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.
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.
Villanova’s Delany Starred In NCAA 1500/Mile
Ron Delany won four career titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships, including three consecutive 1500/mile crowns from 1956 to 1958. He set MRs in the 1500 (3:47.3) & mile (4:03.5).
Patience Paid Off For Stanford’s Plumer In 1984
PattiSue Plumer finally broke through at the 1984 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Plumer set the 5K MR of 15:39.38 after finishing runner-up in the 3K three consecutive times.
NCAA 100 On Spring Break
With the plethora of collegiate track & field and cross country slated to take place over the first-half of March, our daily posts highlighting the best from a century of NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take a “spring break” from March 1-15.
Gig ‘Em, Lindon: Victor Ruled The Decathlon
Lindon Victor won back-to-back decathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2016 & 2017. He has the No. 2 & No. 3 largest point totals in meet history.
Greene Came Up Clutch In 1989 Long Jump
One of Joe Greene’s best days of long jumping started off dismally. It would end with a victory in one of the most memorable competitions in the near 100-year history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
SMU’s Dean Starred In The Javelin At NCAAs
Windy Dean is the only woman in NCAA DI history to win three consecutive javelin titles at the Outdoor Championships. Dean did so from 1996 to 1998.
Cal’s Williams Set World Record In 1936
Archie Williams set a world record in the 400 of 46.1 in the heats of the 1936 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams then won the NCAA title by just 0.1 seconds!
Coghlan Made History In Back-To-Back Years
Eamonn Coghlan made history in back-to-back years at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1975 & 1976!
Henderson Set 400-Meter Records In 2005
Monique Henderson set a collegiate record in the 400 of 50.10 at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Fight On, Clancy: Edwards Doubled Up With MRs
Clancy Edwards completed the 100-200 double at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships with meet records in each event – 10.07 in the 100 & 20.16 in the 200.