Indiana’s Kharun Set Javelin MR In 2003
Irina Kharun of Indiana put on a clinic in the javelin at the 2003 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Sacramento, California.
The native of Ukraine – whose last name is pronounced “huh-roon” – started off with a PR 58.36m (191-6) – more than 10 feet farther than anyone else in the field had thrown all year and gave her a nice 25-foot (7.60m) lead on the field.
As it turned out, that mark would have been good enough to win, but Kharun came back in Round 3 with an improvement to 59.05m (193-8) to extend her lead to just over 27 feet (8.29m).
It looked like the rout was on, as the largest margin of victory in meet history – including the pre-2000 competitions with the old-style javelin – was the 5.68m (18-8) that Purdue’s Serene Ross had registered in 2002 when she set an American record at 59.64m (195-8).
The margin got reduced in Round 5 when Southern California’s Inga Stasiulionyte – the 2001 NCAA champ and 2002 runner-up – moved into second at 52.26m (171-5). Kharun now led by “only” some 22 feet (6.79m).
As Round 6 wound down to Kharun’s last throw, victory became secure and Kharun made the final collegiate effort of her career one to remember.
Kharun “approached the final throw with her usual slow run-up, yet powerful finish,” wrote Dan Lilot of Track & Field News. The result was a staggering 61.82m (202-10) – a collegiate record and the first 200-footer with the new-style javelin.
The winning margin of 9.56m (31-5) not only shattered the event’s largest, it was – and remains – the largest by a woman in any throwing event in meet history.
To this day, Kharun’s magnificent throw has been exceeded only once by a collegian – Maggie Malone of Texas A&M when she set the current CR of 62.19 (204-0) at the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).