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.
Ryun Raced To Only NCAA Outdoor Title In 1967
Jim Ryun won his only outdoor national title at the 1967 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with his victory in the mile!
Pihl Led BYU’s Decathlon Dominance In 1975
Raimo Pihl set a meet record in the decathlon at the 1975 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and led a dominant BYU performance.
Groenendaal Flew To Back-to-Back NCAA MRs
Claudette Groenendaal set meet records in back-to-back years in different events at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Kerron Clement Had Record Speed
Kerron Clement set a world indoor record and a collegiate outdoor record at the NCAA Championships in 2005.
McWilliams Ran Into The 1500 Record Book
Tiffany McWilliams won back-to-back 1500-meter crowns at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included a three-second victory in 2003 where she set the collegiate record of 4:06.75.
Carter’s Shot Put Prowess Was Legendary
Michael Carter, patriarch of the famed Carter family, won three shot put titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in his career!
Lendore Capped Dream Year At NCAAs
Deon Lendore won the 400, clocked a 44.10 anchor leg on the winning 4×400 relay team and guided Texas A&M to a runner-up finish in the 4×100 relay at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Butler Starred With Three 3K Victories
Kathy Butler of Wisconsin won three consecutive 3000-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships from 1995 to 1997.
Myricks Starred Across Divisions At NCAAs
Larry Myricks of Mississippi College won two long jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in his career.
Thomas Rose To Occasion In The High Jump
Mazel Thomas won the high jump at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships after finishing runner-up to a teammate at the NCAA DII meet two weeks earlier.