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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!