Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
In 1936, Don Lash became known as “The Iron Man of Indiana.”
Befitting his nickname, Lash made winning the first 5000-meter title at the NCAA Track & Field Championships look easy.
The 5K distance was more than one mile longer than the longest race normally contested by collegians then – the 2-mile. It just so happens that Lash broke the world record in the 2-mile just one week earlier.
But Lash had already proven that the so-called “long distance” of 5K was right in his wheelhouse after having already won two AAU national cross country titles over 10,000 meters.
Lash, as expected, easily won that NCAA 5K in 14:58.5, leading an impressive 1-2-4 finish by the Hoosiers. Lash was the only runner in the field doubling back from the 1500, where he was third.
In the next two weeks, Lash would continue to show his “Iron Man” side, winning the 10K and 5K at the Olympic Trials – the 10K his track debut that broke a 12-year-old American record.
While cross country was not yet an NCAA championship sport, Indiana was strong enough in the next fall to score a perfect 15 points, going 1-2-3-4-5 at the AAU national championships. It was Lash’s third-consecutive individual title. Lash would eventually win seven straight, a record that stood until 1989 when Pat Porter won eight in a row.
Lash’s senior track season of 1937 was also strong. He anchored the Hoosiers to a world record 4xmile relay at the Penn Relays and won a third-straight Big Ten outdoor mile/2-mile double. In his final race for IU, he scared the world mile record, running 4:07.2 when the WR was 4:06.8.
Lash followed his running career with stints as a state trooper, FBI agent and five-term legislator in the Indiana House of Representatives.
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.