Abilene Christian Is Seeking Another Division II Track Title

Abilene Christian is a heavy favorite to win its fifth consecutive men’s title at the NCAA Division II national track and field championships today through Saturday at Cal State Los Angeles.

Among the team’s two dozen qualifiers are Cameron Miller and Steve Phaxton, two 18-foot pole vaulters; Freddie Williams, the Division I indoor champion at 1,000 meters, and Ahmed Shatad, the Division II record-holder in the shotput and a member of the Egyptian national team.

Ron Lee of Cal State Bakersfield should provide some suspense as he chases Jim Howard’s American record in the high jump. The junior from Jeffersonville, Ind., set a Division II record with a 7-6 jump at the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. meet earlier this month. After his record jump, he narrowly missed at 7-8 3/4 in an attempt to beat Dwight Stones’ record of 7-8.

Stan Oporski of Cal State L.A. is the favorite in the triple jump. Oporski, who defected from the Polish national team three years ago, has a personal best of 55-0.

Four members of the Kenyan national team are among the other top individuals who will compete.

Charles Cheruiyot of Mount St. Mary’s College finished sixth in the 5,000 at the Los Angeles Olympics. His twin brother, Kip, who also runs for Mount St. Mary’s, is the world junior record-holder in the 1,500.

East Texas State has two Kenyans, Agapius Amo and Samson Obowocha, who will run in the 5,000, 10,000 and the steeplechase.