‘Eaters’ Jock second

DES MOINES, Iowa — UC Irvine junior Charles Jock placed second in the final of the 800 meters at the NCAA Track & Field Championships Friday night at Drake University.

Jock, who led virtually the entire race, was edged by four-hundredths of a second at the finish line by Virginia’s Robby Andrews. Andrews ran 1 minute, 44.71 seconds and Jock broke his own school record with a time of 1:44.75 in earning eight team points with his runner-up finish.

Oregon’s Elijah Greer finished third in 1:45.06 as the top three finishers eclipsed the previous Drake Stadium record of 1:45.23.

Jock went out fast, recording splits of 24.59 seconds at 200 meters, 49.85 at 400 and 1:17.22 at 600.

Andrews was near the back of the pack coming around the final turn and used a ferocious kick down the straightaway, moving just ahead of Jock on the outside at the finish. Andrews, a sophomore, was runner-up in the 800 at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Jock’s previous school record was 1:45.19, which he set in winning the Elite Invitational 800 at the Mt. SAC Relays Apr. 16.

He is scheduled to compete at the USA Championships June 23-26 in Eugene, Ore.