Talented Twins Dominate Pole Vault Podium
Don’t worry, collegiate track & field fans: You weren’t seeing double.
From 2016 to 2019, twin sisters Lexi Jacobus and Tori Hoggard (both formerly Weeks) starred in the pole vault for Arkansas, finishing on the same podium five times in eight seasons at the conclusion of the NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including each of the four indoor seasons in which they competed.
While this series concentrates on the near 100-year history of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, we would be remiss to gloss over the staggering success the talented twins had under a roof.
- Lexi, who ended her career as the second best performer with the second best performance in collegiate indoor history at 4.68m (15-4¼), is the only woman in NCAA DI history with three indoor titles.
- Tori, who is the fifth best performer in collegiate indoor history at 4.61m (15-1½), scored every single year at the NCAA meet, including two top-3 finishes in 2018 and 2019.
- When Lexi won her second of three crowns in 2018, Tori was on the podium right next to her as the runner-up. That was actually the best pole vault duel in meet history: Lexi had to break her own meet record to win; Tori PR’d and matched the second best clearance in meet history at the time.
Shifting the focus back outdoors, Lexi and Tori did something no other female twins had accomplished in meet history: They both won individual NCAA titles, albeit in different years.
Lexi led the way in 2016 when she completed the indoor-outdoor sweep. In addition to being only the second freshman to top the podium in meet history, Lexi also posted the largest margin of victory to date. Lexi cleared 4.50m (14-9) to win, some 20 centimeters (8¾ inches) ahead of the next closest competitor, which happened to be a tie between Alysha Newman of Miami (Fla.) and Morgann LeLeux of Louisiana at 4.29m (14-1¼).
Tori capped her collegiate career in style three years later, grabbing the national title in 2019 with the second best winning clearance in meet history of 4.56m (14-11½). It had been a long time coming for Tori, who only finished on the podium once in the previous three years (That would be in 2017, when she ended up sixth. Lexi was second).
Lexi and Tori didn’t just stand out athletically, though. The duo earned five total NCAA Elite 90 awards, including a clean sweep from 2017 to 2018, given out to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA who reached competition at the final site for each of the NCAA’s 90 men’s and women’s championships across each of the three divisions. Lexi earned three of those honors; Tori brought home two.
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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).