LOS ANGELES -- When Khallifah Rosser sped to the 2016 NCAA Division II national championship in the 400-meter hurdles, he added to an impressive list of excellence for Cal State LA's track and field programs.

Rosser claimed the 21st NCAA Division II individual title for Cal State LA's men's outdoor track and field program, which is No. 9 all-time. The victory was the 28th overall, including a pair of NCAA Division I national titles (one indoor and one outdoor) from Rainer Stenius in 1966 and five NCAA Division II indoor titles from the 1990s.

For a list of men's track and field individual champions, click HERE. Cal State LA captured a men's team national championship in 1978.

The women's program has a total of 18 NCAA Division II individual outdoor titles, which is No. 9 all-time and 16 NCAA Division II indoor titles, which is No. 7 all-time. Cal State LA also has three NCAA Division I outdoor titles as well for a total of 37 overall. Cal State LA also claimed 12 individual AIAW championships prior to NCAA competition for a total of 49 individual titles in women's track and field.

For a list of women's track and field individual champions, click HERE.

The grand total? A combined 60 individual NCAA Division II titles and 77 overall.

Excellent, indeed.

Rosser was one of the most dominant athletes in Cal State LA history. He crushed the competition at the 2016 NCAA Championships with a time of 49.04 that is No. 4 all-time in NCAA Division II history. He joined Sam Turner, who won national titles in 1977, 1978 and 1980 and Gordon Bugg, who won a national title in 1985 as 400-meter hurdles champions from Cal State LA. Rosser entered the championships with the No. 1 time in the country, the took lead early in the championship race and maintained a healthy lead to the tape.

Rosser enjoyed a tremendous 2016 season, his first with the program. In addition to winning the national title in the 400 hurdles, he also set a new school mark in the 400 with a time of 45.74 and set a new Jesse Owens Track record and a CCAA record of 50.19 while winning the conference 400 hurdles championship. He was named the West Region Track Athlete of the Year and the CCAA Track Athlete of the Year and had the team's best marks in the 400 (45.74), 400 hurdles and 800 (1:52.04). He still holds the school record in the 400 and 400 hurdles.

For a recap of his championship day, click HERE.

Rosser completed his career at Cal State LA in 2018 as a two-time winner of the Frank J. Candida Award and a three-time All-American. He also earned nine All-West Region honors and won six California Collegiate Athletic Association championships. He competed well in the 2016 Olympic Trials, advancing to the semi-finals and missing a spot in the final by one. He excelled at the 2018 USA Track and Field Championships, where he placed third in the finals and he finished second in his first two heats of the 2019 USA Track and Field Championships before finishing seventh in the finals. 

He is expected to be a top contender in the 400 hurdles in the next Olympic Trials.

Rosser's dominance in the 400 hurdles and reminiscent of a run to a 2011 national championship by Josh Como in the triple jump in 2011.

Como had a remarkable two-year career at Cal State LA and was No. 1 in the nation in each of his two seasons with the program. He placed second in the 2010 NCAA Championships, but returned in 2011 and won the championship by more than two feet. He holds the program record with a mark of 54-8 that is No. 3 all-time for NCAA Division II.

Como was joined in the winner's circle in the 2011 championships by Giorgio Bryant, who stunned the field with a tremendous national title in the long jump. Bryant, who was seeded No. 2 in the event, soared 26-1.50 on his first jump and held the lead throughout, toppling a two-time defending national champion in the process.

Como earned four All-America awards during his career and also was named the West Region Field Athlete of the Year twice. He won back-to-back CCAA triple jump titles and earned a total of hree conference titles and six all-conference awards. He was also a two-time Frank J. Candida award winner as Cal State LA's top male athlete. He shared that honor in 2011 with Bryant.

For a recap of his championship day, click HERE.

Another dominant champion in recent years was discus thrower Calista Lyon. She sadly battled injuries through much of her Cal State LA career, but she was unbeatable in 2012 in her first year with the program She won a national championship in the discus and her best mark of 186-7 remains No. 2 all-time at Cal State LA (multiple national champion Janet Hill holds the mark) and No. 7 all-time in NCAA Division II.

Her championship came in a thrilling battle between Lyon, the national leader in the discus entering the meet and Sam Lockhart of Grand Valley State, who was second in the nation entering the championships. Lyon's winning throw of 179-6 edged Lockhart's best of 179-2 by just four inches. Lyon posted her winning effort in her fourth throw.

Lyon was an outstanding student as well and earned the USTFCCCA Outstanding Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She finished her career No. 2 all-time at Cal State LA in the discus and No. 7 in the hammer in outdoor track and field and No. 8 in the weight throw and No. 9 in the shot put in indoor track and field.

For a recap of her championship day, click HERE.