Dorian Ulrey wins NCAA 3K
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas Razorback senior Dorian Ulrey won his first NCAA individual title and Arkansas’ second individual title of the event on the final day of competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships, at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Saturday.
In the team race, Arkansas finished fifth with 38 points. Florida won the team title with 57 points, Oregon and Texas A&M tied for second with 44 points and LSU was fourth with 42 points. The Razorbacks ended the weekend with nine All-America honors in five events from eight student-athletes. Arkansas won two individual titles – the 3,000 meters and the long jump – for the first time since the 2006 season.
"I’m really proud of the efforts I saw from our guys this weekend," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "Dorian picked himself up after the DMR and really competed well tonight. I’m happy to see him get an NCAA title. Our freshman, Brede Ellingsen, was great in the high jump. He looked really strong going over some of those bars. Overall, I’m really happy with what we did this weekend. We wanted a trophy but we improved a lot on our finish from a year ago and that’s what matters."
After anchoring the distance medley relay to a runner-up finish Friday night, Ulrey picked up his first NCAA individual title in Arkansas’ final event of the championship. He took the tape in the 3,000 meters in a time of 8:10.52. He is Arkansas’ first NCAA Champion in the 3,000 meters since Alistair Cragg in 2004. Ulrey earned the seventh All-America honor of his career and his sixth on the track.
"This feels incredible," Ulrey said. "I went from the lowest low last night to the highest high tonight. This is amazing – indescribable really. They were some great runners in the field, too. I’m so happy I got to do this on our home track and in front of our fans. The crowd really pulled me through in this race tonight."
Freshman Brede Raa Ellingsen scored points for the Hogs in the high jump. His clearance of 7-2.25, just off his PR of 7-2.5, earned him a fifth-place finish and the first All-America honor of his young career. Ellingsen is Arkansas’ first high jump All-American since Kenny Evans in 2001.
"I’m so excited right now," Ellingsen said. "I felt great jumping and I had a feeling today was going to be a good day for me. I did have some cramping in my calves but I tried to stay focused and do the best I could. I’m happy to be an All-American at my first NCAA Championships."
After a bronze finish in Friday’s long jump, sophomore Tarik Batchelor finished 13th in the triple jump. His best mark of the day measured 51-0.25.
ESPN2 will air a 90-minute show at 12:30 p.m. CST, Wed., March 17.
Arkansas at the NCAA Indoor Championships
Dorian Ulrey, 3,000 meters, first, 8:10.52
Scott MacPherson, 5,000 meters, 14:30.27
Caleb Cross, 60-meter hurdles, 10th, 7.82
Drew Butler, Ben Skidmore, Chris Bilbrew, Dorian Ulrey, distance medley relay, second, 9:37.53
Brede Raa Ellingsen, high jump, fifth, 7-2.25
Alain Bailey, long jump, first, 26-9.75
Tarik Batchelor, long jump, third, 26-0
Tarik Batchelor, triple jump, 13th 51-0.25
Download: d1indoor_results.pdf
