LSU’s Hobbs Couldn’t Be Caught In 2018
LSU’s women have a decorated history 100 meters at a time.
From 1982 to 2017, the Tigers won 21 national titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships between the 100 (seven) and the 4×100 relay (14).
It had been a long time, though, since LSU saw someone as fierce as Aleia Hobbs in 2018.
Hobbs actually burst on the scene as a junior the year before when she clocked the second fastest time in collegiate history at 10.85. That came at the SEC Relays, where Hobbs came within shouting distance of collegiate record holder Dawn Sowell, another Tiger legend.
It wasn’t until Hobbs’ senior year that she took her rightful place on top of the NCAA podium.
Hobbs started 2018 by tying the collegiate record in the 60 meters at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in College Station, Texas. She went 7.07 to win the NCAA title, matching the all-time best established by former Oregon standout Hannah Cunliffe at altitude the year before.
The outdoor season saw Hobbs notch four more all-time top-10 marks in the 100 – No. 3 (10.90), No. 4 (10.91), No. 5 (10.92) and No. 7 (10.93). Those first three marks all came in the postseason, starting at the SEC Outdoor Championships and ending in the semifinal of the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Hobbs started final competition at Historic Hayward Field by anchoring LSU to a meet record in the 4×100 relay. She didn’t have anybody close to her as she took the baton from Rachel Misher and powered through the finish line in 42.09, 0.81 seconds ahead of runner-up Oregon (Just a few weeks earlier, Hobbs toted the baton last as the Tigers set a still-standing collegiate record of 42.05 at the SEC Championships).
The back of Hobbs’ yellow jersey turned out to be a familiar sight for her opponents.
Hobbs demolished the field in the final of 100 later that afternoon as she tore through a driving rain in 11.01, 0.23 seconds ahead of Natalliah Whyte of Auburn. That was the largest margin of victory in meet history since Chryste Gaines of Stanford won by 0.24 seconds in 1992.
Hobbs was named National Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in 2018.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).