UCLA’s Vickers Ruled The 400 Hurdles

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

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.

posted: August 5, 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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!