Guthrie-Gresham Generates Greatness
You’re in good company when you’re compared to Jackie Joyner.
Diane Guthrie-Gresham of George Mason knew it in 1995 when she won the NCAA Division I heptathlon title with 6527 points, breaking the collegiate record by more than 100 points from the mark set by Joyner a decade earlier. Guthrie-Gresham scored 3728 points on Day 1 and then followed it up with 2799 points on Day 2.
“She’s the best athlete in the world,” she said afterwards of Joyner. “And I’ve broken her record. That shows me I’m somewhere.”
Truth is, Guthrie-Gresham had already achieved history the year before with her first NCAA heptathlon victory. It was then that she became the first (and still only) combined-event champion in this meet to also have won an individual title in another event, having won the 1991 long jump as a freshman.
Guthrie-Gresham made additional history in that special 1995 meet with a runner-up finish in the long jump, losing by less than an inch to becoming the first (and still only) woman to finish in the top-3 in four years of competition (She didn’t compete for George Mason during the 1993 outdoor season).
“I’m kind of glad I didn’t win,” she told David Woods in a feature for Track & Field News about the long jump. “I think maybe because I didn’t win, it made me try that much harder in the heptathlon.”
DGG, as she was known then to teammates, also tied for 4th in the high jump, contributing 23 of the Patriots’ 29½ total points that placed them fifth in the team standings, the highest-ever finish for the women’s program.
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).