It’s Good To Be King: Cheserek Reigned At NCAAs
When Edward Cheserek unleashed his patented kick, very few could match him.
That’s a big reason why he won 17 career NCAA titles between cross country and track & field.
The first time Cheserek dropped the hammer at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships back in 2014, though, might have been his most ferocious.
Competitors and fans, alike, already saw Cheserek’s talent on display at both the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships in November and the NCAA DI Indoor Championships in March. It was in cross country where Cheserek won the individual title by 18 seconds after gapping the field at the 8K mark. Indoors, he became just the second freshman male athlete to complete the indoor 3000-5000 double in meet history (David Kimani of South Alabama was first in 2000).
Well, the 10,000-meter final in 2014 developed into a race in which Cheserek thrived as a collegian: methodical until the last lap, when whoever had the best kick would win (More often than not, that would be Cheserek, because – like we said before – very few could match him).
A group of four, led by Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech, went through halfway in 14:07.0. The pace had been in the 67- to 68-second range in the first few miles, but slowed down into the 69- and 70-second realm from the 14th circuit of the Historic Hayward Field track to the penultimate lap.
Cheserek bided his time and his initial surge at the bell dropped all but Shadrack Kipchirchir of Oklahoma State. Less than 200 meters later, Cheserek turned on the jets for the final time. Kipchirchir could only watch as the Oregon freshman pulled away on the Bowerman Curve en route to a 2.13-second victory in 28:30.18 (It was actually Cheserek’s largest margin of victory at the outdoor meet over the years. He won four more titles, completing the 5K-10K double twice).
Want to know how fast that last lap was for Cheserek? Try 53.17 seconds! That included a hand-timed 24.8 in the final 200 meters. All of that is unheard of speed at the end of a 10K.
Those 10 points – and the eight Cheserek earned from finishing runner-up in the 5000 a few days later with the second fastest time in meet history – went a long way in helping the Ducks capture their first team title since 1984. Oregon did it in style, too, putting up 88 points for a modern-day scoring record.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.