Leatherwood Rolled To Back-To-Back 400 Titles

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Leatherwood Rolled To Back-To-Back 400 Titles

Lillie Leatherwood of Alabama made it look easy winning the 400 meters at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Leatherwood, who was the first two-time winner in that event in meet history, actually eased up in crossing the finish line in 50.90 to break the meet record set in 1983 by UCLA’s Florence Griffith (50.94).

That’s because Leatherwood’s work wasn’t done. She had already scored in the 200 (second place) and 4×100 relay (third place as the third leg), and the 4×400 relay was left.

The last event was crucial for Alabama, which aimed to win the program’s first team crown in the sport (men or women, indoors or outdoors). Host LSU led going in 56-53 and the Tigers were figured to get points as one of the country’s best foursomes.

A win looked favorable for the Crimson Tide, which entered with the nation’s fastest quartet – not to mention being anchored by Leatherwood, who scorched the meet’s first-ever sub-50 leg in the 1986 meet in 49.6.

Alabama roared home with final legs of 50.3 and 49.7 by Pauline Davis and Leatherwood to cross the finish line first in 3:28.56 – just a tenth off the collegiate record – and an apparent team victory, 63-61 over LSU.

However, an exchange zone foul called on Davis for standing outside the zone disqualified the Tide, giving LSU a 62-53 win. The ruling was upheld on appeal, leaving Alabama as runners-up in a finish that still stokes many Crimson Tide fans.

posted: January 16, 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.