With 9,960 meters behind them on a warm June night, a trio of Stanford runners threatened to sweep the top three spots in collegiate track's most grueling race. But in the last 40 meters, Brent Hauser seemingly lost his battle with the Carolina heat and humidity. As his twin brother, Brad, and teammate Jason Balkman sprinted to a 1-2 finish, the dizzy and exhausted senior tumbled onto the Duke University track, and Jason Lehmkuhle of Drake ran past him for third place. But Brent Hauser didn't stay down for long: he pulled himself up and fell across the finish line to earn fourth place and five crucial points for the Cardinal.
Sparked by that gutsy finish, undermanned Stanford dominated the distance events at the national championship meet in Durham, N.C., to win its first NCAA outdoor track-and-field championship since 1934. "If anyone was the catalyst for this team, it's Brent Hauser putting his heart on the line the last 40 meters of the 10,000," says junior Michael Stember, who finished second in the 1,500 meters and fourth in the 800. "That was incredible."
A Magnificent Seven of Cardinal athletes -- six runners and pole vaulter Toby Stevenson -- scored all 72 Stanford points in the meet. The total easily bested eight-time defending champion Arkansas, the favorite, which arrived in Durham with twice as many athletes as Stanford. The Razorbacks and the Cardinal have battled for national dominance for almost a decade -- in the spring track-and-field season and in the fall cross-country campaign. Last year, Stanford finished second to an Arkansas track team with depth in almost every event.
The Cardinal won by placing at least two runners in the top four spots of the 1,500, the 5,000 and the 10,000. Senior Brad Hauser won the 5,000 as well as the 10,000, while sophomore Gabe Jennings captured the 1,500 crown. Stevenson, a senior, cleared 18-11
