The NCAA outdoor track and field postseason brings more intensity and faster finishes as titles are on the line. Could that also lead to collegiate records falling? I think so. Here are my outdoor track and field records that you should have on your radar to fall.
Of note: Any record that has already been broken during the outdoor season is not listed below. The decathlon is also not listed since Leo Neugebauer set the record last season.
Likelihood index: Alert ready 🚨
Event: Women's 100 meters
Record — 10.75 seconds by Sha'Carri Richardson (LSU, 2019)
Top Candidates: Jacious Sears (Tennessee), Brianna Lyston (LSU)
Jacious Sears was just .02 seconds away from tying the collegiate 100 meter record when she ran 10.77 seconds. Brianna Lyston has a personal-all-conditions-best of 10.84 seconds (+2.2). If these two are in the same race — looking at you, SEC Championships — the two sprinters may push each other to a record-breaking win.
Record: Women's 800 meters
Record — 1:57.73 by Athing Mu (Texas A&M, 2021)
Top Candidates: Michaela Rose (LSU), Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson), Juliette Whittaker (Stanford)
Michaela Rose has run the second-fastest 800-meter time all-time in 1:58.37 and by most accounts is chasing the collegiate record in the event. Gladys Chepngetich is only a freshman and has already run 2:00.53. Meanwhile, Juliette Whittaker has run sub-two minute indoors this year.
ELITE: Ranking the top 20 men's and women's outdoor track and field athletes
Event: Women's 3000 meter steeplechase
Record — 9:16.00 by Courtney Wayment (BYU, 2022)
Top Candidates: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)
Doris Lemngole is only a freshman and she's already run 9:22.31 in the steeplechase, the second-fastest time ever. With a championship pace on the early laps, this record could fall.
RECORDS: Every collegiate track and field record broken in 2024
Event: Women's 5000 meters
Record — 15:03.12 by Katelyn Tuohy (NC State, 2023)
Top Candidates: Hilda Olemomoi (Alabama), Maddy Elmore (Oregon), Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon), Parker Valby (Florida)
Hilda Olemomoi is the top candidate to break Katelyn Tuohy's 5K record as the Alabama distance runner sits just three seconds off the record at 15:06.42. Also, keep an eye on Oregon's duo of Maddy Elmore and Silan Ayyildiz, who rank 10th and 11th all-time in the event. Lastly, you never know if Parker Valby will decide to run in this event; if she does, the indoor record-holder may have a new accolade.
FRANKLIN FIELD: Recapping the 2024 Penn Relays
Event: Women's high jump
Record — 1.99 meters by Bridget Barrett (Arizona, 2013)
Top Candidates: Lamara Distin (Texas A&M), Rachel Glenn (Arkansas), Elena Kulichenko (Georgia)
Lamara Distin and Rachel Glenn both cleared 2.00 meters during the indoor season. Elena Kulichenko hasn't cleared 1.93 meters in her career yet, but she's only one personal-best mark away from attempting the height. Yes, there are added elements outdoors, but this record is the most likely record to fall on the women's side.
OUTDOOR CHAMPS: Schedule, location, TV channels, history for the 2024 NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Event: Women's long jump
Record — 7.14 meters by Tara Davis-Woodhall (Texas, 2021)
Top Candidates: Ackelia Smith (Texas)
Ackelia Smith jumped 7.10 meters in her first meet of the 2024 season — after an injury indoors. If she's jumping like that already, the long jump record may not be safe for long.
AWARDS: The 2024 Bowerman Watch List for men's and women's NCAA track and field
Event: Men's 1500 meters
Record — 3:33.74 by Eliud Kipsang (Alabama, 2022)
Top Candidates: Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona), Nathan Green (Washington)
Colin Sahlman ran 3:33.96 and Nathan Green ran 3:34.79 the last time they raced head-to-head. With an NCAA title on the line, both would probably approach the race recognizing that a collegiate record will likely be needed to win. This record is the most likely men's record to fall.
HALFWAY: Midseason superlatives for NCAA men's and women's outdoor track and field
Likelihood index: Wouldn't be surprised 🔮
Event: Women's 100 hurdles
Record — 12.36 seconds by Masai Russell (Kentucky, 2023)
Top Candidates: Grace Stark (Florida), Alia Armstrong (LSU), Leah Phillips (LSU), Rayniah Jones (UCF)
Grace Stark has already run 12.56 in her comeback season and Alia Armstrong has run 12.40 in her career. Meanwhile, Leah Phillips and Rayniah Jones get better with each race and always contend in a championship final. As long as the wind stays not windy, I wouldn't be surprised if the 100 hurdles record falls for the second straight year.
Event: Women's 400 meters
Record — 49.13 seconds by Britton Wilson (Arkansas, 2023)
Top Candidates: Kaylyn Brown (Arkansas), Amber Anning (Arkansas)
Britton Wilson's collegiate record may fall from another sprinter from her former institution. In 2024 the Razorbacks have a litany of 400 runners yet again, but Kaylyn Brown and Amber Anning look like the top record-breaking contenders. Brown ran sub-50 out of lane 9 at 19 years old and Anning won the indoor title this year.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: These are the top freshmen in women's outdoor track and field halfway through 2024
Event: Men's 800 meters
Record — 1:43.25 by Michael Saruni (UTEP, 2018)
Top Candidates: Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M), Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)
Sam Whitmarsh ran the seventh-fastest 800 meters in 1:44.46, and while Colin Sahlman hasn't touched 1:44 in his career yet, these two runners going head-to-head could still break the record. If the pace for the first 400 meters goes right, Whitmarsh or Sahlman could dip below the all-time mark.
Event: Men's 5000 meters
Record — 13:06.32 by Abdihamid Nur (Northern Arizona, 2022)
Top Candidates: Brian Musau (Oklahoma State), Habtom Samuel (New Mexico), Nico Young (Northern Arizona)
Brian Musau and Habtom Samuel had an epic battle where they ran the sixth and seventh-fastest times this season. Both runners are only freshmen, so the sky's the limit for them. Meanwhile, Nico Young set the collegiate record indoors, and he's capable of doing the same outdoors if he chooses to run the event.
FRESHMAN PHENOM: Top freshmen halfway through 2024 men's outdoor track and field season
Likelihood index: Heard it here first 🌶️
Event: Women's pole vault
Record — 4.73 meters by Olivia Gruver (Washington, 2019)
Top Candidates: Hana Moll (Washington)
Washington may have a new all-time pole vault leader by the time this season is over. Hana Moll is only a freshman, but she's already cleared 4.60 meters in the outdoor season and 4.64 meters in the indoor season. At Mt. SAC relays, she tried and failed to clear 4.73 meters in three attempts. That failure may be just what she needs to figure out how to set the record.
LONESTAR: Recapping the 2024 Texas Relays
Event: Men's 4x400 meter relay
Record — 2:57.74 by Florida
Top Candidates: Alabama, Florida
I know no relay has broken three minutes through April this season, and I know that's later than the first sub-three minute relay time was posted in 2022 and 2023 when the record fell. However, I think Alabama has a shot to break the 4x4 collegiate record.
The Tide ran the fastest 4x4 time this year in 3:00.77 with Hasani Barr, Samuel Ogazi, Khaleb McRae and Chris Robinson. The latter two on that relay were a part of Alabama's 2:58.01 4x4 last year, the fourth-fastest in collegiate history. Tarsis Orogot also ran on that 4x4 in 2023, and the 200-meter specialist has the speed that could be what Alabama needs to break the record this year. If Orogot joins, Ogazi or Barr would have to come off, and the level of competition created could push this relay group over the top.
Of course, I can't count out Florida to break the record either, especially since the Gators, under coach Mike Holloway, set the record in each of the last two seasons.
GAINESVILLE: Recapping the 2024 Florida Relays
Event: Men's Long jump
Record — 8.74 meters by Erick Walder (Arkansas, 1994)
Top Candidates: Wayne Pinnock (Arkansas)
Wayne Pinnock long jumped 8.44 meters at his season opener in 2024. That's a long way from the collegiate record, but I think the former NCAA champion will get there before his career is done. This may be that year.
MONTH IN REVIEW: Recapping the top outdoor track and field moments of March
Event: Men's 400 hurdles
Record — 47.02 by Rai Benjamin (Southern California, 2018)
Top Candidates: Chris Robinson (Alabama)
Chris Robinson's PR in the 400 hurdles is 47.95 seconds, ran on April 13, 2024. To say Robinson will break the collegiate record is to say Robinson will cut nearly a second off his time in a month and a half. I think it's possible.
Robinson's 47.95 in April is faster than Rai Benjamin's 47.98 personal-best time he had before he broke the record. Benjamin ran his time in late May. Robinson is already faster than Benjamin was at the same point in Benjamin's record-setting season, so there is a chance for the Alabama hurdler if he progresses on the same path.
: Arkansas, Texas Tech win 2024 indoor titles | Florida, Texas win 2023 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
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