Friday, June 3, 2011

Great Villanova Moments at the NCAA Championships: #5


June 6, 1981: Sydney Maree Destroys Quality Field in NCAA 1500

At Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Villanova legend Sydney Maree won an individual NCAA title at his third straight national outdoor meet. Two years earlier in 1979 Maree won the 5000 meters by 5 seconds (13:20.63) over Oregon's Rudy Chapa, and in 1980 Maree won the 1500 meters in 3:38.64, defeating Todd Harbour, Richie Harris, and others. In the 1981 race, Maree defended his 1500 crown by crushing a star-studded assemblage of milers such as Todd Harbour, Jim Spivey, Doug Padilla, Chuck Aragon, and Irishman Frank O'Mara. Maree won by almost three full seconds. Maree went on to a noteworthy international track career throughout the 1980s and ran 1500 (3:29.77), mile (3:48.83), and 5000 meter (13:01.15) times never matched by any man who ever wore a Villanova singlet. He set American records at 1500, 2000, 3000, and 5000 meters, and a world record at 1500 meters.

Men's 1500 meters

1. Sydney Maree Villanova University 3:35.30 10
2. Todd Harbour Baylor University 3:38.12 8
3. Jim Spivey Indiana University 3:38.33 6
4. Doug Padilla Brigham Young 3:38.37 4
5. Chuck Aragon Notre Dame 3:38.40 2
6. Roger Jones Auburn University 3:39.27 1
7. Doug Peterson Northwestern University 3:39.31
8. Frank O'Mara University of Arkansas 3:39.85
9. Vince Draddy University of Virginia 3:40.33
10. Todd McCollister North Carolina 3:42.05
11. Henry Kimalel University of Richmond 3:44.64
12. Kevin Johnson East Tennessee State 3:45.79

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