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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!