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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).