Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983

Only once have the three longest women’s discus throwers in collegiate history met at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

It happened in 1983 when the meet was held at Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Entering with the most accolades was Meg Ritchie of Arizona – the defending champion came in with the year’s best mark at 65.32m (214-4), short of her collegiate record of 67.48m (221-5) from a year earlier.

Undefeated on the year – including a conference win over Ritchie – was Leslie Deniz of Arizona State, and her incredible spring included four American records, topped by a heave of 64.94m (213-1).

Stanford’s Carol Cady also gained notice. She moved to No. 3 all-time just a week before the NCAA meet at 63.30m (207-8), and by the day of NCAA discus final she was fresh off a shot put crown, having defeated CR holder Ritchie and breaking her meet record as well.

Deniz set the tone in the qualifying round, adding more than 7 feet to Ritchie’s meet record at 63.80m (209-4).

In the first round of the final, Deniz opened up at 63.96m (209-10) to improve her MR. Cady added then the second-longest throw in meet history – and her career – at 62.42m (204-9). Ritchie, nursing a recent injury, followed at 56.00m (183-9).

That order didn’t change, and Deniz continued her dominance, finishing with two more throws of 62.90m (206-4) and 63.52m (208-5) that gave her the meet’s four longest in history.

“I was looking for at least 215,” said Deniz, still recovering from a back injury in training. “The last throw was close to 220, which is the goal I set for myself.”

Deniz and Cady both made the 1984 Olympic team. Deniz earned silver in the discus, while Cady was a finalist in the shot put. In 1986, Cady broke Deniz’s discus AR at 66.10m (216-10), which lasted for 20 years.

posted: April 2, 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
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
June 12, 2008

Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).

Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
May 31, 1996

Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.

Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
June 9, 2018

Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.