Sage Watson won the NCAA Championship in the women's 400-meter hurdles on Saturday at Historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Watson clocked a personal-best time of 54.52, the No. 8 time the world, to win the 400-meter hurdles title. Watson is the first Wildcat to win an NCAA Championship in the event since Robin Marks in 1981.
"Going through the race, I was just staying competitive, going through my race plan, knowing what I had to do, and doing what me and my coach talked about before the race," said Watson. "Once I crossed the finish line, and I saw the time, and I saw that I had one, I knew it was the race of my life."
"Sage completed an undefeated collegiate season with the best race of her life," head coach Fred Harvey said. "I'm so proud of her as a young lady and she is one of the greatest athletes I've ever had the pleasure to coach."
The Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada native entered the meet with the best time in the country at 55.01, then clocked the fastest semifinal time at 54.88 on Thursday before improving her time once again on Saturday to earn the win.
"It meant the world to me," added Watson. "It is something I always inspired to. And, to do it on my senior year, and to do it for my team and my coach, it was honor. It was an amazing feeling to know I came away with a national title in the final race of my career."
Watson is Arizona's first NCAA Champion on the women's side since Brigetta Barrett won the high jump in 2013.
She hopes to compete in the World Championships this summer in London with an eye towards the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
