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.
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).