Arkansas’ Schwald Captures 3,000 Meters

Sarah Schwald, among the most highly accomplished female athletes in Spokane history, won the 3,000 meters for the University of Arkansas on Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Schwald was timed in 9 minutes, 19.90 seconds to defeat Boston University’s Christine Stief (9:20.69).

Her triumph helped the Razorbacks finish in a fourth-place tie with Villanova.

After beginning her prep career in Colorado, Schwald moved to Spokane and saw her first Greater Spokane League action for Mead High School. She transferred to Rogers during her junior year.

Louisiana State won its third straight women’s title by placing second in the meet’s final event, the 1,600 relay. That gave the Tigers 40 points. UCLA, which didn’t have a team in the event, was next with 37. Texas placed third with 32 as it won the final event. Arkansas and Villanova scored 21 points apiece.

In the men’s competition, Michigan’s Kevin Sullivan beat Graham Hood of Arkansas in the latest meeting of the Canadian rivals to win the mile with the second-fastest indoor time by a collegian.

Sullivan, a sophomore, caught the senior in the homestretch to set a Canadian national record of 3 minutes, 55.33 seconds.

Sullivan, who lost to Hood in the prestigious Millrose Games recently, covered the last 880 in a blistering 1:52.7.

Hood, the NCAA outdoor champion in the 1,500, also was below the old record of 3:57.89 set by Suleiman Nyambui of Texas El-Paso in 1979 at 3:55.72. Paul McMullen of Eastern Michigan, who was leading with 150 meters remaining, placed third in 3:58.21.

Kentucky’s Tim Harden sped to victory in the 55, becoming the first athlete to win the USA National championship and the NCAA title in the same year since world-record holder Lee McRae posted the double in 1987. Harden led from start to finish, covering the distance in 6.12 seconds.

Arkansas accumulated 59 points, topping the combined totals of runner-ups George Mason and Tennessee, which scored 26 apiece. Michigan and Illinois tied for fourth with 25, followed by Georgia at 24.

In Division II, Abilene Christian won its third straight women’s championship but had to settle for second in its bid for a third consecutive men’s title. The men’s meet went down to the final event, and St. Augustine captured the championship by winning the 1,600 relay.