
Florida State’s England Kicked To 1500 CR
A win was all that Hannah England of Florida State was looking for in the 1500 meters at the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
A fast time didn’t seem likely with a hard-blowing wind gusting to 25 mph (+10 m/s).
Still, defending champ Brie Felnagle of North Carolina led the field on a pace challenging the meet (and collegiate) record of 4:06.75.
After two laps, a tight leading group had a new leader in Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, with England close behind as the pace remained in the same record-breaking neighborhood.
Kipyego had already made history the night before, winning the 5000 meters in a meet record 15:15.08 to win by more than 30 seconds – that completed her record second “triple crown” of distance titles. Kipyego had become well-suited in the 1500 as well, having lowered her PR by some 10 seconds with a regional victory at 4:11.79.
England – with a PR of 4:12.24 from a month earlier – was staying close, ready to unleash her potent kick when the time was right.
With a lap to go Kipyego still led with England right there. With 200 to go, England was ready to pass, but her coach, Karen Harvey, urged her to wait until the final 100, which is when England bolted to the lead.
Both sped down the homestretch with the wind at their back. Each was under the old CR – England at 4:06.19, Kipyego at 4:06.75. Tennessee’s Sarah Bowman was next at 4:07.50 as the top-7 all set PRs.
England and Kipyego would eventually earn major global silver medals – England in the 2011 World Championships 1500 for Great Britain, Kipyego in the 2012 Olympics and 2011 Worlds 10K for Kenya. Kipyego is now an American and earned a berth on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in the marathon.
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.