Lawrence Twins Doubled Down On Outdoor Crowns

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Lawrence Twins Doubled Down On Outdoor Crowns

Twins Shadae and Shardia Lawrence both won NCAA outdoor titles.

Wait. It gets better.

Twins Shadae and Shardia Lawrence both won NCAA outdoor titles, while competing for Kansas State.

Wait. It gets better.

Twins Shadae and Shardia Lawrence both won NCAA outdoor titles, while competing for Kansas State in field events: Shadae in the discus; Shardia in the triple jump.

Wait. It gets better.

Twins Shadae and Shardia Lawrence both won NCAA outdoor titles while competing for Kansas State in field events: Shadae in the discus; Shardia in the triple jump – on their final attempts of their respective competitions.

See? We told you.

Shadae topped the podium first with her sixth-round heave of 61.37m (201-4) in 2017. She sat second through five attempts and then swung into the lead over fellow countrywoman and favorite Kellion Knibb of Florida State thanks to a near 11-foot improvement on her mark (Knibb eventually finished third behind Shadae and Maggie Ewen of Arizona State).

Shardia followed suit two years later in 2019 when she won an epic triple jump duel in Austin against Yanis David of Florida and Marie-Josee Ebwea-Excel of Kentucky. Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe Shardia’s performance at Mike A. Myers Stadium, as she hit lifetime marks on each of her last two attempts, but none more important than the 13.99m (45-10¾) clincher that gave her a six-centimeter (2½ inches) victory over David.

Wait. It gets better.

They both turn 25 today.

posted: December 31, 2020
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!