Dendy’s Double-Double Put Him Among Greats
No male athlete has collected more titles in the horizontal jumps at the NCAA Championships since the turn of the millennium than Marquis Dendy of Florida.
During an illustrious career with the Gators, Dendy captured seven crowns between the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, including an awe-inspiring 2015 where he completed the long jump-triple jump double-double and hoisted The Bowerman in December.
Speaking of 2015, after an indoor season where he easily swept the horizontal jumps and became the first man in meet history to eclipse 57 feet in the triple jump, Dendy turned his attention outdoors. Just the previous year, Dendy went two-for-two at the NCAA Championships for the first double since 2002 (Walter Davis) and looked to defend both titles.
First up for Dendy was the long jump on Wednesday, where he was one of seven men who had posted marks of 26 feet or better during the regular season. The promise of fierce competition brought out the best in the Delaware native, as he rebounded from a second-attempt foul to post his winning mark of 8.43m (27-8) soon after. Dendy also equaled or topped 8.00m (26-3) three other times, including efforts of 8.34m (27-4½) and 8.27m (27-1¾).
Winning the triple jump was more of a formality and Dendy put on a show. After an opening mark of 17.50m (57-5) that would have won the competition by nearly two feet, Dendy extended to a wind-aided 17.54m (57-6½) on his fourth attempt and blew that out of the water with a wind-aided 17.71m (58-1¼) to close it out. That first mark, which was wind-legal, sits third in meet history; the sixth is third, too, but on the all-conditions list.
Later that summer, Dendy won the U.S. title in the long jump at 8.68m (28-5½) and while it was heavily wind-aided, it was one of the biggest jumps under any condition in more than five years worldwide. Dendy, who also placed third in the triple jump that year at the U.S. meet, struggled at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and needed to wait until the following year to capture his first global medal, where he was golden in the long jump at the World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon.
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).