I vaguely recall hearing that times run at USATF Nationals and the Olympic Trials (both just a few weeks after outdoor NCAA championship) can qualify for being an NCAA record.
Does anyone know if this is true and what date this new rule went into effect?
this has always been the case
the NCAA record is the record for an NCAA athlete in competition
much like someone can set the american record while in Eurpoe, a college athlete could set the collegiate record at pro nationals
There are a bazillion versions of college and high school records. I think Track and Field News lists the NCAA records as those marks made during the NCAA season, up to and including NCAA nationals. They also have an extended season version of the records, which includes up to the end of summer after the athletes final season. I am guessing that the NCAA only uses marks made during the NCAA season, but I can't be sure.
I don't feel my question has been answered. If an athlete breaks the collegiate record after USATF Nats, that will not be recognized by the NCAA as a college record.
For example, Jen Barringer set an American record in the steeple chase in the Olympic finals, but that 9:22 time will not be considered a collegiate record because it took place after USATF Nats.
Jen set the collegiate steeple record of 9:29 at NCAA Nats this year. My question is, if Jen had run faster than 9:29 at USATF Nats two weeks later (she didn't), would the NCAA have accepted that faster time, set at USATF Nats, as a new collegiate record?
There is no such thing as an "NCAA Record" in track and field. They don't give a rat's patootie, and don't maintain such official records.
Unfortunately, I believe you. That explains why trackshark, T&Fnews, etc. have records lists that differ.
The NCAA website is one of the worst out there. So this perhaps not surprise me.