Rollins Rewrites Hurdling History
Collegiate hurdling records learned to live in fear very quickly when Brianna Rollins (now Rollins-McNeal) stepped on the track in 2013.
After all, her very first final of the year at The Tiger Challenge in early January resulted in the still-standing collegiate record of 7.78 in the 60 Meter Hurdles. And before the 2013 outdoor season ended, Rollins had each of the three fastest indoor marks in collegiate history and each of the two fastest outdoor marks in the 100 Meter Hurdles, both of which were set in a dynamo performance at the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Historic Hayward Field.
Rollins entered the NCAA outdoor meet that year with her eyes fixated on completing an undefeated senior year in the sprint hurdles and etching her name atop the collegiate outdoor record book a few more times.
It didn’t take long for Rollins to do either: Try a grand total of 24.86 seconds.
On Thursday, Rollins won her semifinal heat in 12.47 (+1.2) and bettered the seven-year-old collegiate standard set by Ginnie Powell of Southern California by the slimmest of margins – 0.01 seconds (Powell ran 12.48 to win the NCAA title in 2006). That also marked a 0.07-second PR for Rollins, who had clocked a slightly wind-aided 12.54 to win the event at the Texas Relays earlier that year.
Then, on Saturday, Rollins blitzed the final and left no doubt that she was the unquestioned queen of the sprint hurdles. Rollins lowered her PR and collegiate record to 12.39 (+1.7) and won by 0.40 seconds over Kori Carter of Stanford, who had set a collegiate record of her own in the 400 Meter Hurdles the day before. That also tied Rollins with Gillian Russell of Miami (Fla.) for the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Rollins didn’t stop there, though. After the collegiate season, the future winner of The Bowerman set the American record at 12.26 to win the U.S. title and then staged an epic come-from-behind victory to win the gold medal at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
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.
Carr Displayed His World Record Speed
Henry Carr set a meet record in the 220 yards of 20.5 at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Joaquim Cruz’d To Meet Record, 800-1500 Double
Joaquim Cruz won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. In 1983, he set a meet record in the 800 of 1:44.91 & completed the 800-1500 double in 1984.
Back-To-Back 200-Meter Crowns For Annelus
Anglerne “Angie” Annelus won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2018 & 2019. Her 22.16 winner from 2019 is the 4th fastest mark in collegiate history.
Indoors? Outdoors? Johnson Starred In The PV
Jan Johnson won the pole vault title at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and tied the meet record of 17-7.
Beard Capped Sensational Year At NCAAs
Jessica Beard won the 400 & then split the fastest 4×400 leg ever recorded at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to lead Texas A&M to a relay crown.
Biles Brothers Boast Historic Winning Feat
Martin Biles & Robert Biles were the first siblings to win the same event at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Marty won the javelin in 1940 & 1941, while Robert did so in 1942.
Branta Set NCAA MRs In 1500, 3000
Cathy Branta set meet records in back-to-back years at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships: 8:59.57 in the 3000 (1984); 4:12.64 in the 1500 (1985) as part of a 1500-3K double.
Brophy Led “Deca Central” With MR In 1992
Brian Brophy led a 1-2 finish by Tennessee athletes in the decathlon at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. He won with a meet record of 8276 points.
UCLA’s Brenner Won Amazing SP Duel In 1984
John Brenner completed the discus-shot put double at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and won the shot put after an incredible duel against Michael Carter.
Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer
Dawn Ellerbe and Lisa Misipeka went 1-2 in each of the first two years that the women’s hammer was contested at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.