Peters At Head Of Jav U’s Class

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Peters At Head Of Jav U’s Class

If Mississippi State is the rightful “Javelin U,” Anderson Peters is at the head of the class.

Peters, a former standout for the Bulldogs who turns 23-years old today, was a two-time javelin champion at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2018 and 2019 with meet record efforts in both of those years, which includes a massive heave of 86.62m (284-2) in 2019 that currently ranks third on the all-time collegiate chart.

The native of Saint Andrew, Grenada, entered the collegiate system in 2018 with a PR of 84.81m (278-3) that would have won him the NCAA title at every edition of the Championships dating back to 1986 and ranked him third in collegiate history if he had thrown it as a collegian.

Well, Peters wasted no time making an impact as a freshman, going undefeated throughout the regular season, which included a near six-foot victory at the SEC Outdoor Championships against Ioannis Kyriazis of Texas A&M, who was the defending national champion.

Peters arrived at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June as the prohibitive favorite – and threw like it. He recorded three marks of 80.00m (262-5) or better at Historic Hayward Field, which included a then-meet record of 82.82m (271-9) on his third attempt and an 82.64m (271-1) missile on his sixth that left him with the two farthest marks in the 96-year history of the meet.

Believe it or not, Peters only got better as a sophomore.

Peters started the 2019 season with an incredible series at the Texas Relays. All five of his legal throws went farther than 82.00m (269-0), with four of those eclipsing his seasonal best from the previous year. Peters ended up with a winning mark of 86.07m (282-5) for the third longest throw in collegiate history, less than two feet shy of Kyriazis’ No. 2 mark.

He returned to Mike A. Myers Stadium in June for the NCAA Championships as the prohibitive favorite to win back-to-back crowns. The only remaining questions surrounding the day were about how far he would throw and how many Bulldogs would flank him on the podium.

Peters opened at 84.70m (277-11) and followed that up with howitzers of 86.62m (284-2) and 86.48m (283-9) on his third and fourth attempts to wow the crowd. All told, that gave Peters a new meet record, the largest margin of victory in meet history and three more all-time top-10 marks to bring his career total to six (Patrik Boden is the only other athlete with multiples).

With Peters leading the way, Mississippi State made history. 2016 champion Curtis Thompson finished second and Tyriq Horsford ended up third, giving the Bulldogs the first podium sweep in the event since Oregon did so 57 years earlier in 1962.

Just a few months later, Peters won the gold medal at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Qatar with his winning heave of 86.89m (285-1).

posted: October 21, 2020
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
Sternberg Reached New Heights In 1963
June 15, 1963

Brian Sternberg won the pole vault title at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He was the first athlete to clear 16 feet in meet history at 4.97m (16-3¾).

Kimobwa Ran Into Record Book In 1977
June 3, 1977

Samson Kimobwa set a MR in the 10K of 28:10.27 at the 1977 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He won by 12.21 seconds in a race that saw the top-2 finishers under previous meet record.

Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985
June 1, 1985

Katrena Johnson led a 1-2-3 finish by Arizona athletes in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson cleared 1.94m (6-4¼) to set a collegiate record.

Johnson Set 1500 MR After Thrilling Duel
June 8, 2019

Sinclaire Johnson set a meet record in the 1500 of 4:05.98 at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson won an epic duel against Jessica Hull of Oregon.

Bohni Soared To Pole Vault MR In 1983
June 4, 1983

Felix Bohni set a meet record in the pole vault of 5.55m (18‑2½) at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Bohni was one of three men to top 18 feet.

Frerichs Broke Steeplechase Records In 2016
June 11, 2016

Courtney Frerichs set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:24.41 at the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Frerichs won by the second largest margin in meet history.

URI’s Black Rolled To NCAA’s 1st 10K Title
June 18, 1948

Robert Black won the first 10,000-meter title ever awarded at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1948. Black crossed the finish line in 32:13.5, 48 seconds ahead of the runner-up.