Like the familiar song by popular rapper Drake, Shaquille Dill’s Saint Augustine's University started from the bottom but finished at the top for its fifth straight Men's National crown on the final day of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at IMG Academy.
Saint Augustine's University claimed their latest title with seven student-athletes whom Coach George Williams dubs the "Magnificent Seven". Five sprinters scored 52 points to complete the comeback.
Unlike last year when Saint Augustine's University won by 49 points, the outcome wasn't decided until the last race. All four teams had a shot at winning but Saint Augustine's University beat Lincoln in the 4x400-meter Relay to clinch the title.
Saint Augustine's University trailed Ashland and Tiffin by two points (50-48) and led Lincoln by four points (48-44) heading into the relay.
Fittingly, Khari Herbert, Jr. anchored Saint Augustine’s University to victory as he blazed across the finish line well ahead of the Lincoln sprinter. Herbert is the only Saint Augustine's University student on this year's team to win four consecutive championships in his career. The top-ranked 4x400 squad - which includes Shawn Rowe, Dill and Adrian Kimmons - outran Lincoln by nearly a full second (3:06.96-3:07.98).
Saint Augustine’s University eventually closed within two points of Ashland behind Dill's fifth-place performance in the 800-meter dash.
|
