Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995

Duane Ross had the meet of his life at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Clemson senior started with a great effort in the heats, lowering his seasonal best from 13.67 to PR 13.45. A day later, he won his semifinal in 13.48, matching his previous lifetime best from a year before.

Then came a memorable final where Ross ran even faster.

Ross bolted to an early lead and never let up, holding off Larry Wade of Texas A&M, as both clocked PRs in making all-time top-10 lists.

Ross zoomed all the way to No. 3 in both collegiate history and meet history with his time of 13.32. The only hurdlers faster in meet history with wind-legal times then were Greg Foster (13.22) and Renaldo Nehemiah (13.27) from a classic 1978 race.

Wade’s time of 13.41 tied him for fifth-fastest in meet history. He was just a sophomore and three years later would join the list of NCAA champions.

Ross is now the head coach at North Carolina A&T. His son, Randolph, recently joined dad as an NCAA champion, leading off the Aggies’ victorious 4×400 team at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships.

posted: April 16, 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).