KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018
Six women dipped under the 30-year-old, final-site meet record in the 10,000 meters at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Sharon Lokedi of Kansas led the charge with her 32:09.20 winner, followed by Dorcas Wasike of Louisville at 32:11.81, Karissa Schweizer of Missouri at 32:14.94, Alice Wright of New Mexico at 32:17.92, Charlotte Taylor of San Francisco at 32:17.95 and Anna Rohrer of Notre Dame at 32:26.24. All of them bettered the previous mark of 32:28.57, set by Sylvia Mosqueda of Cal State Los Angeles back in 1988, also at Hayward Field.
It should be mentioned that Mosqueda’s overall championships record had fallen two weeks earlier at the West Preliminary Round, when Schweizer sizzled 25 laps in 32:14.36. Schweizer, who closed that race in 67.48, was one of five athletes under Mosqueda’s standard (Wright, Taylor, Lokedi and Jaci Smith of Air Force were the others).
Lokedi got the last laugh, an NCAA title and the meet record not long after.
Through 9200 meters in Eugene, Oregon, Lokedi was locked in a duel with Schweizer and Taylor. All three were within one second of the lead after Schweizer went through that split first in 29:45.95, following the fastest lap of the afternoon at 74.80.
It only got faster from there – at least for Lokedi.
The Kansas star continued to push the pace, as she clocked a 74.17 penultimate lap and closed in 68.66 to put her name on top of the all-time chart in meet history.
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.
Two Laps To Glory For Everett
Mark Everett set a meet record of 1:44.70 in the 800 Meters at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Brooks Made NCAA Shot Put History
Tia Brooks won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and broke the collegiate indoor record in the event in 2013.
Scott One-Upped Himself In 1978
Steve Scott of UC Irvine won the 1500-meter title at the 1978 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, one year after finishing runner-up at the same meet as an NCAA Division II athlete.
Sheffield Won An Incredible 400H Final
LaTanya Sheffield of San Diego State won the 400 Hurdles at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with an American record and collegiate record of 54.64.
Bjorklund Led Calvary Under 6-Mile MR In 1971
For someone who never raced longer than 2 miles in high school, Garry Bjorklund took an immediate liking to even longer distances when he arrived at Minnesota.
Okagbare Mined For History In 2010
Blessing Okagbare is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win both the 100 Meters and long jump!
Kiss The Competition Goodbye
Balazs Kiss won four consecutive hammer throw title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and still holds the collegiate record in the event!
LSU’s Duncan Roared To 200 History
Kimberlyn Duncan was the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win three consecutive 200-meter titles, doing so between 2011 and 2013.
Brookins Hurdled To All-Time Marks
Charles Brookins won back-to-back 220H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and clocked an all-time world best mark in 1923!
Flo Knows Winning Triple Jump Titles
Edrick Floréal won three consecutive triple jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 1988 and 1990.