Butler Starred With Three 3K Victories
“When things are tough, I always think back to when I couldn’t run at all.” ~ That’s what Kathy Butler told Cathy Breitenbucher for Track & Field News after winning the individual title at the 1995 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
By the time Kathy Butler strode to a third-straight 3000-meter victory in the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, very few remembered the days when she arrived at Wisconsin.
In the fall of 1994 – when Butler’s club coach in Canada said she couldn’t break 5:00 for 1500 meters – Butler joined USTFCCCA Hall of Fame coach Peter Tegen’s respected program at Wisconsin after back-to-back attacks of asthma (1993) and Graves’ disease (1994), the latter of which wiped out her entire track season.
Butler, as a Badger, was an immediate success: She was fifth at the 1994 NCAA Cross Country Championships and by the spring of 1995, Butler had her first NCAA title, taking the outdoor 3K. The following year saw her win a triple crown of sorts: an individual national title in cross country, anchoring the winning indoor DMR team at the NCAA meet and then a second outdoor 3K crown.
Her final go at the outdoor 3K was actually a collegiate record attempt, which seemed possible after an early-May 8:54.07 made her the second-fastest outdoor collegian ever behind the 8:47.35 of Villanova’s Vicki Huber in 1988. After dropping the field in the first kilometer, Butler eased off the pedal and settled for a win in 9:01.23, the fastest of her three NCAA titles.
“I was trying to go 70-second [8:45] pace, but it was a little harder than I thought,” Butler said afterward.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).