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.”
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.