April 26, 2002

By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Notre Dame's Luke Watson ran down a national champion for a stirring victory in the Drake Relays.

Watson overcame a 50-meter deficit against NCAA cross country champion Boaz Cheboiywo of Eastern Michigan on Friday and sprinted to the finish as Notre Dame won the 6,400-meter relay.

It was the first victory for the Irish in that event at Drake since 1942 and their first win in any relay at the meet since winning the 3,200 in 1986.

"I wanted to make a decisive move just so he'd be mentally defeated," Watson said. "I didn't want him coming back on me at the end."

Notre Dame won going away in 16 minutes, 35.34 seconds on a day that two other relays produced photo finishes. Illinois beat Kansas by 0.01 seconds in the 3,200 relay and Kansas State edged Washington by 0.02 seconds in the women's distance medley.

Watson was able to catch Cheboiywo because the Eastern Michigan runner, who won the cross country title last fall, simply ran himself out. Cheboiywo ran his first lap in a swift 55 seconds to open his big lead and finished the first 800 meters in 1:57.8, still a fast pace.

"It was almost suicidal," said Watson, who was fifth at the NCAA cross country meet.

Cheboiywo began slowing on the third lap, Watson saw his chance and picked up his own pace.

"I started my move at 500 (meters) and then gave it all I had with 200 to go," Watson said. "When I passed him, that was the end of it."

Watson did his 1,600 leg in 4:05.5. Pat Conway led off for the Irish and was followed by Eric Morrison and Kevin Somok.

"We wanted to keep our placing first, second or third on each of our legs and that's pretty much what we did," Conway said. "We knew if we were close at all that Luke would have a shot because we know how much of a competitor he is."

Cheboiywo struggled home in 4:11.2 as Eastern Michigan finished second in 16:39.31.

Jason Van Swol anchored Illinois to its victory in the 3,200 relay, crossing the finish line almost simultaneously with Charlie Gruber of Kansas. The photo gave Illinois the win in 7:25.24. Kansas ran 7:25.25.

Seven teams were within 10 meters of each other as they started the final 400, but Van Swol and Gruber eventually pulled away and Van Swol held on in the last 50 meters.

Von Swol said he was motivated by what happened to former teammate Bobby True, who was run down by Missouri's Derrick Peterson in a relay and the photo made the cover of Track & Field News.

"I did not want to get on the cover of Track & Field magazine getting kicked down by another person," Von Swol said.

Kansas got a victory earlier when the Jayhawks' Scott Russell won his fourth title in the javelin with a throw of 243 feet, 1 inch. He became the 14th athlete to win an event four times at Drake.

Kansas State's Amy Mortimer rallied after being passed by Washington's Courtney Inman in the stretch run of the women's distance medley. Mortimer pulled back even with about 20 meters to go and inched ahead of Inman at the finish.

Kansas State finished in 11:27.52, Washington in 11:27.54.

"I saw her out of the corner of my eye so as she came on, I was trying to get myself across the finish line as soon as possible," Mortimer said. "When she passed me, I thought it was too late, but I made a little push and I guess I edged her at the end."

Illinois showed its strength in the women's 100 hurdles when its runners won all four preliminary heats - Camee Williams, Perdita Felicien and twins Jenny and Susanna Kallur. The final is Saturday.

Susanna Kallur won the race last year after Felicien set a meet record in the prelims.

"There's not many times when I beat Perdita," Kallur said. "It would be nice to beat her again, but as long as the champion is from Illinois, that would be fine."

The four Illinois runners are favored to repeat their title in the shuttle hurdle relay on Saturday. They ran a world-best 52.85 at Drake last year.