Florida’s Taylor Set All-Conditions TJ Best In 2011
New school mixed with old school.
Christian Taylor of Florida brought a throwback feel to the triple jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2010 and 2011.
Before Taylor took to the runway inside Historic Hayward Field 11 years ago, it had been 20 years since anybody won the event by more than two feet (Edrick Floréal did so in back-to-back years in 1989 and 1990). That changed, though, when Taylor bounded a wind-aided 17.09m (56-1) to capture his first NCAA outdoor title by 0.71m (2 feet, 4 inches).
When the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships came around, it had been 26 years since anybody touched 58 feet in the event – wind-aided or not. Mike Conley of Arkansas accomplished that feat with a 17.72m (58-1¾) effort back in 1985.
Taylor changed that in a big way inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
Locked in a duel with teammate Will Claye and sitting second to him through five rounds by just one centimeter (one-half inch) – 17.41m (57-1½) to 17.40m (57-1) – Taylor soared through the air on his way to an all-conditions meet best of 17.80m (58-4¾) in Round 6. Claye added more than eight inches to his daily best at 17.62m (57-9¾), but it wasn’t enough to beat Taylor.
Taylor has been a force on the world stage since then, winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016 and racking up four more World Championships, including each of the past three dating back to 2015.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.