Cal State East Bay University Athletics

The 1972 Pioneers captured the first national title in the University’s history and are the second team to be immortalized in the Hall of Fame. Before the NCAA began sponsoring women’s athletics and before the concept of divisions existed, Cal State Hayward boasted the best track and field program in the nation. The ‘72 Pioneers bested the likes of UCLA and Texas to earn the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championship. They were led by five individual All-Americans, three of whom -- United States Olympian and multi-sport athlete Marilyn King, three-time national javelin champion Barbara Pickel-Whitfield, and two-time national 800 meter champion Debi “Cis” Schafer -- were inducted in CSUEB’s inaugural Hall of Fame class 32 years ago. This legendary group set the tone for what would become a decade of dominance for the Hayward track and field program.