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Gabe Wallin
Boise State |
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Mircea Bogdan
UTEP |
The WAC lands two National Champions at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Boise State's Gabrial Wallin followed up his 2004 National Title in the javelin with another in 2005, while UTEP's Mircea Bogdan brought home the 3,000m steeplechase title. Wallin had a heave of 78.76m in the javelin to bring home gold. Bogdan posted a time of 8:27.29 in the steeplechase to give him top honors.
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Gabriel Wallin successfully defending his NCAA National Championship in the men's javelin and in the process became Boise State's first ever two-time national collegiate champion.
A senior from Sodertalje, Sweden, Wallin won the event on June 10 on his first attempt in the preliminary round with a throw of 258-5 (78.76 meters). Wallin fouled on his next two attempts in the prelims, and then passed on all three of his final round throws in winning back-to-back javelin titles.
Wallin is the first Bronco student-athlete to win two NCAA national titles at Boise State. His championship also marks the fourth time a track and field athlete has placed first at NCAA Track and Field Championships.
One year ago UTEP's Mircea Bogdan wasn't running in the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. On June 10, the junior from Romania was being crowned the 2005 champion in Sacramento, Calif.
The completion of Bogdans comeback story needed a little comeback of its own. From the onset, Bogdan stayed back in fifth position for nearly the entire the race with his teammate Patrick Mutai staying up with the lead pack.
Bogdan posted personal-best 8:27.29 for his first national title and erasing memories of stepping off the track in the steeplechase at the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regional and the in the 10,000-meter run at last years national meet.
Other WAC notables:
Matties Jons, Boise State, 2nd, Hammer, 68.87m
Mickael Hanany, UTEP, 2nd, High Jump, 2.26m