McWilliams Ran Into The 1500 Record Book

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

McWilliams Ran Into The 1500 Record Book

Tiffany McWilliams ran into the record book in 2003.

McWilliams, who starred for Mississippi State, won back-to-back 1500-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2003 and 2004, which included a collegiate record and meet record of 4:06.75 in that first year.

Let’s focus on that 2003 effort in Sacramento, California, where McWilliams lopped nearly two seconds off the meet record previously held by Suzy Favor of Wisconsin at 4:08.25. Favor set the former standard in 1990.

McWilliams, a sophomore who missed a significant amount of time in the fall as she recovered from knee surgery, dueled with defending champion Lena Nilsson of UCLA for most of the race 17 years ago. Nilsson had a strong kick, so McWilliams had to be ready when Nilsson made her move.

“I kept waiting for Lena to come up on me – and when she did, that gave me the kick and motivation to move on,” McWilliams told Gregg Ellis of the Tupelo (Miss.) Daily Journal.

McWilliams surged ahead down the homestretch and crossed the finish line in 4:06.75, three full seconds ahead of Nilsson, who finished runner-up. That also gave Mississippi State its first individual or relay title at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in program history.

“I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet,” McWilliams said. “I’m glad and I’m happy – but I just haven’t had much time to think about it.”

Both of McWilliams’ records lasted until 2008 when Hannah England of Florida State won the NCAA title in 4:06.19. McWilliams remains among the top-10 fastest performers in collegiate history (No. 6) as well as meet history (No. 5).

posted: October 30, 2020
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