Bakewell’s Winding Road To 800 Meter Glory
Karen Bakewell’s Road to 800-Meter Glory wasn’t a straight shot.
It had multiple twists and turns, not to mention a detour from Oxford, Ohio, back to Jamestown, New York, when she withdrew from Miami University in Ohio to attend a hometown community college after disagreements flared with a new coach the RedHawks hired.
“You’re going to do his workouts, because he said so,” Bakewell told The Cincinnati Enquirer back in 1986. “That’s just how it is. I was used to doing my own pace.
“I guess I needed an attitude adjustment. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to say so far away from my home – and I wasn’t sure I wanted to dedicate myself to track.”
Bakewell returned to campus rejuvenated and prepared to face all adversity head-on.
As it turns out, head coach Richard Ceronie – the same coach Bakewell butted heads with as a sophomore – had a new challenge for her. Ceronie wanted to turn Bakewell, the 1984 Mid-American Conference outdoor champion at 400 meters, into an 800-meter specialist.
“We talked about it over the winter and I was excited, because it is a new race for me,” Bakewell said. “I’ve always done the 200, 400 and relays before.”
Bakewell made her two-lap debut at the Domino’s Pizza Relays, hosted by Florida State in late March. After finishing a close second to Alabama’s Evelyn Adiru, who competed for Uganda at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, it was off to the 800-meter races for Bakewell.
“I thought she would run maybe a 2:09, which is a good time,” Ceronie said after the meet. “But she ran a 2:06.9, which is comparable to the best times being run in the country … Then I realized how really good she could be.”
Bakewell lowered her PR to 2:04.18 in early May and turned her attention to that year’s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships that were being held in Indianapolis. For her to be crowned NCAA champion, Bakewell would probably need to run another massive PR.
You know what happened next.
Bakewell pushed the tempo from the start, using her 400-meter speed to make the rest of the competitors uncomfortable. By the time she accelerated with 300 meters to go, no one else had enough endurance to go with her as she crossed the finish line in a collegiate- and meet-record-setting time of 2:00.85.
To this day, Bakewell is one of just 15 women who have gone sub-2:01.00 in collegiate history outdoors. Twelve of those women did so at the NCAA Championships; Bakewell was the first.
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.
Carr Displayed His World Record Speed
Henry Carr set a meet record in the 220 yards of 20.5 at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Joaquim Cruz’d To Meet Record, 800-1500 Double
Joaquim Cruz won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. In 1983, he set a meet record in the 800 of 1:44.91 & completed the 800-1500 double in 1984.
Back-To-Back 200-Meter Crowns For Annelus
Anglerne “Angie” Annelus won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2018 & 2019. Her 22.16 winner from 2019 is the 4th fastest mark in collegiate history.
Indoors? Outdoors? Johnson Starred In The PV
Jan Johnson won the pole vault title at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and tied the meet record of 17-7.
Beard Capped Sensational Year At NCAAs
Jessica Beard won the 400 & then split the fastest 4×400 leg ever recorded at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to lead Texas A&M to a relay crown.
Biles Brothers Boast Historic Winning Feat
Martin Biles & Robert Biles were the first siblings to win the same event at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Marty won the javelin in 1940 & 1941, while Robert did so in 1942.
Branta Set NCAA MRs In 1500, 3000
Cathy Branta set meet records in back-to-back years at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships: 8:59.57 in the 3000 (1984); 4:12.64 in the 1500 (1985) as part of a 1500-3K double.
Brophy Led “Deca Central” With MR In 1992
Brian Brophy led a 1-2 finish by Tennessee athletes in the decathlon at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. He won with a meet record of 8276 points.
UCLA’s Brenner Won Amazing SP Duel In 1984
John Brenner completed the discus-shot put double at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and won the shot put after an incredible duel against Michael Carter.
Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer
Dawn Ellerbe and Lisa Misipeka went 1-2 in each of the first two years that the women’s hammer was contested at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.