FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? The University of Kentucky men?s 4×400 relay closed out the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships with a tenth place finish (3:09.16) Saturday evening at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

The race featured multiple national heavyweights, including last season?s indoor champ, Florida, and perennial powers LSU, Baylor and Texas Tech, but it was LSU?s turn as the SEC champs crushed the field by nearly three seconds to take home the title in 3:04.01 (collegiate record, Florida, 3:03.31, 2003). Illinois finished second in 3:06.79. It was the first indoor championships appearance for all four UK sprinters.

The crew of sophomore Justin Harrison, sophomore Nathan Browning, freshman Jose Acevedo and junior Luis Luna finished the indoor season with a stout resume, including the Rod McCravy Memorial meet record, a third place finish at the SEC Indoor Championships, a first place finish at the Iowa State Qualifier and the fourth fastest mark (3:07.01) in the country entering this weekend?s championships. The future looks bright with all four sprinters returning next season as well.

Next weekend, the squad opens the outdoor season and travels to Tempe, Ariz. for the Baldy Castillo Invitational, March, 17-18, at host Arizona State.