FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams won two events at the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Her long jump/triple jump double made her then just the second woman in meet history to accomplish that feat.
First up for Williams in her attempt at a double was a long jump final that still boggles fans with how amazingly close the competition was.
Would you believe the top-3 had the same best mark? That places four and five were just 1cm behind and sixth was only 2cm away from winning?
It happened.
After the first three rounds, Williams was tied with Karoline Kohler of San Diego State at 6.54m (21-5½). Kohler held the tiebreaker but was unable to compete any further due to a leg injury. Just 2cm behind was Florida’s Shara Proctor at 6.52m (21-4¾).
The leaderboard got even more crowded after Round 4, when 2007 NCAA champ Rhonda Watkins of UCLA and Baylor’s DeAna Carson posted back-to-back efforts of 6.53m (21-5¼). Proctor moved down another spot in Round 5 when Oregon’s Jamesha Youngblood blasted a PR to create a three-way tie at the top at 6.54m (21-5½).
As the deciding Round 6 started, Kohler led on the better second mark. Youngblood held second place over Williams on the same basis.
Until Williams’ final attempt, Proctor was the only one of the top-6 to post a mark in the final round, yet her 6.45m (21-2) jump meant she would finish in sixth place, as her best of 6.52m (21-4¾) was still 2cm short of the leaders.
Co-leader Williams sat in third place as the final jumper, and all she needed was something better than 6.27m (20-7) to win the tiebreaker. She delivered with a mark of 6.35m (20-10) to win one the meet’s most exciting events ever.
No tie-breakers were needed a day later when Williams came back to win the triple jump by 0.56m (22 inches). Her best mark of 14.38m (47-2¼) was slightly wind-aided at 2.1 m/s, but it remains the third-longest effort in meet history under all conditions.
It was the first of three-straight NCAA triple jump titles for Williams, matching Sheila Hudson’s total and one short of Keturah Orji for the most ever by a woman. Hudson (1990) and Orji (2018) are the only other women who have NCAA long jump/triple jump doubles.
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.
Carr Displayed His World Record Speed
Henry Carr set a meet record in the 220 yards of 20.5 at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Joaquim Cruz’d To Meet Record, 800-1500 Double
Joaquim Cruz won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. In 1983, he set a meet record in the 800 of 1:44.91 & completed the 800-1500 double in 1984.
Back-To-Back 200-Meter Crowns For Annelus
Anglerne “Angie” Annelus won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2018 & 2019. Her 22.16 winner from 2019 is the 4th fastest mark in collegiate history.
Indoors? Outdoors? Johnson Starred In The PV
Jan Johnson won the pole vault title at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and tied the meet record of 17-7.
Beard Capped Sensational Year At NCAAs
Jessica Beard won the 400 & then split the fastest 4×400 leg ever recorded at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to lead Texas A&M to a relay crown.
Biles Brothers Boast Historic Winning Feat
Martin Biles & Robert Biles were the first siblings to win the same event at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Marty won the javelin in 1940 & 1941, while Robert did so in 1942.
Branta Set NCAA MRs In 1500, 3000
Cathy Branta set meet records in back-to-back years at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships: 8:59.57 in the 3000 (1984); 4:12.64 in the 1500 (1985) as part of a 1500-3K double.
Brophy Led “Deca Central” With MR In 1992
Brian Brophy led a 1-2 finish by Tennessee athletes in the decathlon at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. He won with a meet record of 8276 points.
UCLA’s Brenner Won Amazing SP Duel In 1984
John Brenner completed the discus-shot put double at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and won the shot put after an incredible duel against Michael Carter.
Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer
Dawn Ellerbe and Lisa Misipeka went 1-2 in each of the first two years that the women’s hammer was contested at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.