ON THIS DAY: Kerley Set 400-Meter CR In Austin
Going into the 2017 outdoor season, no collegian had gone sub-44.00 in the 400 within the confines of the collegiate season. Quincy Watts of Southern California held the collegiate record at that exact mark since his victory at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas.
Indoors, Fred Kerley of Texas A&M made his presence felt that year with a few of the fastest marks in collegiate history. Kerley ripped two laps in 45.02 in his season opener at the Clemson Tiger Paw for what was the No. 3 spot on the all-time chart. Fast forward to the postseason and Kerley lowered his PR to 44.94 at the SEC Indoor Championships, in turn setting an all-time collegiate best on an oversized track. Then, Kerley went even faster in front of his home crowd at the NCAA Indoor Championships, winning the 400-meter title in 44.85 to become the fourth-fastest man in world history.
Get your popcorn ready, folks. It’s about to get good.
Even though Kerley didn’t make his outdoor debut until mid-April at the Michael Johnson Classic, he didn’t show any signs of rust. Kerley stopped the clock at 44.60 for what was the third-fastest mark in collegiate history that early in the season (The only two men two who ran faster were Vernon Norwood of LSU in 2015 at 44.44 and Watts in 1992 at 44.46).
Magic followed three weeks later at the SEC Outdoor Championships, where Kerley scorched a 44.09 in the prelims for the second-fastest, in-season collegiate performance behind Watts’ near 25-year-old record. Read that again, though: Kerley did that in the prelims.
After winning the SEC title at 44.30 – a time slowed by inclement weather, in which Kerley said he “didn’t adjust anything … but I was racing, instead of just running my race today” – he turned his attention to the all-important NCAA postseason.
Getting to the quarterfinals of the NCAA DI West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas, proved easy for Kerley, as he clocked a comparatively-pedestrian 45.95 to win his first-round section.
Given the high-stakes nature of the ensuing afternoon, Kerley had a championship mindset.
“I was running smart yesterday to set up the race for today,” Kerley said after the meet. “Coach (Alleyne) Francique and I were talking about the collegiate record being set in Austin and it would be wonderful to break it here in front of him. I just want to keep on improving.”
Everybody in attendance at Mike A. Myers Stadium – including Watts, then and now an assistant coach at Southern California – knew what was coming next. On May 26, 2017, exactly four years ago today, Kerley covered 400 meters in 43.70 to demolish Watts’ collegiate record and become the seventh-fastest man in world history.
Several weeks later, Kerley completed the NCAA sweep with a 44.10 effort at Historic Hayward Field and anchored the Aggies to 4×400 relay glory with a 43.99 split. Kerley’s margin of victory in the 400 was 0.59 seconds, the largest in meet history since 1992 (If you don’t know who won that race, then you haven’t been paying attention: Quincy Watts by 0.84 seconds).
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.
Providence’s Smith Left Field In The Dust
Kim Smith won the 5000 meters at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 36.04 seconds in 15:48.86 for the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Gatlin Doubled Up In Back-To-Back Years
Justin Gatlin completed back-to-back 100-200 doubles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2001 & 2002. He went 10.08/20.11 & 10.22/20.18 in those respective years.
UTEP’s Hoglund First To Crack 70-Foot Barrier
Hans Hoglund was the first man to touch the 70-foot barrier in the SP at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He also won by more than 4 feet with his 21.33m (70-0) heave in 1975.
LSU’s Hobbs Couldn’t Be Caught In 2018
Aleia Hobbs anchored LSU to a 4×100 relay MR of 42.25 & then doubled back to win the 100 by 0.23 seconds at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Michael Johnson Had 1990 NCAAs To Remember
All eyes were on Michael Johnson of Baylor in the 4×400-meter relay at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Riley Completed Unprecedented Double In 2012
Andrew Riley completed the only 100-110H double in NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships history in 2012. Riley won the 100 in 10.27 & then captured the 110H crown in 13.53
Leatherwood Rolled To Back-To-Back 400 Titles
Lillie Leatherwood won back-to-back 400-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1986 & 1987. She set a meet record of 50.90 in that second year.
Iowa’s Jones Made Distance History
Charles “Deacon” Jones set a meet record in the 2-mile at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with his time of 8:57.6.
Locke Doubled Up On Sprint Titles In 1926
Roland Locke entered the 1926 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships as the WR holder in the 220. He left with the meet record in that event (20.9) & also won the 100 in 9.9.
McLain Bounded To All-Conditions TJ Best
Erica McLain won the triple jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships by nearly two feet! McLain bounded to an all-conditions meet best at 14.60m (47-11).