Women's Track and Field wins 100m and high jump national titles at NCAA Championships
June 12, 2009 Photo Gallery FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- With just two athletes competing on day three of the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Longhorns won two national titles behind senior Alexandria Anderson in the 100m and junior Destinee Hooker in the high jump. This is the first time since 1998 that the Longhorns have won two individual titles at the national outdoor meet. Anderson became the Longhorns' first 100m NCAA Champion since 2005 as she crossed the line in 11.20 for the win and the first individual title of her career. The senior bumped her All-America total to 18 with the victory, giving her the third-most All-America honors in UT history. Anderson, who has led the nation in the 100m since April, got out of the blocks a little slow but was able to come back and pass her competitors over the last 10 meters. She is the fourth Longhorn to bring home a national title in the event. She'll return to the track tomorrow in the 200m finals at 12:35 p.m. Central. Hooker made history of her own as she became the second female in NCAA history to win three outdoor high jump titles Friday afternoon after she cleared 6-4.75 (1.95m) to win the 2009 NCAA Outdoor high jump crown. Hooker joins Arizona's Tanya Hughes who accomplished the feat from 1991-93. The outdoor competition played to the same tune as the indoor meet with Hooker and Arizona's Elizabeth Patterson posting a 1-2 finish. After they both cleared 6-2.25 (1.89m), the bar was raised to 6-3.5 (1.92m). Hooker missed on her first attempt but cleared her second while Patterson missed as well but passed on her next two jumps. Hooker then cleared 6-4.75 (1.95m) in one try, tying her outdoor personal best, while Patterson knocked the bar down twice before passing on her final attempt. The bar then moved to 6-6 (1.98m), a height that would have set the Championship meet record, but neither could clear it, giving Hooker the title. After winning the indoor title in March with an NCAA record jump of 6-6 (1.98m), Hooker becomes the first athlete to sweep both the indoor and outdoor titles since Chaunte Howard did so in 2004. She also now has the most outdoor high jump titles in UT history with three. The Longhorns are tied for third with 20 points heading into the final day of competition. Oregon leads the women's team standings with 39 points. The final day of the 2009 NCAA Outdoor meet kicks off at 10 a.m. Central. Fans can follow the action live on CBS from 12-2 p.m. Central. Anderson takes on the 200m at 12:35 p.m. and the Longhorns 4x400m relay will compete at 1:35 p.m. Central. POST MEET QUOTES On her race: My start was kind of shaky but I just remembered what my coach told me to do and that was just to keep digging and execute my race. So that's what I did and I'm just so happy right now. On differences between this year and last year: A lot of determination. I went through a lot of stuff last year and I said I wasn't going to go out the same way. I just wanted a new fresh beginning to come and get it done. Junior Destinee Hooker On the 6-6 attempts:The first jump is always my best jump for some reason, I can never get it on lucky number three, it always has to be on number one. So when I went for 6-6, I was like alright I got this and then I didn't kick. I'm good with 6-4.75, it's a personal record and I still have another year to break it. On tying the record of three NCAA titles and possibly setting the record next year: As of now, I'm not even worrying about next year. I'm just thankful to win another one, especially after taking a year off. I just think this is nothing, I'd rather have a team championship than the individual. Head coach Beverly Kearney On Alexandria Anderson: She's been here through thick and thin. She's stayed the course, she's stayed focused. She's stayed confident in herself and in her program at Texas. She's been a warrior for Texas. She has the passion of a Longhorn. She's amazing and everything she gets right now, she's earned.
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