Coburn Picked Up Where She Left Off
If it weren’t for an incredibly successful redshirt year in 2012 where she won the U.S. title and finished eighth at the London Olympic Games in the steeplechase, Emma Coburn probably would have become the first woman in NCAA Division I history to capture three consecutive national titles in that event and broken the collegiate record established by another former Colorado great.
After all, Coburn topped the podium in both 2011 and 2013 and dipped under the collegiate record while competing unattached at the 2012 Prefontaine Classic with what was the fastest time ever run by an American on U.S. soil (Jenny Barringer went 9:25.54 in 2009; Coburn clocked her 9:25.28 in 2012).
Coburn entered the 2011 season as the next in line for the steeplechase throne as the top returning finisher from the previous year. The now 30-year-old Crested Butte, Colorado native finished a distant runner-up to Bridget Franek of Penn State, who posted the third largest margin of victory in meet history at 13 seconds.
It’s safe to say Coburn ran like a champion all season, snagging event titles at the always-stacked Payton Jordan Invitational in early May and then at the Big 12 Championships two weeks later. Fast forward to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June and Coburn established the tempo for most of the race, before pulling away late for a six-second victory in 9:41.14.
Coburn returned to the collegiate scene in 2013 fresh off that aforementioned standout redshirt year. Using that confidence – and the swagger gained from winning her second NCAA title (This one came indoors in the mile) – Coburn cruised to victory once again at the Payton Jordan Invitational, added the Pac-12 Conference crown to her haul and then clocked the third fastest time in NCAA meet history with her winning mark of 9:35.38.
After wrapping up her collegiate career, Coburn truly hit her stride. Coburn won seven more U.S. steeplechase titles – including each of the past six – and became the first American woman to win a global gold medal in the steeplechase, doing so at the 2017 World Championships in London.
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.
ON THIS DAY: Kerley Set 400-Meter CR In Austin
Fred Kerley set a collegiate record in the 400 on this day in 2017. Kerley went 43.70 at the NCAA DI West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas.
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).
Foster Won All-Time Classic 110H In 1978
Greg Foster won an epic 110H race at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Foster beat Renaldo Nehemiah & set an AR, CR & MR in the process with his 13.22.
D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012
Abbey D’Agostino won back-to-back 5K titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2012 & 2013. When D’Agostino won in 2012, it was by just 0.03 seconds.
Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.
Arkansas’ Brown Notched All-Time 100H Mark
Janeek Brown won the 100H at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 12.40, narrowly missing the collegiate record and meet record.
Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
Doug Brown won back-to-back steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1973 & 1974. His victory in 1973 was by 17.2 seconds!
EMU’s Jones Hurdled Into NCAA History
Hayes Jones completed the 120H-220H sweep at the 1959 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Jones won the last 220H title ever awarded at the meet.
Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.
Paige Turned Three NCAA Mid-Distance Titles
Don Paige won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a 800-1500 sweep in 1979.