MAY 24, 2003 - NCAA Doublers

[Merner521]

On this day in 2003, two future World Championship silver medalists each won their first NCAA individual outdoor titles. Even more impressive, both athletes completed a double that day, winning two titles a piece. Can you name the athletes?

Edit: chanced title from March to May due to silly typo!

[Bruce Kritzler]

Daniel Lincoln and Sanya Richards Ross ?

[Merner521]

Daniel Lincoln and Sanya Richards Ross ?

Thanks for the guess. looks like both did win two titles in 2003, though Lincoln already had some outdoor titles, and D1 Champs occurred in June.

Yes, I made a trick question here. the two men who won these championships 20 years ago this week were D3 runners.

[gh]

the earliest day of any Div. I comp is May 27.

[Bruce Kritzler]

Nick Symonds ? And another male d3 silver medalist?

[Merner521]

Nick Symonds ? And another male d3 silver medalist?

Bingo! I was at the meet as an athlete, and seeing Symmonds kick down two of the best D3 athletes of the past could of years in his respective events made me a fan of his. It was very cool to see him go on to the success he later had in the sport. Symmonds won the 1500 over Ryan Bak and the 800 over Matt Groose.

The other athlete had already won a couple of indoor titles in the 400, but really separated himself from the d3 field in this outdoor meet, winning by over a second (in a still-standing meet record) over the 2002 champion. He didn't have the lengthy elite career that Symmonds enjoyed, but Andrew Rock did come away with a relay gold medal at the Athens Olympics, and took silver in Helsinki '05 behind Jeremy Wariner. At the 2003 D3 outdoor meet, he won both the 400 and 200.

Today, Symmonds and Rock still hold the all-time D3 records in the 800 and 400, respectively, with the 800 being set in 2006 and 400 in 2004. Both of these times are more than a second clear of the Forum time for the event.

The 2003 meet was held in Canton, NY at St. Lawrence University. Today is day 2 of the 2023 meet, which is being held in Rochester, NY, the third time the championship has been held in New York state, which is notable because the meet takes place in the midwest about 90% of the time.

[Bruce Kritzler]

And Wisconsin LaCrosse won the 4x400 without Rock !

[Merner521]

And Wisconsin LaCrosse won the 4x400 without Rock !

Yes! Didn’t need Rock or Toshner to win the 4x400.

the lacrosse teams of 03 and 04 were incredible.