Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Virginia “Ginnie” Powell was ready to spin some records at the 2006 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Sacramento, California.
The senior from Southern California started in the semifinals, skimming over the 100-meter hurdles in a blistering 12.55 that broke the meet and collegiate record, despite running into a headwind of 0.9 meters per second.
Powell’s time shaved 0.06 seconds off the previous CR of 12.61 set in 1988 by Gail Devers and tied by Powell two weeks prior in the West Regionals.
Powell still had unfinished business – to win the final, of course, but she also wanted to beat the all-time best by a collegian of 12.53, set in the 2003 postseason when Perdita Felicien won the World Championships.
Two days later, Powell lined up for the final as a gentle tailwind prevailed. The Seattle native stormed out of the blocks in her last race as a collegian and took an immediate lead. Nobody caught her as she crossed the finish in 12.48, chopping another 0.07 seconds off the CR and eclipsing the all-dates best as well.
“I was really in a zone and did a lot of things right,” Powell told Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “It felt good but it can always be better.”
Powell’s record win closed one of the best collegiate hurdling careers in history. In her final two years the Trojan didn’t lose a single hurdles race to another collegian and swept the indoor and outdoor NCAA DI hurdles titles – still the only time a woman has done so in consecutive years.
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.
ON THIS DAY: Kerley Set 400-Meter CR In Austin
Fred Kerley set a collegiate record in the 400 on this day in 2017. Kerley went 43.70 at the NCAA DI West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas.
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).
Foster Won All-Time Classic 110H In 1978
Greg Foster won an epic 110H race at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Foster beat Renaldo Nehemiah & set an AR, CR & MR in the process with his 13.22.
D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012
Abbey D’Agostino won back-to-back 5K titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2012 & 2013. When D’Agostino won in 2012, it was by just 0.03 seconds.
Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.
Arkansas’ Brown Notched All-Time 100H Mark
Janeek Brown won the 100H at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 12.40, narrowly missing the collegiate record and meet record.
Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
Doug Brown won back-to-back steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1973 & 1974. His victory in 1973 was by 17.2 seconds!
EMU’s Jones Hurdled Into NCAA History
Hayes Jones completed the 120H-220H sweep at the 1959 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Jones won the last 220H title ever awarded at the meet.
Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.
Paige Turned Three NCAA Mid-Distance Titles
Don Paige won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a 800-1500 sweep in 1979.