Georgia Tech’s Taylor Triumphed In 1998
Angelo Taylor of Georgia Tech used his afterburners twice at the 1998 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Both times Taylor provided moments to savor.
The first final was his specialty, the 400-meter hurdles. With two barriers remaining, Taylor was in third place, and that’s when he pushed the pedal down to the floor. Taking the lead after the last hurdle, he didn’t let up and crossed the finish in 48.14 to win by 1.24 seconds – only the then-collegiate record of 47.85 was ever faster by a collegian.
“I told myself I had to go at 300, no matter what,” Taylor told Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “I just gave it everything to the end, so I didn’t have anyone to push me off the last hurdle.”
A day later Taylor burned up the track again – this time without hurdles.
Taking the baton with a slight lead in the 4×400-meter relay, Taylor let TCU’s Khadevis Robinson – the NCAA 800-meter champ – stay close until the final straightaway, then blistered the track to give the Yellow Jackets an easy victory in 3:01.89.
Taylor was clocked in 43.6, a split then only run faster twice in meet history – Arizona State’s Maurice Peoples was timed in 43.3 (for the longer 440 yards) in 1973 and Baylor’s Michael Johnson ran 43.5 in 1990.
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.
Merchant, Muller Led Cal’s Field Day In 1922
Jack Merchant and Harold Muller combined for six top-5 finishes in five field events at the 1922 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
NC State’s Springs Doubles Up Distance Titles
In 1983, Betty Springs became the first woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to sweep the 5K/10K titles.
“Marvelous Mal” Whitfield Stars Over Two Laps
“Marvelous” Mal Whitfield won back-to-back NCAA 800-meter/880-yard titles in 1948 and 1949.
Ewen Was A True Triple Threat At NCAAs
Maggie Ewen is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with titles in three different throwing events.
Wanamaker Wins Inaugural Decathlon Title
Rick Wanamaker of Drake won the first-ever decathlon title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1970!
SMU’s Connor Bounds To Triple Jump Greatness
It’s been 38 years and still no one has broken the meet record Keith Connor of SMU set in the triple jump at the 1982 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Provo, Utah.
Hail Lorenzo! Daniel Sprints To 200-Meter Records
Lorenzo Daniel of Mississippi State made four consecutive appearances in the final of the Men’s 200 Meters and set a collegiate and meet record in his last race.
Talented Twins Dominate Pole Vault Podium
Twin sisters Lexi Jacobus and Tori Hoggard finished on the same podium five times in eight seasons at the NCAA Championships and each won an outdoor title.
Blozis Was A “Giant” In The Shot
“Giant” Al Blozis won three consecutive shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships between 1940 and 1942.
Cameron Came Close To Standing Alone
Two one-hundredths of a second separated Bert Cameron of UTEP from standing alone in NCAA history.