“Year Of The Vault” Ends In Epic Duel
Before 2015, there had only been one indoor clearance over 15 feet by a female pole vaulter in collegiate history during the collegiate season (Kaitlin Petrillose of Texas in 2014).
That number increased to 10 after the 2015 indoor campaign.
Before 2015, there had only been three total clearances over 15 feet outdoors by female pole vaulters in collegiate history (Chelsea Johnson of UCLA and Lacy Janson of Florida State each had one in 2006; Tina Sutej of Arkansas did so in 2011).
That number increased to 15 after the 2015 outdoor season.
And, before 2015, there had not been a single clearance over 15 feet at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships by a female pole vaulter.
That number, just like all of the others, jumped exponentially as “The Year of the Vault” ended with an epic duel at Hayward Field between Arkansas’ Sandi Morris and Stephen F. Austin’s Demi Payne, the same two women who took the event to heights it had never been.
After a remarkable indoor season where the duo combined for nine clearance of 15 feet or more, including a still-standing absolute collegiate record of 4.75m (15-7) by Payne and a meet record-tying effort of 4.60m (15-1) by Morris to win the individual title at the NCAA Championships, they turned their attention outdoors and to the four-year-old collegiate best of 4.61m (15-1½) established by Tina Sutej of Arkansas in 2011.
Based on their performances under a roof, it was only a matter of time until Morris and Payne took things to another level. That just so happened to be in mid-April at the John McDonnell Invitational when Morris went 4.62m (15-1¾) for the first of three instances that the outdoor record would change hands between them (It also happened twice in the span of five days when Payne cleared 4.71m (15-5½) at the Southland Conference Championships on May 10 to better her own record of 4.66m (15-3½) from two weeks earlier, then Morris hit 4.72m (15-5¾) at the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 15).
Morris and Payne finally met again at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in mid-June. Collegiate track & field fans expected an incredible battle and that’s exactly what transpired.
They both went through 4.55m (14-11) without a miss: Morris cleared four bars and passed on four others; Payne topped three and passed five. It was just a matter of who would blink first.
Payne continued to pressure Morris with first-attempt clearances on each of the next three bars – 4.60m (15-1), 4.65m (15-3) and 4.70m (15-5). Morris needed two attempts on each of the first two and then passed on her final two attempts at 4.70m to meet Payne at 4.75m (15-7).
Neither woman registered a clean shot to tie Payne’s absolute collegiate record from the indoor season, thus handing Payne the title based on the previous bars – the first podium topped by an SFA athlete in meet history.
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.
O-H-I- Oh, Reynolds Was Fast!
Butch Reynolds set a meet record in the 400 of 44.13 at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. He barely missed his own collegiate record of 44.10.
Fynes Won NCAA Titles For Two Programs
Sevatheda Fynes won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. What’s even more impressive is that she did it for two programs – Eastern Michigan & Michigan State.
El Moutawakel Had Legendary Year In 1984
Nawal El Moutawakel set a meet record in the 400 hurdles of 55.84 at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She also won Olympic gold that year in the event.
Princeton’s Bonthron Beat WR Holder In 1934 NCAA Mile
Bill Bonthron won an epic duel in the mile at the 1934 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Bonthron beat WR holder Glenn Cunningham, 4:08.9 MR to 4:10.6.
Georgia’s Irby Doubled Down, Set 400 MR
Lynna Irby set a meet record in the 400 of 49.80 at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. Irby also finished third in the 200 at 22.92.
Weir Wouldn’t Be Denied In Throwing Events
Robert Weir won the hammer throw at the 1983 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships with a meet record of 74.42m (244‑2). He beat a two-time defending champ.
Pitt’s Sowell Atoned With 800 Meet Record
Arnie Sowell was a two-time champion in the 800 at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He set a collegiate record of 1:46.7 in 1956 & won by 2.5 seconds.
Florida State’s England Kicked To 1500 CR
Hannah England set a collegiate record in the 1500 of 4:06.19 at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships & led two other women under 4:08 in one of the meet’s fastest finals.
Wheeler Won An All-Time 400H Classic
Quentin Wheeler set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 48.55 at the 1976 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships.
It’s Good To Be King: Cheserek Reigned At NCAAs
Edward Cheserek won five career titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including two 5K-10K doubles.