Coleman Cruised To The Bowerman In 2017
Usually in a championship semifinal, an athlete is content with seeing a “Q” or “q” next to his or her name. Bigger is better – because it means they didn’t have to sweat out each heat – but they all advance to the same final in the end, no matter how it’s achieved.
Well, Christian Coleman of Tennessee got that “Q” in the 100-meter semifinal on the first day of the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, as well as the letters “CR” and “MR” next to it after blistering the Hayward Field track to the tune of 9.82 seconds.
That’s right: Coleman shattered 2011 The Bowerman winner Ngoni Makusha’s six-year-old collegiate record and meet record of 9.89 to open a whirlwind of a meet three years ago.
Coleman, who tied the collegiate record in the 60 meters and notched the second fastest mark in collegiate history in the 200 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, got out quickly and left the competition standing still. By the time Coleman eased off the gas near the finish line, he had already established a massive lead.
Winds weren’t as favorable two days later, so Coleman’s sole focus was winning and achieving the 100-200 double, which – if accomplished – would make him the first man since fellow Vol legend Justin Gatlin to complete the indoor-outdoor sweep (60-200 indoors, 100-200 outdoors).
Coleman cruised to an easy 10.04 victory in the 100 – a race that was run into a 2.1 m/s headwind. Then Coleman held off a strong challenge from Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake of LSU in the 200 to win by 0.04 seconds at 20.25 for the smallest margin of victory in the past 14 years (That race, too, was run into a strong headwind: 3.1 m/s).
All told, Coleman won four NCAA titles, broke or tied a pair of collegiate records and notched numerous all-time top-10 performances in 2017. That resulted in Coleman winning The Bowerman, collegiate track & field’s highest honor, on this day three years ago. Coleman beat out one of the strongest classes in The Bowerman history for the award, topping Texas A&M standouts Fred Kerley and Lindon Victor, who both left their own marks on collegiate history (Kerley went undefeated in the 400 and broke a longstanding collegiate outdoor record in the event; Victor broke and then bettered the decathlon record).
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).