Davis Rolls To Collegiate Record In 1989

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Davis Rolls To Collegiate Record In 1989

June 3, 1989

Happy birthday to Pauline Davis!

In 1989, the Alabama senior found a new event, which led to her first NCAA outdoor title and a collegiate record that wouldn’t be broken for 16 years. Davis took up the 400 meters in her final year with the Crimson Tide and romped to a record-setting 50.18 to win the crown at the 1989 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Provo, Utah.

Davis finished her collegiate career scoring in every NCAA individual event she entered, 14 including indoors. She totaled 56¾ career points at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which put her 10th on the all-time scoring chart as of 2019.

Her post-collegiate career found her important in many ways, too. Athletically, she was among the Golden Girls of the Bahamas who struck Olympic gold in 2000, anchoring the 4×100 relay in her final race. She was later awarded a gold medal in the 200 after a drug disqualification.

In 2007, she was the first woman from the Caribbean elected to the IAAF (now World Athletics) Council and last year completed her third four-year term. Upon her retirement, she was named an Honorary Life Person Member of WA.

posted: July 9, 2020
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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!