COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (09-March) -- Justyn Knight of Syracuse won his first NCAA title on the track tonight in a slow, tactical 5K, a race in which he positioned himself perfectly over the last half mile and closed in 57.13 to seal the win while gesturing to the crowd.

His final time was 14:14.47. Vincent Kiprop of Alabama was second in 14:15.01 and Hassan Abdi of Oklahoma State was third in 14:15.38. Early leader Mike Tate of Southern Utah placed fourth in 14:15.67.

Watch highlights from the race below:

The opening pace was a pedestrian 4:42 for the 1600m, led by Tate and Rory Linkletter of BYU. The pace continued to dawdle through 3200m, as Colorado State's Grant Fischer brought them through in 9:32. Thereafter, though, Kiprop, Knight and Lawrence Kipkoech of Campbell ratcheted down the pace to 31 and 32 seconds per lap until Knight dropped the field with ease over the final 400m.

Post-race interview with Justyn Knight: