El Moutawakel Had Legendary Year In 1984
“First” will always be part of Nawal El Moutawakel’s story.
The Iowa State grad’s career is so full of achievements that few remember one of her initial “firsts” – running in the finals of both the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The first of those NCAA finals was her specialty, the 400 hurdles – twice earlier in the year she set collegiate records, each time winning a race by some four seconds.
On Friday in the NCAA meet, El Moutawakel bolted to an immediate lead that grew to a meet-record victory in 55.84.
“I was a little scared because I had run the preliminaries in both the hurdles and 400 before this final,” she explained to Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “But I didn’t try to save anything. I gave it all I had.”
The next day the Cyclone star claimed fourth in the 400 at 52.23, finishing behind a trio of soon-to-be finalists at the Los Angeles Olympics.
It was in those Olympic Games, in fact, where El Moutawakel had her most famous first, winning the inaugural women’s 400 hurdles in an “all-dates” collegiate best of 54.61 that made her the first gold medalist from Morocco.
El Moutawakel was a member of the first IAAF (now World Athletics) Athletes’ Commission in 1989 and in 1995 became one of the first two women elected to the WA Council – a position she still holds.
El Moutawakel is also in her third stint as a member of the IOC’s Executive Board after having served in 2008-12 and 2012-16 – the latter as a Vice-President. She’s the first woman from track & field to be on the Board and be an officer.
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.
Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995
Duane Ross PR’d twice in the 110H at the 1995 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Ross won in 13.32, he became the No. 3 performer in collegiate history.
Illinois’ Kerr Went Back-To-Back At NCAAs
George Kerr won back-to-back 800/880 titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1959 & 1960. Kerr set a meet record of 1:46.4 in the 800 meters in 1960.
UCLA’s Baucham Bounded To TJ CR In 2005
Candice Baucham won the triple jump at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a collegiate record of 14.07m (46-2). Baucham took the event by more than one foot.
San Romani Went From Unknown To Legend
Archie San Romani won back-to-back 1500/mile crowns at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1935 & 1936.
Auburn’s Glance Made Them Look Twice
Harvey Glance completed the 100-200 double as a freshman at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He set a meet record of 10.16 in the 100.
Nova’s Rhines Did NCAA 5K Three-Peat
Jen Rhines was the first female athlete in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win three consecutive 5K titles.
Georgia’s Erm Cruised To 2019 Decathlon Title
Johannes Erm won the decathlon at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 342 points with his 8352 total. That was also the fifth-best score in meet history.
McMillen Adapted, Set 1500 MR In 1952
Bob McMillen set a meet record in the 1500 meters of 3:50.7 at the 1952 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
LSU’s Duhaney Destroyed NCAA 200 Field In 1992
Dahlia Duhaney owns the largest margin of victory in meet history in the 200 with her 0.44-second winner at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Rice’s Roberts Cooked Up Pole Vault Greatness
Dave Roberts was the second man to win three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, doing so from 1971 to 1973.