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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).