Devers Reached Legendary Status In 1988
It wasn’t until her 15th career final that Gail Devers of UCLA won her first title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Devers made it a statement victory, winning the 1988 NCAA 100 meters by a whopping 0.28 seconds – almost twice as large a margin as the meet had ever seen before.
The time was also incredible – a wind-aided 10.86 – that made Devers the fastest collegiate woman under any conditions. Devers earlier had set the wind-legal collegiate record of 11.05 just two weeks earlier at the Pacific 10 Championships.
Asked if the monkey was off her back, Devers responded: “Yeah, monkey, refrigerator, house – whatever you want to call it.”
But there was still work to do – Devers had two more finals and every point was crucial as UCLA was in the middle of a knockout team battle with defending champ LSU.
Some 30 minutes later, Devers lined up for the 100-meter hurdles final, an event in which she held the American record and collegiate record after scorching a 12.61 at the Pac-10 meet.
In a dramatic race, Devers led until crashing into the ninth hurdle, which allowed Arizona State’s Lynda Tolbert to take control and win in a meet-record 12.82. Defending champ LaVonna Martin of Tennessee (12.85) and Devers (12.90) followed in the meet’s first trio of sub-13 hurdlers.
At this point, Devers had amassed 26 points in the meet as she was also runner-up in the long jump and had anchored UCLA’s second-place 4×100 relay team. That was second-most points in meet history to the 28 that Nebraska’s Merlene Ottey accumulated in 1983.
But UCLA trailed LSU by five points in the team race, and the concluding 4×400 would decide the team crown. Devers – normally the Bruins’ anchor – ran the second leg and recorded her fastest-ever split of 51.4. In a thrilling finish, UCLA – anchored by freshman Janeene Vickers – won the race but runner-up LSU scored enough to win the team title by three points (61-58), then the closest women’s team finish in meet history.
Devers finished the meet with point totals that have yet to be equaled by any woman in meet history – 28½ points in a single meet and a career total of 71¼ points.
Post-collegiately, Devers earned legendary status as one of the world’s all-time greats. She is the only athlete – man or woman – with multiple Olympic or World Championships gold medals in the 100 meters (3) and the hurdles (3).
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.