Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer

Dawn Ellerbe of South Carolina was surprised to be such a center of attention at the 1996 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

It wasn’t the hammer competition that she had won with the first 200-foot efforts in collegiate history – it was the victory lap that is a tradition at Hayward Field in Eugene.

The ovation from the crowd took her breath away.

“They were screaming and my heart was pumping,” Ellerbe told Dave Kayfes of the Eugene Register-Guard, who noted that the crowd seemed to be cheering for her more than the women’s 1500-meter final going on at the same time.

Ellerbe cemented her place in history with the event’s first NCAA title in a big way. On her first effort – as the last thrower in the final flight of trials – Ellerbe grabbed the lead with a 61.32m (201-2) heave that gave her the collegiate and American records.

She wasn’t the only Gamecock throwing well in the trials – teammate Lisa Misipeka PR’d three straight times and just missed the 200-foot mark at 60.94m (199-11) to bring a major challenge for Ellerbe.

In the finals, Ellerbe took control for good, zinging the ball and chain out to 63.76m (209-1) on her first attempt and added another 200-footer on a final toss (61.92m/203-2). Misipeka didn’t improve but ended up with the six longest throws of her career at the time, finishing second.

In third was Leslie Coons of Southern California – a former Gamecock, who twice during the season had improved on Ellerbe collegiate records.

Ellerbe and Misipeka repeated their 1-2 finish in 1997 – still the only 1-2 finishes by a program in the women’s hammer – as Misipeka became the event’s second collegiate 200-footer.

With Ellerbe graduated in 1998, Misipeka improved the NCAA meet record further to 63.82m (209-4) after already raising the South Carolina school record to 65.00m (213-3) at the SEC Championships. Needless to say, Misipeka also won the NCAA title that year, giving the Gamecocks each of the first three crowns in the event.

posted: January 3, 2021
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
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
June 11, 2016

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).