“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’Brien Glides To Shot Put Dominance
Parry O’Brien, who invented the “O’Brien Glide” technique, won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1952 & 1953, each by more than two feet!
LSU’s Echols Set Lofty Long Jump Record
Sheila Echols of LSU set a still-standing meet record in the Women’s Long Jump of 6.94m (22-9¼) at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships.
Livers’ Three Titles Made Triple Jump History
Ron Livers of San Jose State was the first three-time winner in the Men’s Triple Jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Huber Three-Peats In 3000 Meters
Vicki Huber of Villanova was the first woman to win three consecutive titles in the 3000 Meters at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
ACU’s Morrow Doubled Twice, Set WRs
Bobby Morrow completed the 100-200 double twice at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Both times, he set a world record in one of the events.
Williams Blazed Trail For Black Throwers
George Williams made history when he won the javelin title at the 1932 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Chicago, Illinois.
Falcon Flew To NCAA Distance Glory
Joe Falcon of Arkansas is the only man in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with career national titles in the 1500 & 10,000!
Kyra Jefferson Chomps Collegiate Record
Kyra Jefferson of Florida set the current collegiate record and NCAA Outdoor meet record in the Women’s 200 Meters of 22.02 at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Florida State’s Dix Ruled NCAA Outdoor Meet
Walter Dix of Florida State left an incredible legacy at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with six total titles.
Mosqueda’s 10K Record Caps Incredible Year
Sylvia Mosqueda capped an incredible academic year in 1987-88 with a collegiate- and meet-record in the 10,000 Meters at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.