Texas’ Turner Soared To Triple Jump Greatness

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Texas’ Turner Soared To Triple Jump Greatness

Terri Turner of Texas was a prime part of the early progress of the women’s triple jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

When the NCAA instituted the event for the 1984 meet in Eugene, Oregon, Turner was a logical favorite: Turner had set two world bests while winning three Texas UIL state titles while at New Caney High School (near Houston).

Turner didn’t disappoint, winning the inaugural NCAA title by nearly 3 feet with a wind-aided mark of 13.52m (44-4¼). Earlier that season she set the collegiate record (and world best) of 13.21m (43-4¼).

At the 1985 NCAA meet on her home turf in Austin, Turner was one of three 43-foot jumpers and finished third, just ahead of Southern California’s Wendy Brown, who had improved Turner’s CR/world best to 13.58m (44-6¾) in the qualifying round.

The 1986 NCAA championships at Indianapolis showed even more improvement. No one had jumped over 44-feet outdoors coming into the meet, but four did so in qualifying, led by Florida State’s Esmeralda Garcia at 13.68m (44-10¾), a new CR/world best, and Turner’s American record of 13.66m (44-9¾).

In the final, Turner led from the start and won, matching her AR of 44-9¾. Her win was critical for the Longhorns, providing the clinching points as Texas won its first team title in meet history. Turner also ran the second leg on UT’s third-place 4 x 100-meter relay team.

posted: February 1, 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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!