Richardson sets collegiate and World U-20 records with 10.75 win in 100-meter dash, along with second in 200 in 22.17; Johnson edges Hull in memorable 1,500, Ostrander wins third straight in 3,000 steeplechase and Jones capture 5,000 crown with courageous effort

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

AUSTIN – Sha’Carri Richardson enjoyed a historic homecoming.

Dani Jones delivered the most inspiring run of her career.

Sinclaire Johnson and Jessica Hull matched up in the most memorable 1,500-meter final in collegiate history.

And Allie Ostrander produced another amazing achievement in the 3,000 steeplechase, all part of an exceptional, emotional and exciting final day of competition Saturday in front of 10,163 at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

The women’s team battle will long be remembered for the dramatic conclusion in the 4x400 relay that resulted in Arkansas outlasting USC for its first title since 2016, but the highlights in the individual finals were many, perhaps none more explosive than Richardson, the LSU freshman who made a giant impact in her return to Mike A. Myers Stadium following a successful prep career at Dallas Carter High.

Richardson set collegiate and World U-20 records in the 100-meter dash by clocking a wind-legal 10.75 seconds. It marked the third straight year LSU won the national title, following Aleia Hobbs last season and Mikiah Brisco in 2017.

Richardson also eclipsed the collegiate record of 10.78 held by former Tigers’ standout Dawn Sowell since 1989, in addition to equaling the No. 5 performer in American history and matching the No. 9 all-time athlete in the world.

“I just wanted to continue the legacy, so I’m happy I was able to do something for my team,” said Richardson, who also broke the World U-20 record of 10.88 held since 1977 by Marlies Gohr of East Germany.

“It was really motivation to just come in and execute the race for everyone who supports me, everyone who’s against me, it was all just motivation to execute my best in the 100.”

Richardson returned to place second in the 200 in 22.17, being edged at the finish by two-time champion Angie Annelus of USC, who ran 22.16.

Richardson elevated to No. 2 in World U-20 history and the No. 5 all-time collegiate performer. Her mark is the fastest low-altitude performance by a World U-20 sprinter, ahead of the 22.18 by Allyson Felix in Greece in 2004.

Felix still boasts the fastest mark in World U-20 history at 22.11 from 2003 in Mexico City.

Richardson became the first female athlete in history to run sub-10.8 and sub-22.2 in the same day, with only former Jamaican star Merlene Ottey, American Marion Jones and Russian Irina Privalova ever producing a faster single-day combined 100 and 200 double than the 19-year-old talent.

“Having to run those two races so close to each other, my mindset was just run one, whatever happens in that, I have to put it behind me, and then I have to refocus in order to put forth the best race possible (in the 200),” said Richardson, who also anchored LSU to second place in the 4x100-meter relay in 42.29 seconds.

“Knowing that (Dawn) set the record and having to run at the same school as her, it basically made me feel like I had an obligation to keep carrying that legacy wearing this uniform, so it gives me great pride to be able to know that I was able to achieve something just as well as her wearing the same name.”

Jones just wasn’t running for Colorado in the 5,000 final, but for a much more personal and deeper purpose. It was Jones’ first race following the May 28 death of her father Darcy at age 48.

The reigning NCAA cross country champion relied on the same closing speed as she did in November in Madison, Wis., to surge past Arkansas junior Taylor Werner in the final stretch and prevail by a 15:50.65 to 15:51.24 margin.

“I knew I just had to stay calm. There were so many impressive girls out there. Taylor put up a really good fight. I just really tried to enjoy it like I did in cross (country),” said Jones, who now has NCAA individual titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in her career.

“It was a really similar finish, really last minute, but I looked up at the screen and got to celebrate at the end. You’ve got to enjoy those moments because they don’t happen very often.”

Jones was sidelined during indoor season because of injury and Saturday’s final was only her fourth race of the outdoor season, combined with overcoming the loss of her father, made the championship performance even more impressive.

“The past six months have been really hard for me, but I just have wonderful coaches, friends back at home and family. It’s because of them, the staff and CU and the grace of God that I’m here,” Jones said. “It’s been an emotional few weeks, but I have had wonderful support from Boulder and back home (in Arizona) and we have never felt so much love from the community and close friends.”

The conclusion of the 1,500 was perhaps even more thrilling than the 5,000, with the races producing two of the top three performances in Division 1 history.

Johnson, a Oklahoma State junior who was 24th last season, sprinted ahead of Hull in the final 50 meters to emerge victorious in 4:05.98. Hull, an Oregon redshirt junior and last year’s champion, also ran a personal-best 4:06.27, as both athletes achieved the IAAF World Championships standard.

“Last year was heartbreaking. I was in the stands watching this very race, and to come back and win it, I really don’t know what to say. I’m so shocked,” said Johnson, who trails only former Colorado star Jenny Simpson (3:59.90 in 2009) on the all-time collegiate list.

“I knew I could, but in the fashion I did it, I mean Jessica Hull is an awesome competitor, she hasn’t lost a race, she has two or three national titles to her name. To beat her and to run what I did today, honestly, I’m at a loss for words. I really can’t believe it.”

Despite facing the deepest steeplechase field in history, Ostrander pulled away in the final two laps and ran a personal-best 9:37.73 to become the first female athlete in Division 1 history to win three in a row.

“It’s so special. It’s never been done before, and I feel like most of the stuff I’ve done in the NCAA is stuff that other people have done, and I’m just replicating it, but this one is all mine, and that feels really special,” said the Boise State junior, who joined Simpson by winning three overall steeplechase titles.

“This one definitely feels special. Coming out of regionals, it was the fastest West Regional ever. In prelims (Thursday), I felt like it was probably the fastest ever. There are so many competitive ladies this year, and I also had the added pressure of two past titles, so to be able to be able to pull this one off was something really special.”

New Mexico junior Charlotte Prouse placed runner-up for the second year in a row in a personal-best 9:44.50, with Wofford sophomore Hannah Steelman finishing third, also in a personal-best 9:46.08. Steelman was the only female athlete to earn All-America first-team honors in both the 3,000 steeplechase and 5,000, placing eighth in the latter in 16:14.58.

Texas A&M senior Jazmine Fray won the 800 crown in 2:01.31, then returned to help the Aggies capture the 4x400 relay championship in 3:25.57, teaming with Syaira Richardson, Tierra Robinson-Jones and Jaevin Reed to secure the program’s first title since 2011.

“It feels amazing. I honestly don’t have the words to explain, I’m just so grateful and so thankful,” said Fray, who followed former teammate Sammy Watson to win the title in consecutive years for the Aggies.

“When I finished, I was almost in awe, because waited for this moment for so long. I’ve dreamt about this, and it’s finally here. I was more determined than ever.”

South Carolina junior Wadeline Jonathas, who helped the Gamecocks place third in the 4x400 relay after capturing the indoor title in March, won the 400 championship in a personal-best 50.60.

“I really wanted to win. I wasn’t able to sleep last night thinking about how I’m going to be able to win this. I’ve played this out a million times in my head, but I wasn’t expecting it to happen like that,” said Jonathas, who won the NCAA Division 3 title last year for UMass-Boston and arrived at South Carolina with a previous-best 52.81.

“I’m just thankful to my coach, and I love everyone who supported me, especially my coaches and family. I don’t know, I just knew I had it in me, and if you want something bad, you have to go out and get it.”

There was a trio of Big 12 talents taking home championships, including Texas senior Ashtin Zamzow, who became the Longhorns’ first heptathlon champion with a personal-best 6,222 points, elevating her to the No. 8 performer in Division 1 history.

“It was a dream I couldn’t have thought I would have lived (to win the title on this track),” said Zamzow, who improved from her previous-best 6,148 points March 27-28 at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

“It was just an out-of-this-world feeling and experience, everything. It was perfect. Ending my last season here, I just can’t explain it.”

Texas Tech senior Zarriea Willis survived a jumpoff with North Carolina’s Nicole Greene, the 2018 indoor champion, to sweep both indoor and outdoor titles this year.

After both athletes were clean through 6-1.50 (1.87m), they each missed three attempts at 6-2.75 (1.90m). Following one additional miss at 6-2.75 during the elimination phase, Willis cleared 6-2 (1.88m) in the next round and Greene missed, allowing the Red Raiders’ standout to become the first athlete since Georgia’s Mady Fagan in 2017 to capture both indoor and outdoor crowns.

“I’ve never done a jumpoff. Either I just lose or win. There’s no such thing as a perfect competition, but today was one of those where the better jumper was going to get it or someone with the strongest mentality today was going to get it,” Willis said. “My coach can tell you I’m the least emotional athlete he’s ever had. The most emotion I’ve shown was today.”

Kansas State senior Shardia Lawrence also delivered a dramatic conclusion in the triple jump, following the same script from the night before in the men’s final when Texas Christian’s Chengetayi Mapaya won the title on the final jump.

Lawrence led after three rounds, before Kentucky senior Marie-Josee Ebwea-Excel and Florida senior Yanis David took turns with the advantage in the fifth round. David appeared to be in position to sweep both long jump and triple jump championships with a sixth-round attempt of 45-8.50 (13.93m), before Lawrence came through in the clutch with a personal-best 45-10.75 (13.99m) to cap the competition and secure the first crown for Kansas State in the event.

“I didn’t know for sure, but I knew I had something,” Lawrence said. “I knew I had that one surprise for everybody.

“I love those types of competitions. I was just smiling when I saw them in front of me, because I knew I had something big. It was amazing, and my sister (Shadae), she told me I could win, and I believed, and my family back home in Jamaica told me I could win.”

Iowa junior Laulauga Tausaga elevated to the No. 10 performer in collegiate history in the discus throw with a second-round effort of 207-6 (63.26m) to outlast Florida State junior Shanice Love, who also produced a personal-best 205-8 (62.69m) to ascend to No. 13 all-time in Division 1.

“I prayed for this and it happened, so I’m so happy,” Tausaga said. “I have a lot of Texas family out here, and my mom drove all the way from California, so thank God I actually did something for her. I’m just happy they got to witness what me and my coach have been working toward all year.”