O’Sullivan Went Back-To-Back In 3K

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

O’Sullivan Went Back-To-Back In 3K

Sonia O’Sullivan’s win in the 3000 meters at the 1991 NCAA Division Outdoor Track & Field Championships had all the makings of a coronation.

“At one point I lost concentration because all the people were whistling and cheering,” the Villanova senior commented afterward.

It’s possible the crowd at Hayward Field in Eugene recognized the royalty in domination-mode as the front-running O’Sullivan became the first woman to earn the “Triple Crown” in NCAA Division I – winning cross country, indoor and outdoor titles in the same academic year.

The popular Irish star won for the NCAA Outdoor 3k in 1991 for the second-straight year and her time of 8:56.74 had been bettered by only two runners – then and throughout the event’s history ending in 2000 – herself in 1990 (8:56.27) and another Villanova great, Vicki Huber (8:47.35 in 1988).

O’Sullivan’s best collegiate performance – at least on a time basis – came earlier in the year when she was simply trying to get a qualifying mark in the indoor 5000 meters. As it turned out O’Sullivan was in much better shape than that, cruising an indoor world record of 15:17.28, a time that lasted as the absolute (outdoor and indoor combined) best by a collegian for 13 years.

Later in the summer O’Sullivan proved impressive in the 1500 as well, clocking an “all-dates” collegiate best of 4:05.81 that lasted as the fastest for 14 years. O’Sullivan had one season of cross country remaining and in the fall became the first woman to win back-to-back NCAA Division I titles.

As a post-collegian O’Sullivan won the 1995 World Championships 5000 and in 1998 won two world cross country titles in the same year (the 4K and 8K back when races were held at two distances).

posted: November 28, 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
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
June 12, 2008

Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).

Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
May 31, 1996

Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.

Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
June 9, 2018

Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.