It was only fitting that the 2018 DI women’s track and field championship was decided on the last race, on a photo finish.
Southern California entered the final event of the championship, the 4x400-meter relay, trailing both Georgia (52) and Stanford (51). Only a 10-point, first-place finish could have given the Trojans their program's second outdoor title.
Kendall Ellis made sure that happened with a finish for the ages.
RELATED: USC women, Georgia men capture 2018 DI track and field titles | Results
USC found itself trailing both Purdue and Oregon on the final leg of the event. That’s when Ellis found a championship-level gear with an incredible final sprint.
Watch the race and finish here:
The Women of Troy had to win the 4x400m to win the national championship.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics)
WATCH WHAT LOOKS LIKE!
The relay team consisting of Ellis, Kyra Constantine, Anna Cockrell and Deanna Hill finished with a time of 3:27.06, .07 ticks better than second-place Purdue. Ellis’ closing leg was timed at an incredible 50.05.
After Georgia protested the result for inadvertent contact, the protest was denied and USC was officially crowned 2018 champion. The Bulldogs and Cardinal did not qualify for the 4x400 relay final and the Trojans finished with 53 points to secure the victory by one point.
FIGHT ON
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField)
USC Women wins their 1st NCAA Outdoor National Title since 2001!
