EUGENE – Jamaican Rojé Stona stood in the way of discus world record holder Mykolas Alekna of an Olympic gold medal at last summer’s Paris Games.

 

Almost a year later, another Jamaican prevented Alekna from winning the NCAA title at Hayward Field on Friday.

 

Oklahoma’s Ralford Mullings used a sixth-round throw of 69.31 meters (227-4) to hand the California star another second-place finish in the men’s discus competition at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships.

 

“I just came out here trying to do my best and replicate what I've been doing in practice,” Mullings said, who finished ninth at the Paris Olympics last summer for Jamaica.

 

“I'm thankful that I was able to take the win home.”

 

Mullings’ final throw established a new meet record, besting Kamy Keshmiri’s 33-year-old record of 67.06m (220-0). However, it was his third-round throw of 67.70m (222-1) to conclude the preliminary round that ultimately decided his fate over Alekna, who finished second with a mark of 66.77m (219-0).

 

“I did all I could,” Alekna said. “It’s alright. Congrats to Ralph for it. He deserved it.”

 

Alekna eased into the competition with an opening-round throw of 66.44m (218 feet), to which Mullings fouled on his first throw. In the second round, Alekna took a foul and Mullings got on the board with a 65.92m (216-3) mark.

 

Alekna’s third round mark was nowhere near his first-round throw, taking the foul the second time after intentionally stepping across the front of the circle.

 

Mullings kept calm after his first two throws and didn’t let it throw off his rhythm going into the third round.

 

“(At this) point in my career, it's just staying calm, keeping my heart rate low,” Mullings said. “It’s just trying to stay calm because it can really get to you if you shank the first throw and then have to come back and shank the next one.”

 

Mullings, as calm as he could be in the ring, launched his third throw with force to break the meet record the first time.

 

Round four began with Alekna fouling a third consecutive time -- perhaps his most questionable one. His fourth throw appeared to have been inside the throwing boundaries, but the officials determined it to be outside.

 

By round five, Alekna got his second fair mark at 66.77m (219-0) to pull within a meter of Mullings heading into the final round.

 

On his sixth and final throw, Alekna threw into the cage. He was stuck in second, after taking second in 2022 and third in 2023.

 

“I was feeling a little flat,” Alekna said. “I need to do some corrections I guess.”

 

For the sake of contrast, Alekna threw 72.12m (236-7) at the NCAA West regional prelim two weeks ago. He threw farther than any human being ever, 75.56m (247-10) in April at the Oklahoma Throws Series.

 

Mullings, who felt he wasn’t perfect either throughout the entire competition, left nothing behind on his final throw when he extended his lead and meet record.

 

“I kept missing, I missed all of them,” Mullings said with a smile. “I was just happy I was able to connect and win. I can’t be upset right now; I’m really happy I finished with the win.”

 

Mullings’ win sparked a 28-point outing for the Sooners on the final day of the men’s competition. His teammates Brandon Green Jr. and Floyd Whitaker finished first and second, respectively, in the triple jump.

 

Like Mullings, Green Jr.’s final jump of 16.81m (55-2) put an exclamation mark on his win. Five of his six jumps went beyond 16.50 meters.

 

Whitaker jumped a personal best 16.41m (53-10.25) in round three, putting him over Florida State’s Kyvon Tatham, who had jumped his best mark of 16.23m (53-3) right before him.

 

In the men’s high jump, Arvesta Troupe of Ole Miss cleared a personal best 2.27m (7-5.25), improving by one centimeter, to earn the national title.

 

Troupe began the competition with a perfect slate, clearing his first three heights on his first attempts. He fouled on his first attempt at 2.23m (7-3.75), then cleared it the second time before going onto make the winning height on his first try.

 

Texas State’s Kason O’Riley and Aiden Hayes both cleared 2.20m (7-2.50) to finish in a tie for second.

 

NCAA indoor champion Tyus Wilson of Nebraska finished in a tie for sixth.