Wisconsin’s Favor Goes Into The Record Book … Again
Can you name the most decorated female individual champion in NCAA Division I Track & Field history, combining the indoor and outdoor seasons? What if we told you that same woman never lost an NCAA final on the track in her illustrious career (She competed in NINE of them!)?
That would be none other than Suzy Favor of Wisconsin.
But we aren’t concerned with those four indoor titles today. Nor are we focused on the three outdoor crowns she captured as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
These particular moments happened 30 years ago when Favor recorded a series of firsts, some of which have yet to be matched in the long history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
When Favor won the 1500 in a collegiate record of 4:08.26, she became the first woman to win an event in this meet four times. Her time broke the meet record of 4:09.85 that she set as a freshman in 1987 – also a CR at the time – making her the first (and still only) woman to set multiple 1500 CRs in this meet.
Just one day earlier, Favor became the first collegiate woman to crack the two-minute barrier in the 800 during the collegiate season with a collegiate record of 1:59.11. Couple that with her victory the following day in the 1500 and she remains the only woman to complete the 800-1500 double in meet history.
Favor left a lasting impact on the collegiate record book. Her collegiate record in the 800 stood for 27 years until 2017 The Bowerman winner Raevyn Rogers bettered it by one-hundredth of a second (1:59.10 versus 1:59.11), while her all-time best in the 1500 spanned 13 years until 2003 when Lena Nilsson of UCLA lowered it to 4:07.69.
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.
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
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.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
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.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
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.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
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.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
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).