Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts became known as the “King of the Quarter,” and his ascension to the throne began early at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
By the time of the 400-meter final at Memorial Stadium in Austin, Watts had run two sub-45 times for the first time in meet history and had a 43.7 anchor leg in the 4×400-meter relay heats on the Southern California team (at 3:00.79 then the fastest non-final foursome in meet history).
Watts – who had also anchored the USC 4×100 team to fifth place – saved his best for the final day, scorching a 44.00 in the 400 final that would last as the meet record for 25 years – a duration that is more than twice as long as any other 400/440 MR in the meet history.
Watts cemented his legendary status with yet another memorable lap, as he and the two closest to him in the 400 – Deon Minor of Baylor and Georgia Tech’s Derek Mills – all ran on stellar 4×4 squads.
The meet’s finale had a memorable last lap. At the final exchange of the 4×400, Baylor led over Georgia Tech, while USC was in fourth place behind Ohio State. Mills overtook Minor to give Tech the win in 2:59.95 with a 43.9 split, and Watts’ blazing finish brought USC up to second in 3:00.58.
Watts’ split of 43.6 culminated a four-day stretch of amazing 400-meter running that has yet to be matched – three rounds of sub-45 times in the 400, plus two sub-44 relay legs.
Later that summer Watts won Olympic gold in Barcelona twice – in the 400 and 4×400, the latter with a 43.1 split that was the fastest recorded at the time.
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.
ON THIS DAY: Kerley Set 400-Meter CR In Austin
Fred Kerley set a collegiate record in the 400 on this day in 2017. Kerley went 43.70 at the NCAA DI West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas.
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).
Foster Won All-Time Classic 110H In 1978
Greg Foster won an epic 110H race at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Foster beat Renaldo Nehemiah & set an AR, CR & MR in the process with his 13.22.
D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012
Abbey D’Agostino won back-to-back 5K titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2012 & 2013. When D’Agostino won in 2012, it was by just 0.03 seconds.
Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.
Arkansas’ Brown Notched All-Time 100H Mark
Janeek Brown won the 100H at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 12.40, narrowly missing the collegiate record and meet record.
Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
Doug Brown won back-to-back steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1973 & 1974. His victory in 1973 was by 17.2 seconds!
EMU’s Jones Hurdled Into NCAA History
Hayes Jones completed the 120H-220H sweep at the 1959 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Jones won the last 220H title ever awarded at the meet.
Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.
Paige Turned Three NCAA Mid-Distance Titles
Don Paige won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a 800-1500 sweep in 1979.