Johnson Unrivaled In The Heptathlon

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Johnson Unrivaled In The Heptathlon

The first NCAA heptathlon title for Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State was the only one of her record four wins that was close.

In 2004, Johnson withstood a strong second day by defending champ Hyleas Fountain of Georgia to prevail by 22 points. That victory alone put her in rare territory, becoming only the second freshman to win the event, joining Sheila Tarr of UNLV in 1984.

Johnson finished her NCAA career by sweeping the 2006, 2007 and 2008 heptathlons (All by more than 100 points) in becoming one of just four women in meet history to record four victories in one event. Her collegiate PR of 6276* points came in a winning effort at the 2008 Pac-10 Championships and was then the third best all-time collegiately, behind only Diane Guthrie of George Mason and Jackie Joyner of UCLA (Johnson is now sixth).

“Things have been harder since the first time,” Johnson told Dan Zeiger of the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Arizona. “The expectations grew. I won my freshman year, so the assumption is that if I’m a freshman winning, I should be a senior winning. It’s hard to have that weight on your shoulders.”

Johnson also won the NCAA Indoor pentathlon three times, losing only as a freshman in 2004 (She placed second to Fountain). Her victory in 2008 came with a then-collegiate record total of 4496 (That mark now sits 10th all-time).

The Yuma, Arizona, native was a leader of the ASU teams that in 2007 and 2008 registered the best team performances in Sun Devil history. ASU won the 2007 NCAA Outdoor team title and was second in 2008 – the two highest finishes for the program. Indoors, the Sun Devils won NCAA team titles in 2007 and 2008 for their only crowns in that meet.

posted: July 31, 2020
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
O-H-I- Oh, Reynolds Was Fast!
June 6, 1987

Butch Reynolds set a meet record in the 400 of 44.13 at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. He barely missed his own collegiate record of 44.10.

Fynes Won NCAA Titles For Two Programs

Sevatheda Fynes won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. What’s even more impressive is that she did it for two programs – Eastern Michigan & Michigan State.

El Moutawakel Had Legendary Year In 1984

Nawal El Moutawakel set a meet record in the 400 hurdles of 55.84 at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She also won Olympic gold that year in the event.

Florida State’s England Kicked To 1500 CR
June 15, 2008

Hannah England set a collegiate record in the 1500 of 4:06.19 at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships & led two other women under 4:08 in one of the meet’s fastest finals.