Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
Kendall Ellis had the weight of a cardinal-and-gold world resting on her shoulders as she waited to receive the baton for her anchor leg in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
For Southern California’s women to capture their second team title in program history, they had to win the meet’s final event, which also happened to be the final race at the old Hayward Field. The Women of Troy sat nine points behind Georgia after 20 events (52-43) and the first-place Bulldogs didn’t have a relay team, nor did second-place Stanford (51). The best fourth-place Kentucky – with the season’s best time entering the competition at 3:25.99 – could finish with a win was a second-place tie. Either Georgia or USC would be crowned champions.
It didn’t look good for USC, though.
The Women of Troy went from third after the first leg to fourth at the conclusion of the penultimate carry. To make matters worse, Deanna Hill and Ellis collided in the exchange zone and bobbled the baton, which pushed USC down one more spot in the pecking order and even further behind race-leading Purdue (Here were the splits after the third leg: Purdue, 2:35.05; Oregon, 2:36.21; Kentucky, 2:36.89, Florida, 2:36.95; USC 2:37.01).
Ellis wasn’t deterred.
After all, she set the American and collegiate record over 400 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships with her 50.34 winner and became the second-fastest performer outdoors with her 49.99 effort at the Pac-12 Championships one month earlier.
A near immediate pass of Florida’s Taylor Sharpe put Ellis in fourth.
Ellis continued along the rail to take third, but not before jostling Wildcat anchor Kayelle Clarke. That would later be grounds for a challenge by Georgia in hopes of getting USC disqualified.
Ten more meters stood between Ellis and Hannah Waller of the second-place Ducks. Double that and you get the distance between Ellis and Jahneya Mitchell of the first-place Boilermakers.
Those voids remained the same as they rounded the Bowerman Curve.
“I just don’t know if Purdue is going to get caught,” Jill Montgomery said on the ESPN broadcast.
“No. There’s no way, unless they drop the baton,” Dwight Stones replied. “Purdue is going to win this, which we certainly didn’t see.”
“Here comes SC,” Montgomery said matter-of-factly.
Ellis found another gear and within the next 11 seconds, overtook Waller and then nipped Mitchell at the finish line to send the crowd at Hayward Field into hysterics and the Women of Troy to a national title by just one point over Georgia thanks to her 50.06 anchor.
“The second I got the baton; the second I got the baton,” Ellis said when asked when she knew she could win. “Before the race, Coach (Quincy) Watts told me, ‘If there’s a 10-meter gap, you can close it.’ Even if it had been 20 meters, it doesn’t matter – I’m going to get the team a win.”
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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).