Fleshman Starred In The 5000 Meters
Lauren Fleshman learned an important lesson in March of 2003.
Fleshman, then a four-time national champion with back-to-back titles in the outdoor 5000 and an indoor 3000 crown from the previous year to boot, entered the 2003 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships as the odds-on favorite to complete the distance sweep.
A supposed coronation never came to fruition as Fleshman ended up a distant fourth in the 5000 and rallied for a close runner-up finish in the 3000 the next day. In fact, North Carolina junior Shalane Flanagan’s 0.53-second triumph over Fleshman in the 3000 was the smallest margin of victory in that event in the past 20 years.
“That was a really good reminder to be prepared for anything,” Fleshman told John Schumacher of the Sacramento Bee in 2003 about her weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Three months later, Fleshman and Flanagan met up again in the 5000-meter final at the 2003 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, California. One might think home-track advantage would play into Fleshman’s favor with it being less than two hours from Stanford’s campus, but Flanagan was undefeated against collegians that year.
A brisk early pace proved too much for many of the competitors to handle, leaving Flanagan, Fleshman and Colorado’s Sara Gorton at the front through 3200 meters. Flanagan and Fleshman picked up the tempo even more on the ninth lap, which dropped Gorton. As Flanagan made her move with 700 meters to go, Fleshman matched her stride for stride and then dropped the hammer with a 65.5-second final lap to win by more than six seconds.
Fleshman finished in 15:24.06, which demolished the previous meet record of 15:37.77, set by Amy Skieresz of Arizona five years earlier. It was the biggest improvement in that event’s meet record since North Carolina State’s Betty Springs took 19 seconds off the standard in 1983.
Post-collegiate success followed for Fleshman.
Fleshman was a two-time U.S. champion at 5000 Meters with victories in 2006 and 2010, as well as a runner-up finish in 2005. Then, at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, Fleshman equaled the best finish by an American woman in the 5000 with her seventh-place effort.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).