UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double

It was finally Gwen Torrence’s time in the spotlight.

The Georgia senior was looking for her first title at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, having been runner-up in the 100 and 200 meters the year before.

Torrence got two.

In both races, Torrence was also looking to avenge recent losses, having finished third in the 100 and second in the 200 at the SEC Outdoor Championships three weeks earlier.

Goal No. 1 was accomplished in Friday evening’s 200 final. Alabama’s Lillie Leatherwood lined up one lane inside of Torrence, who needed to improve her curve running from the SEC race where Leatherwood’s 22.38 beat Torrence’s 22.49.

In the NCAA race, Torrence followed her coach’s advice perfectly – “run the curve hard and make them come and get me,” except no one caught her as the Lady Bulldog held her lead all the way to finish that was almost a complete reversal from three weeks earlier (a wind-aided 22.37 ahead of Leatherwood at 22.51).

“I’m very happy,” Torrence gushed afterwards. “Words can’t describe how I feel right now.”

But there was still Saturday night’s 100, a potent field where Torrence would face 1985 NCAA champ Michelle Finn of Florida State, UCLA’s Gail Devers and two who had beaten her at the SEC meet in Pauline Davis of Alabama and Sheila Echols of LSU.

Attention centered on the middle of the track as Echols got the best start in lane 4. Just past the halfway point, Torrence (lane 5) and Devers (lane 6) edged ahead and waged a duel for first place. Torrence held off Devers, clocking a PR 11.25 after having been runner-up in the 1985 and 1986 NCAA meets. Devers finished second in 11.30.

As a post-collegian Torrence had a stellar career, winning gold at the 1992 Olympics (200) and 1995 World Championships (100) and adding two more golds in each meet as anchor of the U.S. 4×100-meter relay team from 1992-96.

posted: April 23, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
Rhoden Keeps Historic Company

George Rhoden is 1 of just 2 men in NCAA DI history to win 3 consecutive 400/440 titles at the Outdoor Championships. He did so from 1950 to 1952 & added 1951 220 for a double.

“Kori Monster” Crushed 400H CR In 2013
June 7, 2013

Kori Carter set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 53.21 at the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She won that title & took runner-up honors in the 100H.

“Moon” Rose To Occasion In High Jump

Irv “Moon” Mondschein won back-to-back high jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1947 and 1948. He also finished as the national runner-up in 1949.

Rice’s Cavanaugh Ruled The NCAA Shot

Regina Cavanaugh was the first woman in NCAA DI history to win three career shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She did so consecutively from 1985 to 1987.

Brown Soared To HJ Meet Records

Reynaldo Brown won two career high jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships, which included a pair of meet records (He topped 2.23m (7-4) in 1973).