Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
The 28-year-old meet record in the 110-meter hurdles looked finally ready to be taken down at the 2006 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, California.
After all, Aries Merritt of Tennessee had run just as fast as the 13.22 MR set by Greg Foster of UCLA in 1978 with a 13.22 of his own at the recent SEC Outdoor Championships. The pair thus shared No. 2 on the all-time collegiate list behind Maryland’s Renaldo Nehemiah’s then-world record of 13.00 in 1979.
Everything seemed right until Merritt ran the third leg of the Volunteers’ second-place 4×100-meter relay team.
“He contributed mightily,” Vols coach Bill Webb told Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “He brought us up to 2nd [from 6th].”
“I was exhausted after the 4×1 and had no time to work on approaches,” Merritt explained to Hendershott. “I was doing drills over 30-inch hurdles again. I spent most of my time just sitting, drinking Gatorade and water and stretching.”
Less than an hour later, the hurdles final started evenly, but by the third barrier Merritt had control and began to run away with the race, crossing the line in 13.21 to take down the oldest MR on the books at the time.
Merritt’s winning margin of 0.28 seconds was – and still is – the largest in the event since Nehemiah’s gargantuan 0.64 in 1979, when he ran a wind-aided 12.91.
Afterwards Merritt was critical of himself, saying “there’s never a flawless race in the hurdles.”
Some may beg to differ. Merritt’s post-collegiate career reached its zenith 2012, when he won Olympic gold in London and a month later broke the still-standing world record of 12.80.
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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).