LSU runner Natoya Goule came in first in the women’s 800 meter race to claim her first NCAA national championship. She finished at 2:00.06. Oregon’s Laura Roesler followed right behind at 2:00.98.

Goule ran quicker than her seed-time, 2:01.04, however, this was not impressive enough for the Jamaican native.

“It sounds good and all, it was just awesome running here. I’m happy for my win and to put my team in good position, but I was kind of disappointed with the time,” she said. “I wanted to be under two minutes.”

Goule remained in the front of the pack for the entire race, and threw her hands up to her face in disbelief when she claimed victory. After the seven other runners marked their times, Goule hugged the girls, including Roesler, where they exchanged a few encouraging words.

She also ran against Tiger teammate Charlene Lipsey, who finished in fourth. Although Goule was happy with her championship but disappointed with her final time, she emphasized that this is a team event.

“The team needs me to win, and I need me to run sub-two minutes,” she said. “But because this is a team thing, I would say I like the win over my sub-two minutes because this is about the team.”

The LSU’s women’s team is currently in fifth place with a total of 23 points.

Lawi Lalang of Arizona finished the 10,000 meter race in first place with a time of 29:29.65 to earn a national championship trophy.

Lalang had no previous competitive running experience entering into his first year at Arizona. Last season, the Kenya native won the NCAA Championship in the 3,000 meter run and the 5,000 meter run.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Paul Katam was the runner-up of the event with a time of 29:41.27, and Texas’ Craig Lutz came in third at 29:41.97.

Lalang, Brigham Young University’s Jared Ward and Arkansas’ Solomon Haile led the pack for most of the race until Lalang hit the gas in the final three laps to lap around the runners at the back of the pack. Lalang threw up his arms in victory with a smirk on his face after crossing the finish line for the win.

Lalang will also compete in the 5,000 meter run Saturday at 3:23 p.m. After today’s win, he appeared relaxed about preparing for Saturday’s competition.

“I am not worried of anything right now, it’s the best thing. I am not worried of anyone,” he said. “I just want to race with them. They will have fresh legs, but after a few hours I am going to be just as fresh as them.”

Oregon’s Laura Roesler, Phyllis Francis, Chizoba Okodogbe and Jenna Prandini ran the women’s 4×400 relay race, finishing in first with a time of 3:28.15. Texas’ Kendra Chambers, Briana Nelson, Danielle Dowie and Courtney Okolo finished first in their heat and second overall with a time of 3:29.63.

Florida finished first in the second heat at 3:30.48, and Illinois came in first in the third heat of the day, finishing at 3:30.54.

Oregon currently holds the record for the best time in an NCAA meet in the women’s 4×400 with 3:24.54, while Texas holds the record for the best time overall with 3:23.75; however, the two schools fell just a few seconds short of beating those records in today’s competition.

Right before the four Oregon girls stepped onto the track for their event, they were informed that their regular 4×400 teammate English Gardner would not compete in the event until the final, and that Prandini would take her place for the semifinals. Gardner placed 22nd out of 24 competitors in the women’s 200-meter dash earlier today. She is currently suffering a leg injury.

“We just came mentally prepared, you know, if it happens, it happens,” Prandini said. “Our whole thing would be that we have to work together and go out as a team.”

Throughout the relay, the Duck and Longhorn runners remained neck-and-neck. Roesler ran the third lap and picked up the pace against Texas’ Dowie to set up the first position for teammate Francis. Francis grabbed the baton and raced ahead around the final corner to pull away from the other runners to cross the finish line in first.

Oregon, Texas, Florida, Illinois and four other teams will compete Saturday at 3:43 p.m. for the women’s 4×400 relay championship.

Iowa State’s Betsy Saina kept a steady pace during the women’s 10,000 meter run to claim her national championship after running a time of 33:08.85.

Saina remained at the front of the pack throughout most of the race under the blistering sun with the second place finisher, Wichita State’s Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, right on her tail. When the runners reached the 5,000 meter mark, the two girls stepped up their pace battling back-and-forth for first place. Saina and Tuliamuk-Bolton stayed neck-and-neck until the final lap when Saina mustered her last bit of energy to make space between her and her opponents.

When Saina crossed the finish line and slowed down to catch her breath, she walked off of the track with a smile on her face.

Saina won the women’s 5,000 meter championship in the 2011-2012 season and competed in, but lost in the 10,000 meter championship when she placed third and in the 5,000 meter championship when she finished 13th during the 2010-2011 season, so she was determined to earn this win in her senior year.

“Today I was just like ‘I need my happiness back,’ I just needed to smile again,’” she said.

Saina will compete in the 5,000 meter run Friday at 8:10 p.m.

Tuliamuk-Bolton finished the 10,000 meter race with a time of 33:14.12.

Trojan sprinter Reggie Wyatt sped past his opponents with ease in the third heat of the men’s 400 meter hurdles to place first overall with a time of 49.23.

In second overall place, and first in his heat, was Nebraska’s Miles Ukaoma, finishing in 49.63 seconds.

“I got out really good. I was actually able to get to the sixth hurdle the way I wanted to, and my steps were all on,” Ukaoma said. “So it was kind of just a really smooth race.”

Ukaoma hopes to run similarly in the final to how he did in today’s semifinal.

“I just hope to get out there and kind of run the same race, but a little faster in between the last few hurdles,” he said.

Kansas’ Michael Stigler, North Texas’ Steven White, Michigan’s Ali Arastu, Arkansas’ Caleb Cross, Oral Roberts’ Jeffery Gibson and Texas Tech’s Isaiah Gill will also move on to the finals.

The eight men will compete in the final 400 meter hurdle competition Friday at 4:40 p.m.