USC Trojans Track & Field History & Archive

Overview

Men's Track & Field

The USC men’s track and field team had a magical 2025 season, winning both the NCAA indoor and outdoor team titles, becoming only the third program to win both in the same season. The Trojans have won an unprecedented 27 NCAA titles (including 9 straight, 1935-43) in the 100-year history of NCAA outdoor track, plus 3 indoor NCAA titles and 35 conference crowns, including a string of 15 straight (1936-55). They have had 46 unbeaten and untied seasons, including a string of 16 in a row (1946-61). USC’s 27 NCAA titles are more than double the amount of the second-most successful program.

Outstanding coaches include Dean Cromwell (1909-48), who won a record 12 NCAA titles and had a dual meet mark of 109-48-1; Jess Mortensen, who never lost a dual meet (64-0) in 11 years and won 7 NCAA titles; and Vern Wolfe, who retired after the 1984 season with 7 national titles and a dual meet record of 106-17-1 (.859). Jim Bush, who became USC’s head coach in 1991, saw his 1992 Trojans finish third at the NCAAs with only a 6-man team. Ron Allice took over the combined men’s and women’s programs in 1995. He led the men to 14 Top 10 NCAA finishes (including third twice) and 5 conference crowns. Allice retired after the 2013 season and was replaced as Director of Track from 2014 to 2021 by Caryl Smith Gilbert, who led Troy to Top 5 NCAA finishes 4 times. Trojan Olympic great Quincy Watts took over for 2022 and has carried the program’s momentum forward, becoming USC’s only head coach to lead a team to an indoor and outdoor title in the same season. Sixty-five USC tracksters have won 103 places on U.S. Olympic teams, and Trojans have won 31 individual Olympic titles and shared in 13 relay wins. Gold medalists include long jumper Randy Williams, pole vaulter Bob Seagren, sprinter Charles Paddock, hurdler Felix Sanchez and current head coach Quincy Watts who won 400m gold and as part of the USA 4x400m relay team in 1992.

Since 1912, 63 USC trackmen have equaled or bettered world records, and there have been 126 NCAA outdoor individual or relay winners from Troy, including Isaiah Jewett, the first Trojan to win the NCAA 800 meters (in 2021) and JC Stevenson, who won the 2024 NCAA long jump title.

The Trojans also have a long history of successful distance running, including 9 Olympians and NCAA champions Julio Marin and Ole Oleson.

Women's Track & Field

The women’s track program at USC is one of the nation’s finest. The Trojans have placed in the Top 10 of the NCAA Outdoor Championships 23 times, including winning the program’s first-ever NCAA team title in 2001 and doing so again in 2018 and 2021 (USC also was has finished second 4 times and third 4 times).

The women’s track and field heritage begins with former coach Sherry Calvert. A 4-time All-American javelin thrower at USC and 2-time Olympian, Calvert started the program and coached through 1983. In 1995, Ron Allice took over as the combined men’s and women’s coach. Caryl Smith Gilbert succeeded him as Director of Track for the 2014 season through 2021. Quincy Watts took over for 2022 and has kept the women’s program near the top of the pack, placing third indoors and second outdoors.

The Women of Troy have had many successful track and field athletes, including NCAA champions like Patty Van Wolvelaere, Wendy Brown, Yvette Bates, Ashley Selman, Angela Williams (the first male or female at any level to win 4 consecutive NCAA 100 meters), Natasha Danvers, Brigita Langerholc, Inga Stasiulionyte, Natasha Mayers, Virginia Powell, Eva Orban, Nia Ali, Kendall Ellis (whose stunning anchor leg comeback on the 1600-meter relay helped USC to the 2018 NCAA team title), Angie Annelus and Anna Cockrell. In 2023 Jasmine Jones continued the excellence for the women’s team, winning the indoor 60m hurdles title and the outdoor 400m hurdles title, setting the school record in both events. During the 2025 season, sprinters Dajaz DeFrand won the indoor 60m title and Samirah Moody captured the outdoor 100m dash crown.

The Women of Troy compete in cross country in the fall and look to take a jump forward under distinguished distance coach Milton Mallard, who took over the helm of the program in 2024.

2025 Season

2024 Season

2023 Season

2022 Season

2021 Season

2020 Season

2019 Season

2018 Season

2017 Season

2016 Season

2015 Season

2014 Season

2013 Season

2012 Season

2011 Season

2010 Season

2009 Season

2008 Season

2007 Season

2006 Season

2005 Season

2004 Season

2003 Season

2002 Season

University Southern California Trojans