Angela Williams Stands Tall In History
No one had a bigger and more illustrious career over 100 meters at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships than Angela Williams of Southern California.
Williams had a rocket start that propelled her to four consecutive titles in the event from 1999 to 2002, the only such collection by a man or woman at this meet. Three others have won three 100-meter crowns in a career – but none have matched Williams’ prowess in the straight sprint.
Back in 1999, Williams burst onto the scene when she beat defending champion Debbie Ferguson of Georgia. Not only did Williams give the Women of Troy their first track title in meet history, she also became the first female freshman to win a short sprint in meet history (She would remain the youngest champion in the 100 until 2019 The Bowerman winner Sha’Carri Richardson unseated her from that perch).
Her victory in 2000, run into only the third headwind in meet history until that point, gave her the first freshman-sophomore combination in the event by anyone since Auburn’s Harvey Glance in 1976 and 1977, and her leadoff leg helped USC win the 4×100 relay title, its first for the women’s team.
In 2001, she became the event’s first female three-time winner and led the Women of Troy to their first women’s team title – made only sweeter by beating crosstown rival UCLA.
The fourth crown was a coronation on June 1, 2002, but just by the slimmest of margins (0.01) over teammate Natasha Mayers as USC joined powerhouses Florida State (1984) and LSU (1989, 1996) to finish 1-2 in the event. Thanks to that effort, the Women of Troy landed on the podium, just like the Seminoles and Tigers in each of those previous years.
“Williams was overcome with her accomplishment and was crying as she jogged to the stands to celebrate with family and friends following the race,” wrote Scott Davis in Track & Field News about Williams’ fourth consecutive victory in 2002.
“Such a big load has fallen off me now,” Williams said. “I never had to lean to win a race before.”
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.
Two Laps To Glory For Everett
Mark Everett set a meet record of 1:44.70 in the 800 Meters at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Brooks Made NCAA Shot Put History
Tia Brooks won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and broke the collegiate indoor record in the event in 2013.
Scott One-Upped Himself In 1978
Steve Scott of UC Irvine won the 1500-meter title at the 1978 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, one year after finishing runner-up at the same meet as an NCAA Division II athlete.
Sheffield Won An Incredible 400H Final
LaTanya Sheffield of San Diego State won the 400 Hurdles at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with an American record and collegiate record of 54.64.
Bjorklund Led Calvary Under 6-Mile MR In 1971
For someone who never raced longer than 2 miles in high school, Garry Bjorklund took an immediate liking to even longer distances when he arrived at Minnesota.
Okagbare Mined For History In 2010
Blessing Okagbare is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win both the 100 Meters and long jump!
Kiss The Competition Goodbye
Balazs Kiss won four consecutive hammer throw title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and still holds the collegiate record in the event!
LSU’s Duncan Roared To 200 History
Kimberlyn Duncan was the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win three consecutive 200-meter titles, doing so between 2011 and 2013.
Brookins Hurdled To All-Time Marks
Charles Brookins won back-to-back 220H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and clocked an all-time world best mark in 1923!
Flo Knows Winning Triple Jump Titles
Edrick Floréal won three consecutive triple jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 1988 and 1990.