Felicien Starred In The 100H At NCAAs

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Felicien Starred In The 100H At NCAAs

Perdita Felicien of Illinois made the 100-meter hurdles look easy at the 2003 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Sacramento, California.

After warming up with year’s fastest collegiate time of 12.89 in the heats, Felicien blistered a meet-record 12.68 in the semifinals to become tied for the then-second fastest in collegiate history. No one was close in either race.

Felicien knew better than to think the final would be as easy. The other semifinal winner was Indiana’s Danielle Carruthers, the only collegian who had beaten her in the event over the last two years. Carruthers, in fact, owned the other 12.68 on the collegiate all-time list, achieved in 2002.

The Big Ten rivals had a history of close duels, including the 2002 NCAA final when Carruthers led until falling off the last hurdle as Felicien surged to victory.

This showdown wouldn’t be nearly as dramatic. Felicien took an immediate lead and was never challenged, finishing in 12.74 to join Tennessee’s Benita Fitzgerald (1982-83) and Gillian Russell of Miami (1993-95) as back-to-back winners in the event.

Later in the summer Felicien won gold at the World Championships, clocking an “all-dates” collegiate best of 12.53.

posted: January 27, 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
Sink Steepled Into The Record Book

Sid Sink won back-to-back titles in the steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1970 & 1971. He set meet records in each of those years.

Turner Left No Doubt In 800 Meters
June 2, 1995

Inez Turner won the 800 meters at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 2.24 seconds for what is still the largest margin of victory in meet history.

Cheruiyot Won By Slim Margin In 1989
June 3, 1989

Kip Cheruiyot beat teammate Peter Rono by 0.03 seconds in the 1500 at the 1989 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. It was the closest margin of victory since the NCAA adopted FAT.

Emordi Led Texas Southern 1-2 LJ Finish In 1987
June 5, 1987

Paul Emordi led the only 1-2 finish by teammates in the men’s long jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1987. Emordi won with a leap of 8.25m (27-0¾).

Anchor Down: Tolbert Set 400H CR In 1997
June 6, 1997

Ryan Tolbert set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 54.54 at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. Tolbert also finished third in the open 400!