D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012

A slower pace led to a thrilling finish in the Women’s 5000 Meters at the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Through 4200 meters on the blue oval at Drake Stadium, nine women were within one second of the lead as Natosha Rogers of Texas A&M hit two laps to go at 13:53.50. 

When the bell sounded, that number dropped to three as Jessica Tebo of Colorado used a 69.94-second penultimate lap to surge to the front. Abbey D’Agostino of Dartmouth and Megan Goethals of Washington went with her, while Rogers fell all the way back to eighth place. 

D’Agostino and Goethals kept pushing the pace over the final lap – which proved too hot for Tebo – and it was clear that one of them would go home with their first NCAA Outdoor title. 

At the finish line, it was D’Agostino, who stopped the clock first at 16:11.34, inches ahead of Goethals at 16:11.37. D’Agostino covered the final 400 meters in 67.00; Goethals in 67.08. 

That 0.03-second margin of victory remains the smallest in meet history, easily dwarfing the second-smallest differential of 0.48 seconds that Sabrina Dornhoefer of Missouri won by 27 years earlier. 

D’Agostino left no doubt the next year, winning by 6.58 seconds in 15:43.68.

posted: May 23, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
Back-To-Back 200-Meter Crowns For Annelus

Anglerne “Angie” Annelus won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2018 & 2019. Her 22.16 winner from 2019 is the 4th fastest mark in collegiate history.

Biles Brothers Boast Historic Winning Feat

Martin Biles & Robert Biles were the first siblings to win the same event at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Marty won the javelin in 1940 & 1941, while Robert did so in 1942.

Branta Set NCAA MRs In 1500, 3000
June 1, 1985

Cathy Branta set meet records in back-to-back years at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships: 8:59.57 in the 3000 (1984); 4:12.64 in the 1500 (1985) as part of a 1500-3K double.

UCLA’s Brenner Won Amazing SP Duel In 1984
June 2, 1984

John Brenner completed the discus-shot put double at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and won the shot put after an incredible duel against Michael Carter.

Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer

Dawn Ellerbe and Lisa Misipeka went 1-2 in each of the first two years that the women’s hammer was contested at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.