Prandini Dazzled At NCAAs In 2015
Using current scoring tables, only two women totaled more points for their teams at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships than Jenna Prandini did for Oregon in 2015: Gail Devers of UCLA in 1988 (28.5) and Merlene Ottey of Nebraska in 1983 (28).
Simply put: Prandini reached legendary status five years ago when she compiled 26 points and led the Women of Oregon to their first outdoor national team title in 30 years.
Prandini opened the weekend with a runner-up finish in the long jump, the same event in which she topped the podium in each of the previous two installments of the NCAA Championships.
A less-than-stellar opening-round effort of 4.48m (14-8½) gave way to an eventual third-round best of 6.80m (22-3¾) that put her into the lead. Prandini passed her next two attempts, but when eventual champion Quanesha Burks of Alabama soared 6.91m (22-8) in Round 5, it coaxed the Oregon standout off the bench. It ended up being for naught, as Prandini fouled in Round 6.
Fast forward two days and Prandini prepared for a three-event afternoon, beginning with the final of the 4×100 relay, followed by finals in the 100 and 200.
Disastrous hand-offs derailed the Ducks in the relay as they were hit with a Zone 2 infraction between Jasmine Todd and Ashante Horsley. By the time Prandini received the baton from Horsley after another lackluster exchange, her anchor leg amounted to trying to save face in front of the Oregon faithful at Historic Hayward Field.
Prandini returned to the track for the 100, an event in which she entered as the favorite with her wind-legal 10.92 from earlier in the season and looked to win Oregon’s third title in the past four years. Morolake Akinosun of Texas pushed the California native to the limit, but eventually the Duck broke the tape first in 10.96 – just 0.01 seconds ahead of Akinosun.
If you’re counting at home, that’s 18 points from the 100 and long jump. That leaves eight points from a close runner-up finish in the 200 – 0.03 seconds – to give Prandini her grand total of 26.
Scoring points by the bushel wasn’t new to Prandini. After all, Prandini totaled 23 points at the 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships just a few months earlier to propel Oregon to a runner-up finish behind meet champion Arkansas.
All told, that was 49 points for Prandini at the NCAA Championships in 2015. That enabled her to win The Bowerman, as the collegiate track & field’s most outstanding female athlete.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.