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
Indiana’s Kharun Set Javelin MR In 2003
June 13, 2003

Irina Kharun won the javelin title at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a meet record heave of 61.82m (202-10). It also helped her win by more than 30 feet!

Hume Brothers Had Officials Seeing Double

Twins Robert & Ross Hume purposefully tied for the mile crown at the 1944 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. They tried again in 1945, but officials gave Ross the win.

Woo Pig Sooie! McLeod Sizzled Track In 2015!
June 12, 2015

Omar McLeod clocked a sizzling 13.01 (+3.9) to win the 110HH at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Only one man had ever gone faster in meet history at the time.

Felicien Starred In The 100H At NCAAs

Perdita Felicien won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 2002 & 2003. She set a MR of 12.68 in the semifinals on the way to title No. 2.

Sharpe Bounded To Meet History In 1956
June 16, 1956

Bill Sharpe became the first man to eclipse the 50-foot barrier in the triple jump at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1956. Sharpe won with his 15.36m (50‑4¾) effort.