Rollins Rewrites Hurdling History

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Rollins Rewrites Hurdling History

June 8, 2013

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.

posted: July 20, 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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!