UCLA’s Vickers Ruled The 400 Hurdles
While Janeene Vickers of UCLA was the first woman to win multiple NCAA DI titles in the 400 Meter Hurdles, each and every single one of those victories came down to the finish off the last hurdle, also known as the “run-in.”
That was Vickers’ territory.
The native of Pomona, California, was an age-group runner since age 6 and had a background that was familiar with end-of-the-race struggles.
“I ran the open 400 before I started to run the hurdles so I know the pain coming home and know how to deal with it,” she told Jed Goldfried of Track & Field News after her 1990 win in 55.40 by a scant 0.05 seconds over Florida State’s Kim Batten. This was the then-unknown Kim Batten who PR’d in the race by two seconds, well before she set a 400H world record of 52.61 at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Vickers’ first win in 1989 came by 0.11 seconds over 1987 NCAA champ Linetta Wilson of Nebraska and her 1991 victory, which made her the first woman to win three in a row, was by 0.56 seconds (a margin accomplished all on the run-in) over Tonya Lee of Tennessee. Her 1989 winning time of 55.27 remained her collegiate best and was fifth on the all-time list.
Don’t forget about the two times that Vickers scored in the 100 Meter Hurdles, both times in fourth place. That’s just one spot lower than UCLA’s best finish in that event at the NCAA meet (third). Four of the five Bruins who achieved that went on to become individual Olympic gold medalists (albeit sometimes in other events): Jackie Joyner, Gail Devers, Joanna Hayes and Dawn Harper. The fifth, Sheena Johnson, took Olympic silver. Vickers earned Olympic bronze in the 1992 400H.
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.
Spearmon Sprinted Past Stacked 200 Field
Wallace Spearmon Jr. won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2004 & 2005. He ran 19.91 (-0.7 m/s) in 2005 to beat a loaded field by 0.17 seconds.
Collegiate Record For BYU’s Andersen
Kassi Andersen set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:44.95 at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, capping a three-year streak in which BYU athletes won the event.
Hook ‘Em, Ivan: Wagner Tied Best HJ Margin
Ivan Wagner won the high jump at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by more than four inches to tie the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Mason’s Muzzio Starred In Decathlon
Rob Muzzio won back-to-back decathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1984 & 1985. His victory in 1985 was by 3 points, the smallest margin in meet history.
Roesler Dusted The Competition In 2014
Laura Roesler won the 800 at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships with a negative split (61.06/60.16) & the 2nd largest margin of victory in meet history (1.70 seconds).
Fuchs Went Back-To-Back In Shot Put
Jim Fuchs won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1949 & 1950. He set a meet record in that first year, heaving the orb 17.10m (56-1½).
Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
Don Lash led a 1-2-4 finish by Indiana in the 5K at the 1936 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the first time in meet history that one team had three top-4 finishers in that event.
Surprise! Brown’s Win Sent Texas A&M To Title
Kamaria Brown beat Jenna Prandini by 0.007 seconds for the 200-meter title at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the smallest margin of victory in meet history.
Coleman Cruised To The Bowerman In 2017
Christian Coleman dazzled at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a collegiate record in the 100!
Blanford Blitzed 100H Record Book
Rhonda Blanford set an all-conditions meet record in the 100 Hurdles of 12.70 at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. She also won the race by 0.30 seconds!