Rice’s Cavanaugh Ruled The NCAA Shot
Regina Cavanaugh of Rice was almost apologetic when she won the shot put title at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
No apologies were necessary as Cavanaugh’s winning ways made history as the first woman in meet history with three victories in any event.
Cavanaugh made her final collegiate competition her most dominant win of all, besting her nearest competitor by 2 feet (0.71m) when five of her six puts would have won.
Still, the pre-med honors graduate – and first female Owl to win an NCAA title in any sport – found room for improvement.
Cavanaugh told Track & Field News she was “a little disappointed. I feel like I should have set a PR or something by winning.”
Even so, her winning mark of 17.34m (56-10¾) gave her collectively the three longest efforts in meet history, topped by a 17.54m (57-6½) heave from a year earlier.
The victory gave Cavanaugh additional history with her career sixth NCAA title in the shot combining indoor and outdoor – a total that has yet to be equaled by any woman in the event in any division.
Cavanaugh’s immense skills led her away from the sport. An eventual Rhodes Scholar candidate, she now uses multiple medical degrees at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas, near to her hometown of Killeen.
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.
Bakewell’s Winding Road To 800 Meter Glory
Karen Bakewell set a meet record of 2:00.85 in the Women’s 800 Meters at the 1986 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Hurdling History For Forrest “Spec” Towns
Forrest “Spec” Towns won back-to-back hurdling titles at the 1936 and 1937 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships as part of a legendary streak.
What A Finish In The 1500 Meters!
Yared Nuguse of Notre Dame beat Justine Kiprotich of Michigan State by 0.003 seconds for the 1500-meter title at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
UCLA’s Griffith Sprinted Into History
Florence Griffith won two career individual titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included a meet record in the 400 Meters.
Ewell Made Quite The (Penn) State-ment
Barney Ewell of Penn State completed the 100-200 double twice at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1940 and 1941.
Unique Discus History For Oerter In 1958
Al Oerter won back-to-back discus titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included the only tie in meet history back in 1958.
Indiana State’s Hyche Swept Sprints In 1993
No athlete – male or female – has won more individual career sprint titles at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships than Holli Hyche of Indiana State!
Dendy’s Double-Double Put Him Among Greats
Marquis Dendy of Florida pulled off the double-double in the long jump & triple jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2014 and 2015.
SMU’s Ezeh Hammered Out Greatness
Florence Ezeh is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win three hammer throw titles in a career.
Gehrmann Starred In The Mile/1500
Don Gehrmann of Wisconsin won three consecutive 1500/mile titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 1948 and 1950!