Collegiate Record For BYU’s Andersen

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Collegiate Record For BYU’s Andersen

June 13, 2003

It wasn’t until the final water jump that Kassi Andersen of BYU took the lead in the steeplechase at the 2003 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.

Andersen’s sprint to the finish not only gave her a seemingly easy victory, but her time of 9:44.95 set a new meet and collegiate record.

Though the steeplechase was a new event for Andersen, it came in an event where success was nothing new to BYU – Elizabeth Jackson (2001) and Michaela Mannova (2002) had done the same thing for the Cougars in the NCAA’s first two women’s editions of the event.

Still, for Andersen to even consider the event took some prodding by USTFCCCA Hall of Fame coach Patrick Shane, who envisioned her running over barriers back when he recruited the local Provo 800/1500-meter high school state champion.

Convincing Andersen to try the event was a challenge, and it didn’t get easier for Shane after Andersen won the 2002 national U20 1500-meter title as a freshman and then was a top-10 finisher on the Cougars’ NCAA championship cross country team.

But, somehow, Andersen not only tried the event — but became enamored with it. She ran a PR in all four of her meets that year, starting with a win at the Mt. SAC Relays in a debut 10:05.73.

“It’s something different, and you always have to be thinking out there because you’re always going over something,” Andersen related about the steeplechase to Jason Franchuk of the Provo Daily Herald after another PR two weeks later. “It’s not like the other events, where you’re just running.”

posted: December 22, 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!