K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones got off to a torrid start in the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Thanks to equaling her PR in the high jump of 1.84m (6-0½) and notching a six-foot PR in the shot put of 14.85m (48-8¾), Jones amassed 4023 points through Day 1. For comparison’s sake, when Diane Guthrie set a collegiate record at the 1995 NCAA Championships, her total stood at 3728 through four events, so many thought the all-time best could be on borrowed time.
Jones slowed down, but not by much.
The Kansas State junior opened Day 2 with a 6.53m (21-5¼) effort in the long jump, hit a PR of 38.13m (125-1) in the javelin and traversed 800 meters in 2:29.43, which brought her score to 6371 points – the fourth-best total in both collegiate and meet history (That means that each of the top-3 totals also came from past meets).
“I went out there with the focus of maintaining what I did yesterday,” Jones told the media after capturing K-State’s fourth title in the multi. “I wanted to stay focused throughout the day, not just in the long jump. I did that and I came out victorious.”
Jones ended up winning by 148 points over defending champion Kendell Williams of Georgia. That also happened to be the only blemish of a near-perfect career for Williams in combined-event competition at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships (Williams went 4-for-4 in the pentathlon, 3-for-4 in the heptathlon).
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.