Rest of NCAA: Florida Wins 2024 NCAAs By 1 As Parker Stokes & Shane Cohen Win Steeple & 800s
By LetsRun.com
The 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field men’s championship came to a close today as the Florida Gators three-peated by one point thanks to a 3rd-place showing in the 4 x 400. In the much-anticipated men’s 1500, Washington’s Joe Waskom won his second NCAA title while Parker Wolfe of UNC won his first in the 5000. Those two races get their own recaps so check out our homepage (1500 recap here, 5000 recap here). We recap the rest of the track action for you below starting with the mid-d and distance events.
In the field, Farleigh Dickson’s Salife Mane won the men’s tripple jump by 1 cm at 17.14 (1/4 of an inch), South Alabama’s Francois Prinsloo won the discus with a 63.51 heave and Arkansas‘ Romaine Beckford won the high jump with a 2.26 clearance.If you didn’t watch the meet on tv you can see video highlights here and race results here.
Men’s 3k Steeple: Stoked to Win
Parker Stokes of Georgetown upgraded his bronze from 2022, ripping a 60.44 last lap to come away with the win in 8:24.58. The pace was pedestrian the first k as the pack came through in 2:57.49 (8:52 pace). It was Eastern Kentucky’s Abdelhakim Abouzouhir who became impatient and took the pace at a k, and picked it up running 67.91 followed by 66.65. He let the pace lag the next lap running 68.32 and Virginia’s Nathan Mountain took the lead with a k to go. He ran a 2:11.41 next 800 to string the field out and get the pack down to about four going into the bell. It was Stokes who was on his shoulder the entire last lap. Mountain still led entering the final water jump but had an awkward jump that allowed for Stokes to take the lead and turn on the jets the final 100 to win. Stokes’s career was not the typical path that a NCAA champion would take. Two years ago he was third in a blistering fast 8:18.88, but got knocked out in the prelims the next year finishing only 14th. Now in 2024 he is the NCAA champion for the Hoyas.
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Parker STOKES Georgetown [SR] | 8:24.58 | SB |
| 2 |  | Nathan MOUNTAIN Virginia [JR] | 8:25.71 | |
| 3 |  | Gable SIEPERDA Iowa State [SR] | 8:25.92 | PB |
| 4 |  | Abdelhakim ABOUZOUHIR Eastern Kentucky [SR] | 8:27.09 | |
| 5 |  | CJ SINGLETON Notre Dame [SO] | 8:27.46 | PB |
| 6 |  | Estanis RUIZ Portland [JR] | 8:28.15 | PB |
| 7 | | Yasin SADO Virginia [SR] | 8:28.17 | |
| 8 |  | Alexander KORCZYNSKI Northeastern [SR] | 8:29.42 | PB |
| 9 |  | James CORRIGAN BYU [SO] | 8:29.61 | |
| 10 |  | Jackson SHORTEN Princeton [SO] | 8:29.84 | PB |
| 11 | | Tom SEITZER Notre Dame [SR] | 8:35.70 | |
| 12 |  | Levi TAYLOR Montana State [SR] | 8:43.47 |
Stokes: It’s probably the most satisfying feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life
Stokes was 3rd in this race in 2022 in 8:18.88, a time that still ranks him #5 in NCAA history. But he said it was hard for him to live up to that performance in 2023 as he struggled with illness and injury.
“It was just hard to keep momentum up,” Stokes said. “It was hard to change with workouts and get the result I wanted.”
Now, however, Stokes said he is fitter than ever. He is certainly a factor at the Olympic Trials. Kenneth Rooks and Hillary Bor will be favored to finish 1-2 in some order, but the third spot is wide open.
As for tonight, Stokes said his plan was to stick in 2nd through 4th place throughout the race and leave it to his kick at the last lap. In that respect, the race could not have gone better.
“It’s probably the most satisfying feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life,” Stokes said.
Men’s 800: Cohen wins an instant classic
Virginia’s Shane Cohen capped a dream 2024 season for by going from first to last over the final 100 meters to win a thrilling NCAA 800-meter final over pre-meet favorite Sam Whitmarsh of Texas A&M, clocking a personal best of 1:44.97 to Whitmarsh’s 1:45.10.
A year ago, Cohen was a Division II runner at the University of Tampa who could not break 1:53 as he recovered from a stress fracture in his femur suffered in the preceding cross country season (he did make the DII final in 2021 and 2022 but never finished higher than 6th). Two months ago, Cohen’s pb was still 1:48.25, and a month ago he was only 3rd at ACCs. But on the biggest stage in collegiate running, Cohen showed his class by using his incredible kick to mow down the field and win the NCAA title.
ACC champ Tarees Rhoden of Clemson led this one out in 24.5 through 200 and 51.26 through 400, with 2023 indoor champion Yusuf Bizimana leading the chase pack. It was still Rhoden through 600 and 700, but NCAA leader Whitmarsh snaked through the field to come even with him and was moving well in the home straight. But it was Cohen, who was in last place with 100 to go, who stormed down the straight in lane 4 and used his 22.28 200 speed to claim victory in one of the most chaotic events in the NCAA this year.
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Shane COHEN Virginia [SR] | 1:44.97 | PB |
| 2 |  | Sam WHITMARSH Texas A&M [JR] | 1:45.10 | |
| 3 | | Finley MCLEAR Iowa State [JR] | 1:45.66 | PB |
| 4 |  | Tarees RHODEN Clemson [SR] | 1:45.70 | PB |
| 5 |  | Sean DOLAN Villanova [SR] | 1:45.89 | |
| 6 |  | Yusuf BIZIMANA Texas [SR] | 1:46.37 | |
| 7 | | Kimar FARQUHARSON Texas A&M [JR] | 1:46.38 | |
| 8 |  | Nicholas PLANT Virginia Tech [SO] | 1:47.00 | |
| 9 |  | Camden MARSHALL Indiana [JR] | 2:04.27 |
Men‘s 4×100
Coach Leroy Burrell‘s Auburn Tigers held off a challenge from Houston and LSU to win the NCAA title in a collegiate-leading 38.03. Auburn was solid all the way around and had a slight lead after the final handoff vs Burrell’s former team, the Carl Lewis-coached Houston Cougars, anchored by NCAA #2 100 runner Shaun Maswanganyi, but Auburn anchor Makanakaishe Charamba only extended the lead on the anchor. Houston was ultimately overtaken by the LSU Tigers in the final 50 meters, running 38.21 to Houston’s 38.25.
Burrell’s Tigers got the 4×100 title in his second year at Auburn to add to the back-to-back titles he won at Houston in 2017 and 2018.
USC was ultimately DQ’ed for impediment.
Pl | Team | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AUBURN Auburn | 38.03 | SB CL |
| 2 |  | LSU LSU | 38.21 | |
| 3 |  | HOUSTON Houston | 38.25 | SB |
| 4 |  | FLORIDA Florida | 38.34 | SB |
| 5 | | TEXAS Texas | 38.99 | |
 | TEXAS TECH Texas Tech | DNF | ||
 | ARIZONA Arizona | DQ | ||
 | SAN JOSE ST. San Jose St. | DQ | ||
 | USC USC | DQ |
Men’s 110H: Luff’s experience outshines Tharp’s talent
The initial recall didn’t seem to faze Nebraska’s Darius Luff, who held off Auburn’s freshman phenom Ja’Kobe Tharp to win in 13.19 seconds. After clipping the second hurdle, Tharp made a strong effort to reel Luff in but ran out of real estate, running 13.20. Ja’Qualon Scott of Texas A&M finished in third, clocking 13.2, a wind-legal personal best.
USC’s team title hopes took a hit after a last-place finish by Johnny Brackins, who ran 13.63.
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Darius LUFF Nebraska [SR] | 13.19 | PB |
| 2 | | Ja’Kobe THARP Auburn [FR] | 13.20 | |
| 3 | | Ja’Qualon SCOTT Texas A&M [JR] | 13.27 | PB |
| 4 | | Malachi SNOW San Jose St. [FR] | 13.33 | PB |
| 5 | | De’ Vion WILSON Houston [SR] | 13.36 | |
| 6 |  | Samuel BENNETT Howard [JR] | 13.45 | PB |
| 7 |  | Jerome CAMPBELL Northern Colorado [SO] | 13.49 | |
| 8 | | Matthew SOPHIA LSU [SO] | 13.53 | |
| 9 | | Johnny BRACKINS USC [JR] | 13.63 |
Men’s 100: Hinchliffe Gets Gold for Cougars
It was Louie Hinchliffe who was able to come on strong in the final 50 meters to win in 9.95. Hinchliffe had a strong start, but timed his race perfectly going into the line with tons of momentum. This was no shocker as the Brit Hinchliffe had the number #1 time in the country coming in, a 9.84 wind-aided run at the West Regionals.
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Louie HINCHLIFFE Houston [SO] | 9.95 | PB |
| 2 | | Favour ASHE Auburn [JR] | 9.99 | |
| 3 | | Kanyinsola AJAYI Auburn [FR] | 10.01 | PB |
| 4 | | Godson OGHENEBRUME LSU [JR] | 10.02 (10.013) | |
| 5 |  | Saminu ABDUL-RASHEED South Florida [SO] | 10.02 (10.019) | PB |
| 6 | | Wanya MCCOY Florida [JR] | 10.03 | |
| 7 | | Shaun MASWANGANYI Houston [SR] | 10.05 | |
| 8 |  | Zachaeus BEARD Northwestern St. [SR] | 10.10 | |
| 9 |  | Lance LANG Arkansas [SR] | 10.15 |
Men’s 400: Morales-Williams gets it done
It took everything Christopher Morales-Williams of Georgia had to hold the field off down the homestretch, running 44.47 seconds for the win. Coming off the turn it was Johnnie Blockburger of USC in the lead with Auhmad Robinson and Morales-Williams on his shoulder. With 70 meters to go, Samuel Ogazi, Jevaughn Powell, and Judson Lincoln IV pulled even with the trio before Morales-Williams was finally able to pull away in the last 30 meters. Ogazi of Alabama would run 44.52 for a second-place finish, good for a new personal best, followed by Florida’s JeVaughn Powell. Robinson and Blockburger would fade back and finish in 4th and 5th, respectively.
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Christopher MORALES WILLIAMS Georgia [SO] | 44.47 | |
| 2 |  | Samuel OGAZI Alabama [FR] | 44.52 | PB |
| 3 | | JeVaughn POWELL Florida [SR] | 44.54 | PB |
| 4 | | Johnnie BLOCKBURGER USC [SR] | 44.90 | |
| 5 | | Judson LINCOLN IV Virginia Tech [SO] | 45.31 | |
| 6 |  | Emmanuel BYNUM Tennessee [SR] | 45.75 | |
| 7 | | Reheem HAYLES Florida [JR] | 45.78 | |
| 8 |  | Justin ROBINSON Arizona State [JR] | 45.92 | |
| Auhmad ROBINSON Texas A&M [JR] | DQ R: 15.5-2b ⓘ |
Men’s 400H: Dean dismantles the field
Texas Tech’s Caleb Dean’s huge run in the prelims didn’t seem to faze him one bit as he ran away from the field to win, clocking a huge personal best of 47.23 seconds (#2 in NCAA history, #4 in world this year). Out of the blocks, Dean built up a huge lead and continued to build on it across every hurdle. Alabama’s Chis Robinson was the only man in the same stratosphere off the turn but was blown away by Dean down the homestretch. Robinson would run 47.98, good for second place and .03 off his personal best. Two-time NCAA champ Sean Burrell of LSU was only 8th in his final college race.
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Caleb DEAN Texas Tech [JR] | 47.23 | PB CL |
| 2 | | Chris ROBINSON Alabama [SR] | 47.98 | |
| 3 |  | Nathaniel EZEKIEL Baylor [JR] | 48.88 | |
| 4 | | Ja’Qualon SCOTT Texas A&M [JR] | 49.08 | PB |
| 5 | | Oskar EDLUND Texas Tech [JR] | 49.23 | |
| 6 | | Corde LONG Alabama [SR] | 49.47 | |
| 7 | | Jakwan HALE Tennessee [SR] | 49.49 | |
| 8 | | Sean BURRELL LSU [SR] | 51.17 | |
| Clement DUCOS Tennessee [SR] | DNF |
Men’s 200: Cheickna Traore Gets Revenge
It was Cheickna Traore of Penn State who was able to upgrade his indoor second-place finish to a first-place one running 19.95 for the win. Indoors he ran the quickest time in the first heat and then had to watch Terrence Jones take the title from him. With the opportunity to control his own destiny outdoors, he took full advantage. He was quick out of the blocks and never gave up the lead, and was able to celebrate crossing the line as he won by .13 seconds. Robert Gregory got second in 20.08, getting 8 big team points for the Florida Gators.,
| Pl | Athlete | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Cheickna TRAORE Penn State [SR] | 19.95 | |
| 2 | | Robert GREGORY Florida [SR] | 20.08 | SB |
| 3 | | Saminu ABDUL-RASHEED South Florida [SO] | 20.12 | PB |
| 4 | | Tarsis OROGOT Alabama [JR] | 20.14 | |
| 5 | | Makanakaishe CHARAMBA Auburn [JR] | 20.20 | |
| 6 | | Shaun MASWANGANYI Houston [SR] | 20.25 | |
| 7 |  | Jamarion STUBBS Alabama State [SO] | 20.59 | |
| 8 | | Lance LANG Arkansas [SR] | 20.67 | |
| 9 | | Wanya MCCOY Florida [JR] | 20.98 |
Men’s 4×400: Texas A&M wins as Florida Clinches Team Title
The team title came down to the final race and it was a thriller. Florida went in trailing Auburn by five points, knowing it could clinch the win with a top-three finish (as long as USC or Alabama did not win the race outright). Texas A&M won the race running 2:58.37, but Florida, who led the race through the first two legs, managed to hold on for third and win the team title by 1 point to complete a 3-peat in the team race. A&M’s Auhmad Robinson, who got DQ’d in the 400, ran an amazing 43.20 anchor to win in the final 100 for A&M.
NCAA Men’s Videos
Did you miss the live ESPN broadcast of the finals of the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships? Don’t worry. We have you covered as we’ve collected all of the race highlight videos posted by the NCAA on X: NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Videos.
