ABILENE CHRISTIAN SUCCESSFULLY defended their team title at the 2007 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Wildcats picked up their sixth consecutive national championship and tenth title in the past 12 years with strong performances across the board including first and second place in the triple jump and first place finishes in the decathalon, 3000m steeplechase and 800m run. ACU also had second place finishes in the 200m dash, pole vault and 10,000 meter run. Nicodemus Naimadu personally accounted for 18 points and set a new meet record in defending his 3000m steeplechase title. He has won the event for three straight years. Julius Nyango contributed another 14 points with a win in the 800m run and fifth place finish in the 1500m run. The Wildcats (105.5) were followed in the Top 5 finishers by runner-up St. Augustine’s (73), Morehouse (68), Ashland (42) and Adams State (40.5).

Several athletes became double champions during the three-day event. After setting a meet record while winning the hammer throw Thursday, Ashland’s Kibwe Johnson returned to the infield Saturday to win the discus throw. St. Augustine’s sprinters Kendall Stevens and Philippe DeRosier also successfully defended their titles. Stevens repeated as the 100m dash champion while DeRosier won the 200m dash championship for the second consecutive year. Lincoln’s Decosma Wright also repeated at men’s 110m hurdles champion.