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.
Spearmon Sprinted Past Stacked 200 Field
Wallace Spearmon Jr. won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2004 & 2005. He ran 19.91 (-0.7 m/s) in 2005 to beat a loaded field by 0.17 seconds.
Collegiate Record For BYU’s Andersen
Kassi Andersen set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:44.95 at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, capping a three-year streak in which BYU athletes won the event.
Hook ‘Em, Ivan: Wagner Tied Best HJ Margin
Ivan Wagner won the high jump at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by more than four inches to tie the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Mason’s Muzzio Starred In Decathlon
Rob Muzzio won back-to-back decathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1984 & 1985. His victory in 1985 was by 3 points, the smallest margin in meet history.
Roesler Dusted The Competition In 2014
Laura Roesler won the 800 at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships with a negative split (61.06/60.16) & the 2nd largest margin of victory in meet history (1.70 seconds).
Fuchs Went Back-To-Back In Shot Put
Jim Fuchs won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1949 & 1950. He set a meet record in that first year, heaving the orb 17.10m (56-1½).
Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
Don Lash led a 1-2-4 finish by Indiana in the 5K at the 1936 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the first time in meet history that one team had three top-4 finishers in that event.
Surprise! Brown’s Win Sent Texas A&M To Title
Kamaria Brown beat Jenna Prandini by 0.007 seconds for the 200-meter title at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the smallest margin of victory in meet history.
Coleman Cruised To The Bowerman In 2017
Christian Coleman dazzled at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a collegiate record in the 100!
Blanford Blitzed 100H Record Book
Rhonda Blanford set an all-conditions meet record in the 100 Hurdles of 12.70 at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. She also won the race by 0.30 seconds!