SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Already the first All-American in school
history, Shadrack Songok became the first national champion in
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi history late Thursday night winning
the 10,000-meter run.
Songok crossed the
finish line in a time of 28:55.83 – just :00.24 seconds ahead
of Oregon's Galen Rupp – to claim the title. The Islander
junior, who had finished fifth in the 5,000 as a sophomore last
spring to earn All-America honors and ninth as a freshman, led for
most of the race, but responded well to a late challenge. He also
earned All-America honors this fall in cross country.
"Shadrack was
leading most of the way and then with three laps got passes," said
Islander head coach Shawn Flanagan. "He responded well to the
challenge. The guys didn't want to push the pace. I knew the longer
the pace was slow the more of a chance he would have to out-kick
them and that's what happened."
Teammate Hickel
Woolery will look to make it two national champions for the
Islanders on Friday when he competes in the discus finals.
