“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.
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).