Hughes Soared To Three Consecutive HJ Titles

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Hughes Soared To Three Consecutive HJ Titles

Tanya Hughes didn’t have the best mark entering the high jump field at the 1991 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

That never mattered to the Arizona freshman, who faced the same situation at the NCAA Indoor Championships earlier in the year and came out as the winner with a PR 1.88m (6-2).

The higher jumper coming in was the same both times – Tisha Waller of North Carolina – and the two were the only ones remaining as the bar was raised to 1.91m (6-3¼).

Waller, already in the lead, applied more pressure by clearing on her first attempt, while Hughes followed with a second-attempt make and a new PR.

The next height – 1.94m (6-4¼) – was not just PR territory for both, but also equal to both the meet record and the outdoor collegiate record.

Hughes cleared on her second attempt to add her name to the all-time chart and take the lead. After Waller missed three times, Hughes won the event as its first freshman in meet history.

Amazingly, Hughes’ mark only equaled the Arizona school record. Katrena Johnson set the NCAA meet mark in 1985 and that collegiate record was matched in 1990 by another Wildcat, Julieann Broughton.

Hughes cleared the records logjam in 1992, winning the Pac-10 meet at 1.97m (6-5½) that also bettered the “all-dates” collegiate outdoor best of 1.96m (6-5) set in 1985 by yet another Wildcat, Maryse Ewanje-Epee. (We’ll feature Johnson and Ewanje-Epee in a future moment involving an historical finish of Arizona high jumpers.)

Seeing Hughes top the podium was a familiar sight over the next few years as she won the NCAA title again in 1992 and 1993, becoming the meet’s first three-time winner in the event. Only one other woman in meet history won three consecutive high jump titles: Brigetta Barrett of – you guessed it – Arizona.

posted: January 25, 2021
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).