Georgia’s Orji Jump-Starts Record-Breaking Career
On this day in 2016, Keturah Orji of Georgia set her first collegiate record in the triple jump of 14.29m (46-10¾) at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida.
Orji, then a sophomore, would eventually win her second of four consecutive NCAA outdoor triple jump titles to become one of just five women with four titles in the same outdoor event in NCAA DI history. She added three more indoors plus an outdoor long jump crown in 2018 for a total of eight – the most combined in the two meets by a female field eventer in NCAA DI history and equal to the most by any female athlete, period.
The Mount Olive, New Jersey, native dominated the triple jump during her legendary career. In 28 collegiate competitions, she won 27. Her bests indoors and outdoors are each more than 10 inches ahead of history’s next best. The 2016 NCAA outdoor win at 14.53m (47-8) – when she won by nearly 2½ feet – remains the longest mark in meet history by more than a foot. Orji’s collegiate outdoor best that she set in 2018 at the SEC Championships is just shy of 48 feet at 14.62m (47-11¾) and tops the all-time chart by more than 10 inches.
All of her records and titles were made even sweeter when the record three-time finalist for The Bowerman finally won the award in 2018 after a sensational senior year on the runway.
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.
O-H-I- … Oh, What A Race By Davis!
Glenn Davis of Ohio State set a WORLD RECORD in the 440 yards at the 1958 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
LSU Hurdle Dominance Yet To Be Matched
Tananjalyn Stanley set a meet record of 12.70 in the 100 Hurdles at the 1989 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, which jump-started LSU’s dominance in the event over the next few years.
Anchors Aweigh! Navy Wins NCAA Team Title
Back in 1945, the United States Naval Academy (Navy) won the team title at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Pagel Won Shot Put With Record Heave
Ramona Pagel won the shot put at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a meet record heave!
Eyestone Held Nothing Back At NCAAs
Ed Eyestone of BYU won three career titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including a 5K-10K double in 1985!
Barrett Scared Long-Standing MR In 2013
Katrena Johnson set a collegiate record in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and led a 1-2-3 Arizona sweep!
Bell Rang True In Long Jump
Greg Bell won back-to-back long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and broke a meet record in 1957!
Guidry Capped Legendary Career In 1991
Carlette Guidry, who won 12 NCAA titles in her career, completed the 100-200 sweep in 1991.
Stanford Romped To National Title in 1928
Stanford won the team title at the 1928 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a then-meet record score of 72 points. Eric Krenz (pictured) led the way with 18 team points.
Smith Jumped Her Way Into Elite Company
Trecia-Kaye Smith won three career titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with two of those in the long jump, another in the triple jump.