Providence’s Smith Left Field In The Dust

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Providence’s Smith Left Field In The Dust

June 12, 2004

A record 28 women toed the starting line for the 5000-meter final at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Inclement weather three days earlier forced officials to drastically change the meet schedule, which produced the biggest final field in that event in meet history (The current model allows 24 athletes to make the final).

Well, the 26 women who eventually finished second through 26th place were all chasing Kim Smith of Providence. No one should have expected a different result based on Smith’s past.

Smith entered the meet that year on an unbelievable hot streak, having completed the distance double at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships with collegiate record setting marks – 15:14.18 in the 5K on Friday and 8:49.18 in the 3K on Saturday. The native of Auckland, New Zealand, would remain atop the collegiate chart in those events until 2015 (Emily Sisson, Providence) and 2009 (Jenny Barringer, Colorado), respectively.

There wouldn’t be a record time in Austin – at least not in the previous sense.

Smith covered 12½ laps in 15:48.86 – the third fastest winning time since 1991 – and won by a staggering 36.04 seconds. That was – and still is – the largest margin of victory in meet history, nearly doubling the previous best established by Jen Rhines in 1995 (18.88 seconds).

Five months later, Smith demolished a much larger field – 249 other women – at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Smith won by 18 seconds, which was the biggest time differential between a champion and runner-up since Vicki Huber won in 1989.

posted: January 22, 2021
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!