George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage began electrifying in the long jump early at the 1988 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.
The George Mason senior PRed by more than six inches in the qualifying round at 6.51m (21-4¼), second best of the day and a mark that moved her to No. 5 on the seasonal list of collegians.
It was big news, certainly, but her best was yet to come.
Two days later in the final, Gail Devers of UCLA opened up at 6.55m (21-6), and that held up for the lead until Round 3 when Gage shockingly took over at 6.62m (21-8¾). The wind reading of 2.2 meters per second was just over allowable for record purposes, but the performance was four inches farther than Gage had ever jumped before – adding more than 10 inches to her best since before the meet began.
With three rounds left, Gage felt like many people. “I still figured she was going to do it in the finals,” she said of Devers afterwards to Dave Kayfes of the Eugene Register-Guard.
Gage, however, continued to lead as the last round came down to two final attempts. Devers, jumping just ahead of Gage, closed with a foul. Gage, with victory secure, then equaled the second-longest jump of her life at 21-4¼ (also wind-aided).
“When I saw the red flag, I knew it was over,” Gage said. “It was exciting. It was like being at home. The surface is like we have at home, and I saw a lot of green and gold (the Patriots’ colors are similar to host Oregon’s). Everything just came together.”
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.