.73). Also snapping the meet and facility record is runner-up Natalie Florence (Colorado) with her time of 10:16.35. In addition to Kuncova and Florence, the next eight top finishers topped the facility record. Zach Zeller (Texas) won his second-straight Big 12 championship and earned a season-best in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:51.41).

Priscilla Lopes (Nebraska), ranked third in the nation, took home her first conference crown in the women's 100-meter hurdles (12.85), while also posting the Huskers' first win in the event. Melaine Walker (Texas) grabbed her second gold of the meet in the 400-meter hurdles (55.09), improving her No. 1 time in the nation by .28 seconds and grabbing the No. 3 spot in the world. Walker broke the Big 12 meet (Rosa Jolivet, A&M, 1998 - 55.83) and facility record (Lisa Davis, Oklahoma State, 1985 - 57.75) as well.

The 2004 Olympic champion (4x400) Darold Williamson celebrated his fourth-straight victory in the men's 400-meter dash (45.33) while cracking a complex record (Deon Hogan, KU, 1980 & S. Uti, ISU, 1985 - 46.20). Williamson is second-ranked in the nation in the event. Jonathan Johnson (Texas Tech) joined the four-time champion list with a triumph in the 800-meter run, giving him a season-best and second-best mark in school history (1:44.86). The senior also destroyed the meet (Derrick Peterson, MU, 1999 - 1:47.39) and facility record (Dmitrijs Milkevics, NU, 2004 - 1:48.04). Williamson and Johnson are two of three men to ever earn four consecutive league titles in one event (Derrick Peterson, MU, 800).

Colorado swept the men's and women's 5,000-meter trophies with Brent Vaughn (13:53.01) and Sara Slattery (15:58.58) rewriting both the men's and women's record books. This marks Vaughn's first league outdoor championship and Slattery's second of the meet (10,000 meters).

In the final events of the championship, the Baylor men's 4x400-meter relay squad (Kevin Mutai, Mark Teter, Wil Fitts, Darold Williamson) clinched its eighth-consecutive win and a season-best time (3:04.12) while the UT women's 4x400 team (Sheretta Jones, LaTashia Kerr, Melaine Walker, Jerrika Chapple) claimed its seventh straight and eighth overall victory (3:30.68).

There are still a couple of weeks of competition left for the Big 12 schools before heading out to regionals in Norman, Okla., May 27-28, with the University of Oklahoma as host. The 2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex on the Sacramento State University campus June 8-11.

SUNDAY CHAMPIONS
Men
Nebraska (Arturs Abolins, Oliver Williams, Nate Probasco, Dusty Stamer) - 4x100-meter relay (39.59)
Zach Zeller, Texas - 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:51.41)
Leonel Manzano, Texas - 1,500-meter run (3:45.45)
Marlon Odom, Texas Tech - 110-meter hurdles (13.76)
Darold Williamson, Baylor - 400-meter dash (45.33)
DaBryan Blanton, Oklahoma - 100-meter dash (10.28)
Tyree Gailes, Texas Tech - 200-meter dash (20.57)
Jonathan Johnson, Texas Tech - 800-meter run (1:44.86)
Bryan Scott, Texas Tech - 400-meter hurdles (49.86)
Andrew Gamble, Texas A&M - triple jump (53-0)
Brent Vaughn, Colorado - 5,000-meter run (13:53.01)
Sheldon Battle, Kansas - discus throw (188-10)
Aaron Plas, Nebraska - high jump (7-3 3/4)
Baylor (Kevin Mutai, Mark Teter, Wil Fitts, Darold Williamson) - 4x400-meter relay (3:04.12)

Women
Agata Kosuda, Iowa State - triple jump (44-11 1/2)
Dace Ruskule, Nebraska - discus throw (174-11)
Ekaterina Sultanova, Kansas - pole vault (13-5 1/4) Texas (LaTashia Kerr, Melaine Walker, Jerrika Chapple, Marshevet Hooker) - 4x100-meter relay (43.95)
Barbora Kuncova, Oklahoma State - 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:14.89)
Anne Shadle, Nebraska - 1,500-meter run (4:15.66)
Priscilla Lopes, Nebraska - 100-meter hurdles (12.85)
Marshevet Hooker, Texas - 100-meter dash (11.12)
Ashley Patten, Missouri - 800-meter run (2:04.04)
Melaine Walker, Texas - 400-meter hurdles (55.09)
Marshevet Hooker, Texas - 200-meter dash (22.80)
Sara Slattery, Colorado - 5,000-meter run (15:58.58)
Texas (Sheretta Jones, LaTashia Kerr, Melaine Walker, Jerrika Chapple) - 4x400-meter relay (3:30.68)