Coburn Picked Up Where She Left Off

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

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.

posted: October 19, 2020
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!