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.
Guthrie-Gresham Generates Greatness
Diane Guthrie-Gresham of George Mason broke the collegiate record in the heptathlon with 6527 points at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Conway Raises The Bar In 1989
Hollis Conway of Southwestern Louisiana set the American record and collegiate record in the high jump at the 1989 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Conley Soars; Razorbacks Complete Triple Crown
Mike Conley scored 28¾ points to lead Arkansas to its first outdoor team title, which completed the vaunted “Triple Crown,” as the program also captured the cross country and indoor titles already in the academic year.
Wisconsin’s Favor Goes Into The Record Book … Again
Suzy Favor of Wisconsin became the first woman in NCAA Division I track & field history to not only win four consecutive 1500-meter crowns, but complete the 800-1500 double at the NCAA meet.
Angela Williams Stands Tall In History
Angela Williams of Southern California was the first athlete (man or woman) to win four consecutive 100-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Carlos’ Triple Leads “Speed City” Spartans
John Carlos of San Jose State became the first athlete to complete the sprint triple at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with victories in the 100, 200 (220) and 4×100 (440-yard) relay.
Jesse Owens Completes The Quadruple-Double
ON THIS DAY: Jesse Owens completed the quadruple-double, winning four NCAA titles in two consecutive years.
“Bullet Bob” Hayes Wins Lone Shot At NCAAs
Bob Hayes of Florida A&M won his first – and only – NCAA title 56 years ago when he won the 200 meters in a wind-aided 20.4.
Southern’s Milburn Clears All Hurdles In His Way
Rodney Milburn of Southern capped a legendary collegiate career 47 years ago when he won the 120-yard high hurdles title at the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a meet-record time of 13.1.
Sua’s Sweep Cements Unprecedented Legacy
Seilala Sua of UCLA became the most decorated individual female champion in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships 20 years ago.