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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.