SMU’s Ezeh Hammered Out Greatness
Dave Wollman said he could divide his 28-year SMU coaching career into “BF and AF: Before Flo and After Flo.”
“Flo” is Florence Ezeh, the only woman to win three NCAA Division I hammer throw titles.
While Ezeh (pronounced “Uh-Zay”) made her coach realize the mental aspect of an athlete was as important as the physical, everyone else saw the results of her tremendous competitive fire.
Ezeh won her final NCAA title in 2001 with a dominant performance that had never been seen before. She wasted no time in breaking her own meet record from the previous year – doing so on her first attempt – and then put four more marks past it as well. By the time the dust settled, Ezeh increased her meet record to 66.85m (219-4) in Round 5.
“She loves training and competing, but never really liked the NCAA meet,” Wollman told Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “She puts so much pressure on herself. But she’s very pleased with three throws over 66m (216-6) and three titles.”
Ezeh, who was born in the African nation of Togo and moved to France with her family when she was young, didn’t win the 2000 NCAA quite as easily. Although Ezeh was defending champion, she trailed after three rounds to Nebraska’s Melissa Price, who had thrown a then-meet record of 64.24m (210-9). Ezeh came through in Round 4, extending the meet record to 64.58m (211-10) for the crown.
Indoors, Ezeh added two NCAA titles in the weight throw for a combined total of five – two fewer than the seven accumulated by UCLA’s Seilala Sua for the most by a female thrower in NCAA Division I history. Were it not for Ezeh’s heroics at the 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships, Sua’s total would be eight. Sua had taken the lead in Round 5 at 21.03m (69-0) before Ezeh’s last-round winner of 21.32m (69-11½).
“Until that last throw – I was scared – the confidence wasn’t there,” Ezeh told Bert Rosenthal of the Associated Press (Ezeh had lost the year before by 8 cm/3 inches). “Something in me was shaking. Then my power started to diminish. My power came back. I said ‘I can’t be second again.’”
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.
Sternberg Reached New Heights In 1963
Brian Sternberg won the pole vault title at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He was the first athlete to clear 16 feet in meet history at 4.97m (16-3¾).
Williams Went Back-To-Back With CR In 1996
Tonya Williams won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1995 & 1996. She set a CR of 54.56 in 1996 & won by 0.35 seconds.
Kimobwa Ran Into Record Book In 1977
Samson Kimobwa set a MR in the 10K of 28:10.27 at the 1977 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He won by 12.21 seconds in a race that saw the top-2 finishers under previous meet record.
Florida’s Taylor Set All-Conditions TJ Best In 2011
Christian Taylor set an all-conditions meet best in the triple jump of 17.80m (58-4¾) at the 2011 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Taylor also won the TJ crown in 2010.
Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985
Katrena Johnson led a 1-2-3 finish by Arizona athletes in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson cleared 1.94m (6-4¼) to set a collegiate record.
Fresno State’s Robinson Equaled WR In 1957
Ancel Robinson equaled the world record in the 220H of 22.2 at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. He also matched the American record & collegiate record.
Johnson Set 1500 MR After Thrilling Duel
Sinclaire Johnson set a meet record in the 1500 of 4:05.98 at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson won an epic duel against Jessica Hull of Oregon.
Bohni Soared To Pole Vault MR In 1983
Felix Bohni set a meet record in the pole vault of 5.55m (18‑2½) at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Bohni was one of three men to top 18 feet.
Frerichs Broke Steeplechase Records In 2016
Courtney Frerichs set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:24.41 at the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Frerichs won by the second largest margin in meet history.
URI’s Black Rolled To NCAA’s 1st 10K Title
Robert Black won the first 10,000-meter title ever awarded at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1948. Black crossed the finish line in 32:13.5, 48 seconds ahead of the runner-up.