Guidry Capped Legendary Career In 1991
There was much to savor for Carlette Guidry of Texas at the 1991 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Guidry entered the meet looking for her first individual title in the meet, which seemed puzzling since she had compiled six NCAA DI Indoor individual wins – still the most by a woman.
In a final chance for an outdoor title, Guidry starred at Historic Hayward Field.
Guidry’s good fortune began a day before she completed a 100-200 double, as her anchor leg provided the winning difference for the Longhorn 4×100 relay team. With Guidry bringing it home, the Texas quartet set a low-altitude all-time collegiate best of 42.88.
That relay was particularly satisfying for Guidry in that she overtook LSU’s Esther Jones for the victory. It was Jones who had swept the 100 and 200 at the NCAA meet the previous year, which included a false start by Guidry that was questioned by many observers.
Guidry’s best in 1991 was yet to come, though.
On the meet’s final day she ripped a wind-aided 10.91 (her second of the meet) to turn back Jones (10.99w) and then 75 minutes later, repeated the domination with a 22.44w victory in the 200. The homestretch battle in the 200 was memorable as Jones attempted twice to approach Guidry, who held her lead impressively each time to win by 0.13 seconds.
“I’ve trained more than I raced this year and listened to my body,” Guidry said after the 200. “I’ve trained to have a strong finish.”
Guidry’s collegiate career is unmatched combing performances at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Counting relays, she totaled 12 career NCAA titles, three more than any other woman. (Guidry was also a legend at the Texas high school ranks, notching the two largest point totals in Texas UIL state meet history at 48 and 43 points.)
Post-collegiate success followed for Guidry as she earned two Olympic gold medals as part of the U.S. 4×100 relay team in 1992 and 1996. And in 2015, the Texas Relays named its women’s university/college 4×100 relay after her.
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.
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