The track and running world has come to a screeching halt in an effort to battle the spread of COVID-19. In an effort to fill the void I’m taking a deep dive into my various archives and pulling up what I find in the history of college track and field.

1997, Dallas, TX: SMU’s Marika Tuliniemi put the shot 58-10/17.93 at the Dallas Dr. Pepper Invitational to move to #7 on the all-time women’s collegiate list.

1986, Baton Rouge, LA: LSU’s team of Cheryl Wilson, Carlette Smith, Alicia Bass and Schowonda Williams bettered the world record in the shuttle hurdles at their own Paper-Tiger Invitational. Their time of 56.2 could not gain official recognition, though, since it was hand-timed.

1986, Westwood, CA: UCLA’s Gail Devers won five events in a 102-33 dual meet romp over Stanford. Her efforts were 23.89 (200 meters), 13.24 (100 hurdles), a wind-aided 20-6.5 (long jump), 40-11.5 (triple jump), and a leg on the 4×400 relay.

1980, Palo Alto, CA: Arizona’s Meg Ritchie broke her own collegiate discus record with a throw of 210-11 at the Martin Luther King Freedom Games.
AP wire story

1969, San Jose, CA: 400 meter world record holder and Olympic champion Lee Evans got some overdistance work in an easy 110-34 dual meet victory over Washington. He was second in the 880 yards (1:52.8) and ran an easy 48.1 anchor on the mile relay. Olympic 200 meter silver medalist John Carlos won the 100 and 220 yards in wind-aided times of 9.3 and 20.7.

1958, Victorville, CA: From Track and Field News:
“Rink Babka, University of Southern California senior, may have made the first 200 foot discus throw in track and field history, but no one will ever know for certain.
“Throwing in the first Apple Valley Relays, the 6’5″, 245 pound strong man threw as far to the left of the sector as possible to take advantage of a strong cross wind. This was fine, except that there wasn’t enough room for a tosser of Babka’s ability and his throw sailed clear across the track, across another 8 or 10 feet of land, and then plopped in the middle of a small drainage ditch.”
It was 201 feet to the point of impact but the ditch was significantly lower than the ring and could not be counted as a record.

1952, San Diego, CA: USC’s Sim Iness broke the American and collegiate discus records with a heave of 182-5 in a 115-16 win over San Diego State.