UK's Sorrillo second in NCAA 200 meters

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Kentucky junior Rondel Sorrillo finished a strong second in Saturday's 200-meter dash for men at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Sorrillo came up big after UK discus throwers Rashaud Scott and Chase Madison failed to score at Fayetteville, Ark.

Texas A&M, under Coach Pat Henry, swept the men's and women's team championships. Louisiana State, then coached by Henry, is the only other school to sweep the men's and women's crowns, in 1989 and 1990.

Sorrillo, a junior who competed for Trinidad and Tobago at last year's Beijing Olympics, finished in 20.70 seconds. Florida State junior Charles Clark won in 20.55.

Sorrillo's eight points pushed the Wildcats' total to 15, moving the team from 30th place to 15th. Sorrillo was involved in all 15 points, placing fifth in Friday's 100-meter dash and anchoring UK's 4-by-100 relay to a sixth-place finish.

In the 200, Western Kentucky senior Gavin Smellie placed fifth in 20.96. Smellie's four points put the Hilltoppers in a tie for 46th place with Louisville, 4-4.

In the discus, seniors Scott and Madison both have career bests of more than 200 feet. They didn't come close to that at John McDonnell Field.

Martin Maric, a senior from California, came through on the final throw of the competition — 196 feet, 3 inches — to nip Arizona State's Ryan Whiting by an inch.

Scott, the defending champion, was coming off a school-record and NCAA-leading 216-2 regional victory. He was eliminated after three attempts Saturday. After opening at 179-3, Scott fouled his last two tries to wind up 10th.

The top nine throwers advance to another round of three throws.

Madison made it in on his third throw overall, 182-0, but was unable to improve. He fouled on four of his six attempts and finished ninth.

Louisville's Andrew Hackney came in 12th at 177-2.

U of L's Jeré Summers, who qualified first in the women's discus with a mark of 183-2, fouled on all three attempts in Saturday's finals. That left her 12th overall. D'Andra Carter of Texas Tech won with a throw of 182-6.

Texas A&M secured the men's team title by placing second to Florida State in the final event, the 4-by-400 relay. The Aggies had 48 points. Florida State, Florida and Oregon tied for second with 46 each.

Southeastern Conference teams bagged eight of the top 17 spots. In addition to Florida's second-place tie, LSU was fifth, South Carolina sixth, Arkansas ninth, Georgia 11th, Auburn 12th, UK 15th and Mississippi State 17th.

A&M's women totaled 50 points. Second-ranked Oregon edged Arizona State for second place, 43-41. Western Kentucky tied for 52nd place with four points.