NCAA Track and Field Meet : Herbst Wins Women’s 10,000 in Record Time

Stephanie Herbst of Wisconsin burst into the lead with about 1,500 meters remaining and pulled away to a record-smashing victory Wednesday night in the women’s 10,000-meter final at the weather-plagued NCAA Outdoor track and field championships.

Herbst was timed in 32 minutes 32.75 seconds, erasing the collegiate record of 32:36.2 set by Kathy Ormsby of North Carolina State in April.

The 10,000 was the only final on the day’s long opening program, which was devoted mainly to qualifying and trials.

A short time earlier, a Texas Christian team of Roscoe Tatum, Andrew Smith, Byron Morrow and Greg Scholars turned in the fastest time in the world this year in the men’s 400-meter relay, 38.56 seconds.

Regina Cavanaugh of Rice, the three-time national collegiate indoor champion, shattered the meet record in the women’s shotput twice during qualifying. The first, on her second throw, traveled 57 feet 2 3/4 inches. The second, on her third and final try, measured 57-6 1/2. Those surpassed the NCAA record of 56-8 set by Ramona Pagel of San Diego State in 1984.

Iowa State’s Danny Harris, the Olympic silver medalist in the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles and the two-time NCAA defending champion, had the fastest time during qualifying, winning his heat in 49.06.

UCLA’s Mike Powell, one of the long jump favorites, did not attempt to qualify due to a hamstring injury.

In the women’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles qualifying for today’s final, defending champion Latanya Sheffield of San Diego State advanced by finishing second in her heat, to Texas Southern’s Maria Usifo of Nigeria (55.80), but one of the other favorites, Schowanda Williams of Louisiana State failed to make it.

Williams stumbled over the final hurdle and finished fifth in her heat.

Texas El Paso’s Cynthia Henry leaped 21-11 3/4, leading the qualifiers for Friday’s final in the women’s long jump. Among those joining her in the final were Florida State’s Esmeralda Garcia of Brazil, UCLA’s Gail Devers, and USC’s Yvette Bates and Wendy Brown.

Brown, also entered in the triple jump and the high jump, is trying to become the first athlete to score in all three jumping events in the NCAA championships.

USC’s team of Robin Simmons, Gervaise McCraw, Lawanda Cabell and Myra Mayberry clocked the fastest time, 43.90, in the two qualifying heats for Friday’s final in the women’s 400-meter relay.

The opening program of the four-day meet was delayed 2 hours 40 minutes by heavy rain and lightning.