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.
Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995
Duane Ross PR’d twice in the 110H at the 1995 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Ross won in 13.32, he became the No. 3 performer in collegiate history.
Illinois’ Kerr Went Back-To-Back At NCAAs
George Kerr won back-to-back 800/880 titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1959 & 1960. Kerr set a meet record of 1:46.4 in the 800 meters in 1960.
UCLA’s Baucham Bounded To TJ CR In 2005
Candice Baucham won the triple jump at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a collegiate record of 14.07m (46-2). Baucham took the event by more than one foot.
San Romani Went From Unknown To Legend
Archie San Romani won back-to-back 1500/mile crowns at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1935 & 1936.
Auburn’s Glance Made Them Look Twice
Harvey Glance completed the 100-200 double as a freshman at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He set a meet record of 10.16 in the 100.
Nova’s Rhines Did NCAA 5K Three-Peat
Jen Rhines was the first female athlete in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win three consecutive 5K titles.
Georgia’s Erm Cruised To 2019 Decathlon Title
Johannes Erm won the decathlon at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 342 points with his 8352 total. That was also the fifth-best score in meet history.
McMillen Adapted, Set 1500 MR In 1952
Bob McMillen set a meet record in the 1500 meters of 3:50.7 at the 1952 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
LSU’s Duhaney Destroyed NCAA 200 Field In 1992
Dahlia Duhaney owns the largest margin of victory in meet history in the 200 with her 0.44-second winner at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Rice’s Roberts Cooked Up Pole Vault Greatness
Dave Roberts was the second man to win three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, doing so from 1971 to 1973.