Twice As Nice For Texas’ Richards In 2003
On this day in 2003, Sanya Richards of Texas became the first freshman (man or woman) to win the 400 in this meet and double back to anchor a winning 4×400 relay team. Her 400 victory was over three past or future NCAA champions as she set an American U20 (Junior) record of 50.58 and later brought the Longhorns from behind to victory in the 4×4 with a 51.2 split.
Richards (now Richards-Ross) was inspired by her coach, Bev Kearney — who, at the time, was the only black head coach (man or woman) to win an NCAA track & field team championship at the NCAA DI level. The future USTFCCCA Hall of Fame coach was then early in her recovery from a serious car accident the previous December.
“Personally, I just love her to death,” Richards told Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “To see her in a wheelchair and fighting every day just to walk – while she’s telling you to fight to run – makes her words so much more inspirational.”
Richards would become an inspiration herself, breaking 50 seconds in the summer of 2004 and finishing her career in 2016 with 49 sub-50 performances, the most by any woman. Her 48.70 from 2006 remains the fastest ever recorded by an American.
The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.
This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.
To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.
The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Bakewell’s Winding Road To 800 Meter Glory
Karen Bakewell set a meet record of 2:00.85 in the Women’s 800 Meters at the 1986 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Hurdling History For Forrest “Spec” Towns
Forrest “Spec” Towns won back-to-back hurdling titles at the 1936 and 1937 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships as part of a legendary streak.
What A Finish In The 1500 Meters!
Yared Nuguse of Notre Dame beat Justine Kiprotich of Michigan State by 0.003 seconds for the 1500-meter title at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
UCLA’s Griffith Sprinted Into History
Florence Griffith won two career individual titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included a meet record in the 400 Meters.
Ewell Made Quite The (Penn) State-ment
Barney Ewell of Penn State completed the 100-200 double twice at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1940 and 1941.
Unique Discus History For Oerter In 1958
Al Oerter won back-to-back discus titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included the only tie in meet history back in 1958.
Indiana State’s Hyche Swept Sprints In 1993
No athlete – male or female – has won more individual career sprint titles at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships than Holli Hyche of Indiana State!
Dendy’s Double-Double Put Him Among Greats
Marquis Dendy of Florida pulled off the double-double in the long jump & triple jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2014 and 2015.
SMU’s Ezeh Hammered Out Greatness
Florence Ezeh is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win three hammer throw titles in a career.
Gehrmann Starred In The Mile/1500
Don Gehrmann of Wisconsin won three consecutive 1500/mile titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 1948 and 1950!