Pagel Won Shot Put With Record Heave
Ramona Pagel of San Diego State was looking for revenge in the shot put final at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Even though Pagel entered with a PR more than a foot better than the field – in fact, at 17.77m (58-3¾) she was then No. 2 collegian all-time – she knew there would be pressure from her rival, defending NCAA champ Carol Cady of Stanford.
It was just three weeks earlier that Cady handed Pagel her first collegiate shot put loss of the year as Cady came through with a last-round PR 17.34m (56-10¾) to win the WCAA conference meet. For Pagel, it was a cruel way to learn that the multiple long efforts don’t matter as much as the longest single effort – Pagel had four of the five longest throws that day.
The rematch at the NCAA Championships in June started much the same as Pagel took immediate control with a first-round 16.45m (53-11¾), then followed with two efforts better than Cady’s existing meet record of 17.07m (56-0).
Was Pagel safe enough at 17.27m (56-8)? Turns out she was, as Cady seemed to press too much and ended up with a best of 16.59 (54-5¼) – more than two feet behind Pagel, who once again finished with four of the five best throws on the day.
Cady got a measure of revenge by winning the discus the next day, where Pagel was fourth.
Later in the month Pagel and Cady would both make the 1984 U.S. Olympic team in the shot put, and as post-collegians each would eventually have a long reign as American record holder in different events – Cady in the discus at 66.10m (216-10) in 1986 that lasted 20 years, Pagel in shot at 20.18m (66-2½) that lasted almost 25 years.
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.