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Arizona senior runner Lawi Lalang is to the Wildcats’ track and field program what Sean Elliott was to basketball. He is a gem in his sport that does not come around too often.
Lawi Lalang! #8. 13:18.36. NCAA Champion in the 5K. Cheserek kicked too early and Lawi passed him in the last 100m. #BackToBackTitles
— Arizona Track&Field (@ArizonaTrack) June 14, 2014
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Lalang out-kicked Oregon freshman Edward Cheserek in dramatic fashion in the final lap to win the 5,000 meters tonight at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Ore. Lalang finished in a meet-record 13 minutes, 18.36 seconds for his eighth NCAA title. Cheserek took the lead on the final lap but Lalang, who defended his 5,000-meter title from last year, surged ahead in the final 100 meters. Cheserek, who won the 10,000 meters Wednesday night, finished in 13.18.71. Lalang, who also will run the 1,500 meters Saturday, is the first to win back-to-back titles in the 5K since Wisconsin’s Chris Solinsky in 2006-07.
#LawiLalang now w/8 @NCAA Championships is most decorated #TrackandField athlete in #ArizonaWildcats history. #NCAATF #TrackTown.
— David Kelly (@DavidKellyTNN) June 14, 2014
On the flipside of emotions, Arizona redshirt freshman running back Pierre Cormier announced on his Facebook wall that his football career is over because of a medical condition. Cormier was to compete with at least four other running backs for carries in 2014 with Ka’Deem Carey off to the NFL.
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"[The Nuggets] are a great team. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the West." -Nick Johnson #NuggetsDraft pic.twitter.com/kFo7mruYuo
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) June 13, 2014
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Flight delayed yet again. Looks like im gonna be chillin in the Denver airport all day
— Nick Johnson (@Air_Zona13) June 13, 2014
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Nick Johnson’s NBA workout tour continued in Denver today. Johnson loves the game of basketball but the non-stop workouts mixed in with having to catch flights has to be taking its toll. He seems to be as spry as ever, however. He worked out for the L.A. Clippers, Houston and Denver this week. Minnesota is up next.
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.