Sports Commentary… Jamaican Women’s Performances at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships: A Statistical Review 1969 - 2019

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By Dale Brown

NEW YORK, NY. Tuesday, July 21, 2020 -- The Track and Field Collegiate Championship Meet for Women started in 1969, with the Division for Girls and Women Sports (DGWS) being responsible for the initial staging of the meet and also for the next three editions which followed.

In 1973, The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), took over staging the meet until 1982, when there were two separate Championships contested because the NCAA also staged their own Championships.

After having the two meets in 1982, the NCAA, due to greater financial backing and unprecedented selling of TV rights, gained complete control of the meet in 1983, and immediately introduced the men and women competing together in one championship.

USA Universities and Colleges have offered Track and Field scholarships for over 9 decades to students from all over the world.  The Collegiate Track and Field system is specifically designed to develop athletes aged 18 -22, to compete on the global stage. Jamaican students have benefited greatly from these scholarships by gaining a solid tertiary education while also developing into world class athletes. Considering the high quality of competition available, it is no wonder that Jamaican athletes have thrived in this system.

It is notable that with a few exceptions like Allyson Felix, all the great USA athletes are products of the Collegiate system which is directly responsible for developing the countless magnificent champions they have produced for over 100 years.

The objective of this statistical review is to highlight the performances of the Jamaican women who gained top three finishes in their individual events at the Division 1 championships.

NB. Yards was the standard measurement used up to 1975.  The metric system was introduced in 1976.

 

100m

Five Jamaicans have won the coveted 100m dash (8 total wins)



THREE TIMES THE CHARM.
Merlene Ottey (right) won the NCAA Division
1 sprint title 3 times competing for the
University of Nebraska.

-         contributed

Merlene Ottey (Nebraska), secured victories in 1981, 1982 and 1983. She was also 3rd in 1980.

Lilieth Hodges (Texas Women University), won the event in 1978, 1979 and finished 2nd in 1981.   She defeated future great Evelyn Ashford in 1978.

Juliet Cuthbert (Texas) 1986, Aleen Bailey (South Carolina) 2003 and Remona Burchell (Alabama) 2014, are the other winners.

Second place performers; Dahlia Duhaney (LSU) 1992, Beverley McDonald (TCU) 1993, Kerron Stewart (Auburn) 2006, Simone Facey (Texas A&M) 2008, Natalliah White (Auburn) 2018, Peta -Gaye Dowdie (LSU) 2000 plus two 3rd place finishes in 1997 and 1999.

Rosie Allwood (Florida) 3rd in 1976 and Tracy-Ann Rowe (Auburn) 3rd in 2007, are the other top performers.

200m

Nine women have stood on the top of the podium. (12 total wins)

The great Merlene Ottey (Nebraska) leads the way with three wins in 1980, 1981,1983. She also finished 2nd in 1982.

(Please note Merlene defeated Florence Griffith in 1983).

CUTTING LOOSE.
Juliet Cuthbert (Texas, right),
won the sprint double (100m, 200m), in 1986.

Juliet Cuthbert (Texas), won in 1985 and 1986.

Una Morris (Cal-Poly, Pomona) 1970, Dahlia Duhaney (LSU) 1992,                 Merlene Frazer (Texas) 1994, plus 2nd in 1995, Peta-Gaye Dowdie (LSU) 2000, Aleen Bailey (South Carolina) 2003, plus 2nd in 2002, Kerron Stewart (Auburn) 2007 and 2nd in 2006, Simone Facey (Texas A&M) 2008 and 2nd in 2007.

The following had 2nd place finishes, Beverley McDonald (TCU) 1993, Astia Walker (LSU) 1997 plus 3rd in 1996.

Carol Cummings (Praire View A&M) 1976, and Jackie Pusey (Cal State- LA) 1980, earned solitary 3rd place finishes.

400m

Five women secured titles in the long sprint (6 total wins)

Allison Beckford (Rice), won titles in 2001 and 2002.

Jackie Pusey (Cal State- LA) won in 1981.

Juliet Campbell (Auburn) 1993.

Clora Williams (Texas A&M) 2006.

Chrisann Gordon (Texas) 2017.

Ilrey Oliver (Tennessee) 2nd in 1985 and 1986, Sandie Richards (Texas), 2nd in 1991.

Third place finishes were earned by, Cathy Rattray (Tennessee) 1982,                       Merlene Ottey (Nebraska) 1983, Sharron Powell (Nebraska) 1988, and Nadia Davy (LSU) 2003.

800m

Five women won titles for their schools (6 total wins).

Inez Turner (Texas State), two wins 1994 and 1995.

Sharron Powell (Nebraska) 1988.

Claudine Williams (LSU) 1999.

Natoya Goule (LSU) 2013.

Jazmine Fray (Texas A&M) 2019.

The lone 2nd place finish was by Charmaine Howell (South Carolina) 1998.


100 Hurdles (8 total wins)

The following 5 women won the sprint hurdles title.

Gillian Russell (Miami), three wins in 1993 ,1994, 1995.

Andrea Bruce (Praire View A&M) two wins in 1974, 1975.

Michelle Freeman (Florida) 1992.

Astia Walker (LSU) 1997.

Janeek Brown (Arkansas) 2019.

The following were third place finishers,

 Audrey Reid (Texas Women University) 1973, Bridgette Foster (Texas State) 1998, Melaine Walker (Texas) 2006 and Rushelle Burton (Texas) 2017.


400 Hurdles

Two women won in the intermediate hurdles. (3 total wins)

Debbie Ann Parris (LSU) 1993 and 1994.

Nickiesha Wilson (LSU) 2008, plus a 2nd place in 2007.

Second place finishers were Tanya Jarrett (Texas) 1999 and 2000,

Andrea Bruce (Praire View) 1975, Sandra Farmer (Cal State)1984,

Allison Beckford (Rice) 2001 and Shevon Stoddard (South Carolina) 2005.


Long Jump

An impressive eight women have won this event for 10 wins overall.

Trecia Smith (Pitt) won in 1997 and 1999 with a 2nd place finish in 1998.

Elva Goulbourne (Auburn) won in 2002, 2003.

Andrea Bruce (Praire View) 1974,

Cynthia Henry (UTEP) 1986.

Diane Guthrie (George Mason) 1991 plus 2nd in 1995, and 3rd place in 1992, 1994

Jovanee Jarrett (Auburn) 2006.

Kimberley Williams (Florida State) 2009.

Chanice Porter (Georgia) 2016.

Next on the list are the 2nd place finishers,

Dionne Rose (Florida) 1992, Nolle Graham (Seton Hall) 2000,

Dahlia Duhaney (LSU) 3rd in 1989.

Triple Jump

Seven women triumphed in this event for a total 9 wins

Suzette Lee (LSU) 1996, 1997.

Shanieka Thomas (San Diego State) won in 2013 and 2014 and placed 2nd in 2012.

Trecia Smith (Pitt) won in 1998 and placed 2nd in 1996 ,1999.

Keisha Spencer (LSU) won in 2000 and placed 3rd in 1999.

Shelly Ann Gallimore (Auburn) 2001.

Kimberley Williams (Florida State) won in 2009 and placed 2nd in 2011.

Shardia Lawrence (Kansas State) 2019.

Kareen Clarke (Miami) placed 3rd in 2002.

High Jump

Four women have accounted for six wins

Audrey Reid (Texas Women University) won in 1972,1973 and 1976.

Andrea Bruce (Praire View) won in 1974.

Mazel Thomas (Abilene Christian) 1987.

Kimberly Williamson (Kansas State) 2016.

Heptathlon

Diane Guthrie (George Mason) won in 1994 and 1995 and placed 3rd in 1992

Lisa Wright (George Mason) 2nd place in 1997.

Special Mention

Queen Merlene. Merlene Ottey
is perhaps the most decorated sprinter (Outdoors),
since the inception of the
US Collegiate Championship in 1969. 

Merlene Ottey is perhaps the most decorated sprinter (Outdoors) since the inception of the Championship in 1969.  She won six 100/200 titles plus a 2nd and a 3rd place finish and for good measure, she also collected a bronze in the 400m. She had some stirring duels with Florence Griffith in the early eighties.

Andrea Bruce (Praire View A&M) is one of the most versatile in the history of the 50-year championships. She won the 100 hurdles (twice), the 400 hurdles, the High Jump and the Long jump.

 

Audrey Reid (Texas Women University), is one of three women to win the High Jump on three occasions. She also had a 3rd place finish in the sprint hurdles and was a finalist in the 100y (1973,1974).

Gillian Russell (Miami) won the 100h three consecutive years.

Juliet Cuthbert (Texas) won the sprint double in 1986.

Aleen Bailey ((South Carolina) won the sprint double in 2003.

Summary

Overall, the Jamaican women have done extremely well in the top flight NCAA United States Division 1 College Outdoor Championships and have shown remarkable discipline, resilience and versatility as they showcase their talents on the track while maintaining a high graduation rate.

 

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Editor’s note. Dale Brown is a sports historian and host of SECOND BASE, the all sports program, airing Tuesdays at 7 – 8 pm, on the Wee Radio Network at, www.weeradioonline.com

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