Ritchie Doubles Down In The Throws
Happy birthday to Meg Ritchie!
The last woman to own concurrent collegiate records in both the shot put and discus was the first woman to win any two events in the same year at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, doing so in 1982, the first year women were included in the meet.
Ritchie was in a league of her own as a collegian.
In 1981, Ritchie set the still-standing collegiate record – and British record – in the discus with a heave of 67.48m (221-5) at the Mt. SAC Relays. The native of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, also owns five other current all-time top-10 marks on the collegiate chart, including Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 10.
Ritchie seemingly slowed down during her 1982 campaign, compared to the incredibly high standards to which she set for herself in the previous years. And after Ritchie improved her collegiate record in the shot put to 17.47m (57-3¾), her coach revealed that they were bringing her along slowly.
“That’s not to say we’re ignoring her collegiate season,” Arizona coach Dave Murray told Lee Shappell of The Arizona Republic. “But we respect her as one of the elite throwers in the world, and we want to work with her so that she is at her best in the biggest meets.”
Ritchie added that she had just come off heavy weight training (“I’m feeling more springy now”) and was paying attention to a sore shoulder. “I don’t want people to think I’m making excuses, but I’ve been awfully sensible with my shoulder,” she told Shappell. “It’s just now coming along nicely – in time for nationals.”
It’s safe to say that plan worked as Ritchie had an incredible summer. After sweeping the NCAA discus and shot put crowns by winning margins of 8 feet, 11 inches and 11 inches, respectively, Ritchie would turn her attention to the Commonwealth Games, where she won the discus title there as well.
Ritchie never improved her collegiate record in the discus, but added more than five feet to her shot put standard the following year that would remain the all-time best until Raven Saunders came along in 2016.
Now 68 and known as Meg Stone, the former Arizona star is the Director of the Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education as well as the Director of the Olympic Training Site at East Tennessee State.
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.
Guthrie-Gresham Generates Greatness
Diane Guthrie-Gresham of George Mason broke the collegiate record in the heptathlon with 6527 points at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Conway Raises The Bar In 1989
Hollis Conway of Southwestern Louisiana set the American record and collegiate record in the high jump at the 1989 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Conley Soars; Razorbacks Complete Triple Crown
Mike Conley scored 28¾ points to lead Arkansas to its first outdoor team title, which completed the vaunted “Triple Crown,” as the program also captured the cross country and indoor titles already in the academic year.
Wisconsin’s Favor Goes Into The Record Book … Again
Suzy Favor of Wisconsin became the first woman in NCAA Division I track & field history to not only win four consecutive 1500-meter crowns, but complete the 800-1500 double at the NCAA meet.
Angela Williams Stands Tall In History
Angela Williams of Southern California was the first athlete (man or woman) to win four consecutive 100-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Carlos’ Triple Leads “Speed City” Spartans
John Carlos of San Jose State became the first athlete to complete the sprint triple at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with victories in the 100, 200 (220) and 4×100 (440-yard) relay.
Jesse Owens Completes The Quadruple-Double
ON THIS DAY: Jesse Owens completed the quadruple-double, winning four NCAA titles in two consecutive years.
“Bullet Bob” Hayes Wins Lone Shot At NCAAs
Bob Hayes of Florida A&M won his first – and only – NCAA title 56 years ago when he won the 200 meters in a wind-aided 20.4.
Southern’s Milburn Clears All Hurdles In His Way
Rodney Milburn of Southern capped a legendary collegiate career 47 years ago when he won the 120-yard high hurdles title at the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a meet-record time of 13.1.
Sua’s Sweep Cements Unprecedented Legacy
Seilala Sua of UCLA became the most decorated individual female champion in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships 20 years ago.