Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History

Fans saw double – at least in the uniforms – during the women’s long jump at the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The Horned Frogs from TCU became the first in the event’s meet history to post back-to-back winners with two different athletes.

Amazingly, neither one entered as the favorite.

In 2012, Whitney Gipson hadn’t surpassed 22-feet since her equaling the indoor collegiate record of 6.91m (22-8) to win the NCAA DI meet in March. Tori Bowie of Southern Miss was the defending NCAA DI outdoor champ and led the entrants with a best of 6.78m (22-3).

Gipson, who had spent most of the spring in what she termed “basic training,” took the lead in Round 1 at 6.50m (21-4), then followed with a wind-aided 6.82m (22-4½) leap that gave her what turned out to be an insurmountable lead at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

One round later, Gipson added a wind-legal jump of 6.80m (22-3¾), an outdoor PR, to provide the only 22-footers of the meet.

Lorraine Ugen had an even wilder scenario in 2013 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. She hadn’t jumped more than 21-feet all year, mostly due to an injury that caused her to use her left foot instead of her preferred right foot.

After two rounds, Ugen’s best of 5.60m (18-4½) wasn’t going to garner any additional attempts, so she took a gamble in Round 3 and used her right foot. The result was a PR 6.77m (22-2½) to take the lead with a mark that no one could match.

“This season didn’t go great due to a lot of injuries,” said an elated Ugen. “But I was able to pull one out today.”

posted: May 7, 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
Wykoff Wins Stacked NCAA 100 Final
June 7, 1930

Frank Wykoff won a stacked 100-yard final at the 1930 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that featured six current or former world record holders.

Liquori Is Mr. Sub-4 At NCAAs

Marty Liquori won three consecutive mile titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, all in sub-4 times.

The 800 Is A Clark Family Affair

The 800 was a family affair for the Clark family, as Hazel Clark and Joetta Clark were the first sisters to win individual titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Richardson Sprints To Record Day In 2019
June 8, 2019

Sha’Carri Richardson of LSU broke the collegiate record in the 100 meters with her time of 10.75 at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, among other feats.