The women’s outdoor track and field record book is full of impressive feats. However, as the sport evolves, once-untouchable records are now in reach.
Here are three women’s outdoor track and field records that could be next to fall.
1. 100 meter dash in the NCAA Championship final
The current record for the 100 meter dash in the NCAA Championship final was set in 2019 by Sha’Carri Richardson, running 10.75 to win the title.
Last year, North Carolina A&T’s Cambrea Sturgis ran a 10.74 in the 100 meter final to win, followed by Southern California’s Twanisha Terry in second with a 10.79. However, neither time counted toward the record books because of a +2.2 wind.
Despite the performances not counting, the times show athletes getting faster, rapidly approaching Richardson’s time.
The 100 meter record should fall sooner, rather than later.
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2. Long jump in the NCAA Championships
The current long jump record at the NCAA Championships is held by LSU’s Sheila Echols. She jumped 6.94 meters in 1987.
Last year, two jumpers, Tara Davis and Tyra Gittens, each surpassed that mark before the championships, jumping 7.14 meters and 6.96 meters, respectively. At the NCAA Championships, Davis and Gittens jumped 6.70 meters and 6.68 meters.
While those marks were far off from the record, the duo’s prior performances demonstrate a capability for athletes to break the long jump record.
NCAA T&F: Here's how the outdoor track and field championships work
3. High jump at the NCAA Championships
The NCAA championships high jump record was set all the way back in 1995, when UCLA’s Amy Acuff jumped 1.96 meters.
In the 2021 championships, South Carolina’s Rachel Glenn neared that mark with her 1.93 meter jump. Glenn’s championship leap surpassed her season best of 1.91 meters.
2021’s third place finisher, Tyra Gittens, had a regular season best of 1.95 meters.
Acuff’s record should be on watch after performances like that from last year. Especially with Glenn back with the Gamecocks for another year.
🏆: Arkansas sweeps 2023 indoor titles | Florida sweeps 2022 outdoor titles | How the outdoor championships work
💥HISTORY: Programs with the most titles | Men's champ history | Women's champ history | Bowerman history
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms | The difference between indoor and outdoor seasons
🥇 Tokyo Olympians: Karel Tiga | JuVaughn Harrison | Cole Hocker | Camryn Rogers | Ruth Usoro | Athing Mu | Tara Davis | Tyra Gittens
