San Romani Went From Unknown To Legend
Archie San Romani of Emporia State was virtually unknown when he won the mile at the 1935 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Berkeley, California.
After his NCAA victory in 1936, he was part of a golden age of American miling.
The 1935 win was by inches in the modest time of 4:19.1 as he was fastest in a mad-dash finish.
Even as defending champion, San Romani didn’t warrant a favorite’s role at the 1936 NCAA meet, the last time it was held at its birthplace, Chicago’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Field.
Most figured that Don Lash of Indiana would win, just as he had at the Big Ten meet in 4:10.8 to become the third-fastest collegiate miler in history in edging Wisconsin’s Chuck Fenske (at 4:10.9 the fourth-fastest). A week before the NCAA meet Lash set a world record in the 2-mile.
With 1936 being an Olympic year, the NCAA meet held metric distances in the Olympic events, so the 1500 meters was held instead of the mile. San Romani turned the race into a romp, clocking 3:53.0 as Fenske (3:56.7) and Lash (3:57.8) finished well behind. San Romani’s time was the fastest ever recorded by a collegian, breaking the 3:53.1 run by Glenn Cunningham in 1932.
Three weeks later, San Romani dueled Cunningham (then the mile world record holder) in the U.S. Final Olympic Trials as both ran 3:49.9, Cunningham winning as both finished ahead of fourth-place Bill Bonthron (the 1500 world record holder). At the Berlin Olympics, San Romani was fourth while Cunningham earned the silver medal.
The name of Archie San Romani came to prominence again some 30 years later, as son Archie Jr. set a high school national record in the mile (also a school record at East High School in Wichita, Kansas, that would later be broken by Jim Ryun).
Archie Jr. went on to be coached by Bill Bowerman at Oregon and nearly matched dad’s NCAA title, finishing second in the 1964 NCAA 1500 behind Morgan Groth of Oregon State. The combination of 1st and 2nd by the two Archies is still the best by a father and son in the NCAA 1500/mile.
The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.
This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.
To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.
The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Providence’s Smith Left Field In The Dust
Kim Smith won the 5000 meters at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 36.04 seconds in 15:48.86 for the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Gatlin Doubled Up In Back-To-Back Years
Justin Gatlin completed back-to-back 100-200 doubles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2001 & 2002. He went 10.08/20.11 & 10.22/20.18 in those respective years.
UTEP’s Hoglund First To Crack 70-Foot Barrier
Hans Hoglund was the first man to touch the 70-foot barrier in the SP at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He also won by more than 4 feet with his 21.33m (70-0) heave in 1975.
LSU’s Hobbs Couldn’t Be Caught In 2018
Aleia Hobbs anchored LSU to a 4×100 relay MR of 42.25 & then doubled back to win the 100 by 0.23 seconds at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Michael Johnson Had 1990 NCAAs To Remember
All eyes were on Michael Johnson of Baylor in the 4×400-meter relay at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Riley Completed Unprecedented Double In 2012
Andrew Riley completed the only 100-110H double in NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships history in 2012. Riley won the 100 in 10.27 & then captured the 110H crown in 13.53
Leatherwood Rolled To Back-To-Back 400 Titles
Lillie Leatherwood won back-to-back 400-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1986 & 1987. She set a meet record of 50.90 in that second year.
Iowa’s Jones Made Distance History
Charles “Deacon” Jones set a meet record in the 2-mile at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with his time of 8:57.6.
Locke Doubled Up On Sprint Titles In 1926
Roland Locke entered the 1926 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships as the WR holder in the 220. He left with the meet record in that event (20.9) & also won the 100 in 9.9.
McLain Bounded To All-Conditions TJ Best
Erica McLain won the triple jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships by nearly two feet! McLain bounded to an all-conditions meet best at 14.60m (47-11).