Roesler Dusted The Competition In 2014
Answer: Negative splits and a sizable margin of victory.
Question: What are two things you don’t expect to see in a championship 800-meter race?
Well, Laura Roesler of Oregon bucked the trend six years ago at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Running on her home track at Historic Hayward Field, Roesler left no doubt that she was the Queen of the Half-Mile at the collegiate level as she completed the indoor-outdoor sweep.
Roesler seemingly toyed with the field for 600 meters. The Duck standout sat sixth through 400 meters at 61.06, letting the competition set the pace and remained there for the next half-lap.
Once the race hit 200 meters to go, Roesler unleashed a monstrous kick that left everybody else standing still. Roesler extended her already insurmountable lead with each stride and crossed the finish line in 2:01.22 for a 1.70-second margin of victory and a 60.16-second final circuit.
That marked the second largest differential between a champion and runner-up in meet history, only bettered by Inez Turner of Texas State in 1995 (2.24 seconds).
“Coach [Robert] Johnson said to make one move and one move only, and so I made it then,” Roesler told the media after the race. “It worked out for me today.”
Roesler doubled back in the 4×400 the next day with a 51.61 split on the third leg. Oregon took third in that race and added six points to its third-place team total of 38 points (That marked the continuation of a streak of eight consecutive years where the Ducks made the NCAA podium).
Later that year, Roesler won The Bowerman, collegiate track & field’s highest honor.
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.
Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995
Duane Ross PR’d twice in the 110H at the 1995 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Ross won in 13.32, he became the No. 3 performer in collegiate history.
Illinois’ Kerr Went Back-To-Back At NCAAs
George Kerr won back-to-back 800/880 titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1959 & 1960. Kerr set a meet record of 1:46.4 in the 800 meters in 1960.
UCLA’s Baucham Bounded To TJ CR In 2005
Candice Baucham won the triple jump at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a collegiate record of 14.07m (46-2). Baucham took the event by more than one foot.
San Romani Went From Unknown To Legend
Archie San Romani won back-to-back 1500/mile crowns at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1935 & 1936.
Auburn’s Glance Made Them Look Twice
Harvey Glance completed the 100-200 double as a freshman at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He set a meet record of 10.16 in the 100.
Nova’s Rhines Did NCAA 5K Three-Peat
Jen Rhines was the first female athlete in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win three consecutive 5K titles.
Georgia’s Erm Cruised To 2019 Decathlon Title
Johannes Erm won the decathlon at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 342 points with his 8352 total. That was also the fifth-best score in meet history.
McMillen Adapted, Set 1500 MR In 1952
Bob McMillen set a meet record in the 1500 meters of 3:50.7 at the 1952 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
LSU’s Duhaney Destroyed NCAA 200 Field In 1992
Dahlia Duhaney owns the largest margin of victory in meet history in the 200 with her 0.44-second winner at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Rice’s Roberts Cooked Up Pole Vault Greatness
Dave Roberts was the second man to win three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, doing so from 1971 to 1973.