Beard Capped Sensational Year At NCAAs
“Almost” had defined Jessica Beard’s efforts at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships between her freshman year and junior year. Beard finished national runner-up in the 400 in back-to-back years and anchored Texas A&M to a painstakingly close second-place finish in the 4×400 relay in 2010 (0.03 seconds).
“Champion” supplanted that previous characterization in Beard’s senior year.
Beard, already a three-time NCAA champion from her past efforts at the NCAA Indoor Championships, won her first individual outdoor title when romped to the 400-meter crown. The Aggie standout traversed one lap at Drake Stadium in 51.10 to win by 0.40 seconds, the second largest margin of victory since 2000.
That actually came after Beard already had a 400-meter effort in her legs from earlier in the morning, when heats of the 4×400 were held due to inclement weather from the day before.
Beard was just getting warmed up.
The now 32-year-old native of Euclid, Ohio, returned to the track the following day to anchor Texas A&M in the meet-ending 4×400 relay with plenty on the line. Not only did Beard have some ground to make up on the rest of the field by the time she got the baton in third place; the future winner of The Bowerman had to win – or at least beat Oregon’s anchor – to assure the Aggies a third consecutive outdoor title, something that hadn’t been done since LSU ran off 11 in a row from 1987 to 1997.
Beard passed Laura Roesler of Oregon (who would eventually win The Bowerman in 2014) for second place as they rounded the second turn and gobbled up the blue track on the backstretch with sights on leader Kai Selvon of Auburn. With 50 meters to go, Beard pulled alongside Selvon and kicked past her to the finish line.
That was a 49.13 split for Beard, the fastest carry ever recorded in meet history.
Texas A&M ended up winning the team title by four points over the Ducks, 49-45.
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.