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.
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.
Sternberg Reached New Heights In 1963
Brian Sternberg won the pole vault title at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He was the first athlete to clear 16 feet in meet history at 4.97m (16-3¾).
Williams Went Back-To-Back With CR In 1996
Tonya Williams won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1995 & 1996. She set a CR of 54.56 in 1996 & won by 0.35 seconds.
Kimobwa Ran Into Record Book In 1977
Samson Kimobwa set a MR in the 10K of 28:10.27 at the 1977 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He won by 12.21 seconds in a race that saw the top-2 finishers under previous meet record.
Florida’s Taylor Set All-Conditions TJ Best In 2011
Christian Taylor set an all-conditions meet best in the triple jump of 17.80m (58-4¾) at the 2011 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Taylor also won the TJ crown in 2010.
Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985
Katrena Johnson led a 1-2-3 finish by Arizona athletes in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson cleared 1.94m (6-4¼) to set a collegiate record.
Fresno State’s Robinson Equaled WR In 1957
Ancel Robinson equaled the world record in the 220H of 22.2 at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. He also matched the American record & collegiate record.
Johnson Set 1500 MR After Thrilling Duel
Sinclaire Johnson set a meet record in the 1500 of 4:05.98 at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson won an epic duel against Jessica Hull of Oregon.
Bohni Soared To Pole Vault MR In 1983
Felix Bohni set a meet record in the pole vault of 5.55m (18‑2½) at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Bohni was one of three men to top 18 feet.
Frerichs Broke Steeplechase Records In 2016
Courtney Frerichs set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:24.41 at the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Frerichs won by the second largest margin in meet history.
URI’s Black Rolled To NCAA’s 1st 10K Title
Robert Black won the first 10,000-meter title ever awarded at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1948. Black crossed the finish line in 32:13.5, 48 seconds ahead of the runner-up.