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.
Ritchie Doubles Down In The Throws
Meg Ritchie of Arizona became the first woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win any two events in 1982.
Three-For-Three: Woodruff Made It Look Easy
John Woodruff of Pittsburgh won three consecutive 800/880 titles at the NCAA Track & Field Championships from 1937 to 1939.
The Tie Goes To The Runner(s)
Bill Straub of Army and Jim Murphy of Air Force TIED for the 5000-meter title at the 1964 NCAA Track & Field Championships!
Ottey’s Audacious Quadruple In 1983
Merlene Ottey of Nebraska sought to win NCAA titles in the 100, 200, 400 and 4×100 relay in 1983.
He’s Great: LSU’s Davis Soars To History
Walter Davis, who turns 41 today, scored 22¼ points at the 2002 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship to lead LSU to the national team title.
Scott Neilson Is NCAA T&F’s Mr. Canada
Scott Neilson of Washington won four consecutive hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 1976 and 1979.
A Crowning Moment For Rogers In 2017
Back in 2017, Raevyn Rogers of Oregon dazzled at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a victory in the 800 and a sizzling anchor on the winning 4×400 relay.
Robinson Brothers Make NCAA T&F History
Can you name the first set of siblings to win NCAA Track & Field titles? We’ll give you a hint: Their last name is Robinson.
UTEP’s Nyambui Goes 7-For-7 Outdoors
Suleiman Nyambui of UTEP never lost a race at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He went a perfect 7-for-7 over four years.
Oxy’s Gutowski Vaults To Record Heights
Bob Gutowski of Occidental won the pole vault at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a clearance of 4.82m (15-9¾), a mark that surpassed the world record but was never ratified.