FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It was as if two years of disappointments, two years of injuries and two years of eighth-place finishes erupted out of Charles Clark in the blocks Saturday afternoon.

The Florida State All-American sprinter burst off the start line in the 200-meter finals at the NCAA outdoor championships, leaving the other runners in his wake on his way to his first individual national title.

"I failed a couple of times, but it only made me stronger in the long run," Clark said. "It made me want and desire it more. And this year was a different outcome and I'm so blessed."

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Clark got off to a blistering start in the curve and cruised to the championship down the backstretch. His time of 20.55 — into a headwind — was .15 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Rondel Sorrillo of Kentucky.

"I knew I had to get out quick," Clark said. "Because my last 100 or so hasn't been great. I got out of the blocks well and knew as soon as we turned the corner that I had the best shot to bring it home."