Anchor Down: Tolbert Set 400H CR In 1997
There have been a few thousand national champions crowned over the near century-long span of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and a few dozen have set a collegiate record en route to an individual event title. But, how many of those performances led to an invitation to meet with a sitting Vice President of the United States?
Vanderbilt’s Ryan Tolbert earned that experience of a lifetime in 1997. Running the 400-meter hurdles in a collegiate record 54.54 for the NCAA title, Tolbert captured the first national crown (individual or team) in the history of Vanderbilt University.
Head coach Paul Arceneaux remarked, “Ryan was charging the whole way. Usually she just runs fast enough to win, but today she left no doubt. With three hurdles to go, you knew she was going to win. It’s a great feeling to know that she is the first Vanderbilt athlete to win an NCAA Championship.”
It was such a special occasion that Tolbert garnered the attention of then-Vice President of the United States Al Gore. He and his wife, Tipper, were going to visit the Chancellor of Vanderbilt, Joe B. Wyatt, in the next few days and asked if Tolbert could join them for dinner.
Originally from Clovis, New Mexico, Tolbert started her career as a heptathlete, but a fussy hamstring injury sidelined the all-around speciality. Her focus on the long-distance hurdles proved to be a good fit.
To wit: Tolbert also finished third in the 400 meters that year. To this date, she is only the third woman in meet history to win the 400H and earn a place in the non-hurdled one-lapper (Iowa State’s Nawal El Moutawakel was first in 1984; South Carolina’s Lashinda Demus followed in 2002).
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.
Guthrie-Gresham Generates Greatness
Diane Guthrie-Gresham of George Mason broke the collegiate record in the heptathlon with 6527 points at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Conway Raises The Bar In 1989
Hollis Conway of Southwestern Louisiana set the American record and collegiate record in the high jump at the 1989 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Conley Soars; Razorbacks Complete Triple Crown
Mike Conley scored 28¾ points to lead Arkansas to its first outdoor team title, which completed the vaunted “Triple Crown,” as the program also captured the cross country and indoor titles already in the academic year.
Wisconsin’s Favor Goes Into The Record Book … Again
Suzy Favor of Wisconsin became the first woman in NCAA Division I track & field history to not only win four consecutive 1500-meter crowns, but complete the 800-1500 double at the NCAA meet.
Angela Williams Stands Tall In History
Angela Williams of Southern California was the first athlete (man or woman) to win four consecutive 100-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Carlos’ Triple Leads “Speed City” Spartans
John Carlos of San Jose State became the first athlete to complete the sprint triple at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with victories in the 100, 200 (220) and 4×100 (440-yard) relay.
Jesse Owens Completes The Quadruple-Double
ON THIS DAY: Jesse Owens completed the quadruple-double, winning four NCAA titles in two consecutive years.
“Bullet Bob” Hayes Wins Lone Shot At NCAAs
Bob Hayes of Florida A&M won his first – and only – NCAA title 56 years ago when he won the 200 meters in a wind-aided 20.4.
Southern’s Milburn Clears All Hurdles In His Way
Rodney Milburn of Southern capped a legendary collegiate career 47 years ago when he won the 120-yard high hurdles title at the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a meet-record time of 13.1.
Sua’s Sweep Cements Unprecedented Legacy
Seilala Sua of UCLA became the most decorated individual female champion in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships 20 years ago.