Event Dominance Propelled South Carolina’s Run

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Event Dominance Propelled South Carolina’s Run

The brisk winds of change swept through South Carolina’s ranks in 1999.

A new era befell USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Famer Curtis Frye’s program.

Gone were the days where throwers led the Gamecocks to their previous apex (More on them in another #NCAATF x #TheCentury article). Instead, sprinters roosted in Columbia and pushed South Carolina to heights to which it had never seen.

Coincidentally, 1999 also marked the triumphant arrival of twin sisters Me’Lisa (Lisa) and Mikele (Miki) Barber – who celebrate their 40th birthdays today – as well as Demetria Washington.

After a freshman year where the trio got their feet wet to varying success at the 1999 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Miki Barber and Washington finished 2-7 in the 400; Lisa Barber, Miki Barber and Washington helped South Carolina finish fifth in the 4×100 relay), they hit their stride as sophomores.

Business picked up at the 2000 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the trio combined for 35 of the Gamecocks’ 41 points. Miki Barber starred with a victory in the 200 (Lisa Barber and Washington were third and sixth, respectively), a runner-up finish in the 400 (Washington was seventh) and a sizzling anchor leg on the runner-up 4×400 relay team (Lisa Barber led off; Washington toted the baton second). 

The trio rode that wave of success outdoors as Miki Barber crested the 400-meter podium with Washington standing right beside her as runner-up (It was – and, still is – only the second time in meet history that one program went 1-2 in that event). Lisa Barber played a major role on South Carolina’s relay teams that year as the 4×400 squad won the national title (Lisa Barber led off; Washington second; Miki Barber anchored) and the 4×100 team placed third (The Barber twins had the exact same roles; Washington wasn’t on the squad).

Fast forward to the 2001 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and that’s where you’ll find all three women on the podium after both the 200 and 400. Washington took fifth in the former and posted consecutive runner-up finishes in the latter. Miki Barber ended up sixth and fourth, while Lisa Barber took sixth and eighth, respectively. They also comprised three-fourths of the third-place 4×100 relay team from that year.

Then, in 2002, everything came together for South Carolina at Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Gamecocks had multiple scorers in the 200 (Lisa Barber was fifth), 400 (Lisa Barber was second; Washington was fourth) and the 400 hurdles (Lashinda Demus set a world U20 record in the process). South Carolina also swept the relays with Lisa Barber and Washington toting the baton on the 4×100 and then Washington lending a hand to the 4×400 squad that broke the collegiate record and meet record at 3:26.46.

posted: October 4, 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
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win

Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!

Little Made Big 400H History
June 11, 2016

Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.

Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939

Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.

McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs

Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.

Walton Started It All In The 800

Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.

Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History

Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).