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Stigler becomes National Champion
DEREK JOHNSON
@DJohnson1510
Senior track star Michael Stigler took the 400-meter hurdles crown at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Friday. Stigler ran a time of 48.84 seconds in the final race. He is the Kansas men's first NCAA Outdoor champion since 2010 and the first in a racing event since 2003.
The 5-foot-10 senior from Canyon, Texas, ran a 48.90 in the semifinal round on Wednesday. Stigler had the fastest time in the semifinal round and was undefeated in the 400-meter hurdles all season, making him the favorite on Friday. Stigler took care of business, winning the final by four-tenths of a second.
"It feels so good to finally be number one," Stigler said in the team's press release. "As soon as I crossed that finish line, I couldn't do anything but thank God and give thanks to my coach and my family. To finally get that win and get over that hump, it just means so much to me, and I'm so happy all that hard work finally paid off."
Stigler's win capped a phenomenal career at the University. In his four years of outdoor competition, Stigler was First Team All-American and Big 12 Champion every year. In 2013 and 2014, Stigler finished in the runner-up spot of the NCAA Outdoors. Finally, in his senior season, Stigler is a national champion.
Stigler has exhausted his eligibility at Kansas but will compete in the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships from June 25-28. Stigler is currently ranked fourth among 400-meter hurdlers in the world. Three 400-meter hurdles spots are on the line for the U.S. in the World Championships in July.
ing during the four days. The men's team finished in 19th place of 81 teams with 10 points. The women's team finished in 32nd place of 71 teams with seven points.
All of the events during the four days took place at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Kansas had a total of 11 track and field athletes compet-
Senior Michael Stigler reacts after winning the men's 400-meter hurdles during the NCAA track and field National Championships in Eugene, Ore., Friday, June 12.
DON RYAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas started the week strong. Besides Stigler's semifinal performance, junior Jake Albright and sophomore Nick Meyer both earned NCAA Second Team All-America honors in the pole vault. 2013 National Champion and senior Lindsey Vollmer had the strongest first day of her career in the heptathlon.
Vollmer competed in a Kansas uniform for the final time on day two. She was unable to record a mark in the long jump, her first event of the day. Just like that, Vollmer's dreams of winning another title and going out on top were crushed. This year was the only year Vollmer failed to earn any type of All-American standing at the NCAA Outdoors.
Vollmer leaves the University as the only woman in team history to win an individual title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Two other Jayhawks struggled on Thursday in racing events, while juniors Daina Levy (hammer throw) and Sydney Conley (long jump) earned First Team All-American honors in field events.
"I can't be upset at all about my performance," Conley said Thursday in the team's press release. "Being an All-American for the third time is a huge honor, so I'm definitely pleased with what I did."
Stigler took over the show on Friday at the NCAA Outdoors. Three more Jayhawks competed in the final two days, but the hype continued to surround the serenade of champion Michael Stigler.
Stigler's 400-meter hurdles victory is Kansas' first in the event since
1960. His accomplishment is a rare feat. He did more than defeat the competition; he conquered history.
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