Gilkes Completed Unique Triple Crown In 1974
James Gilkes of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, wasn’t the favorite when the 220-yard finalists lined up at the 1974 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
That role fell to Tennessee’s Reggie Jones – a freshman, who was coming back from winning the 100 – and Larry Black of North Carolina Central – silver medalist from the Munich Olympics in 1972, as well as 1971 NCAA champ.
Indeed, as the runners came off the curve into the homestretch, Jones and Black were clearly ahead of everyone else – until Gilkes turned on his afterburners and passed Jones in the last 10 yards with jaw-dropping speed.
The race was wind-aided (+3.4 m/s), but Gilkes was timed in 19.9, just as fast as the hand-timed world record. Jones finished in 20.0, while Black faded to fifth (20.2) as all six finishers ran the fastest times of their lives.
“I was a bit tight because of a groin injury, and I knew I wouldn’t be too good around the turn,” Gilkes said. “But I felt I could finish strong because I normally come from behind, and I was correct.”
Gilkes’ win made some big history, giving the native of Guyana a Triple Crown of collegiate national titles in the 220 after winning the NAIA and NCAA Division III meets in the two weeks prior. The only others with three titles in the same year are Black (1971 in the 220) and Southern’s Rodney Milburn (1971 and 1973 in the 120-yard hurdles).
Gilkes’ Triple Crown was slightly different, however, as Black and Milburn competed when the NCAA had just two divisions – university and college – before the current three-division setup began with the 1974 meet.
Even rarer is Gilkes’ status as a Division III athlete to also win a Division I crown. The only other with such a combination is Rowan javelin thrower Mike Juskus, who did so in 1981. Gilkes and Juskus will likely remain alone in that regard as the NCAA Division I meet no longer allows athletes from other divisions to compete.
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.
Spearmon Sprinted Past Stacked 200 Field
Wallace Spearmon Jr. won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2004 & 2005. He ran 19.91 (-0.7 m/s) in 2005 to beat a loaded field by 0.17 seconds.
Collegiate Record For BYU’s Andersen
Kassi Andersen set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:44.95 at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, capping a three-year streak in which BYU athletes won the event.
Hook ‘Em, Ivan: Wagner Tied Best HJ Margin
Ivan Wagner won the high jump at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by more than four inches to tie the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Mason’s Muzzio Starred In Decathlon
Rob Muzzio won back-to-back decathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1984 & 1985. His victory in 1985 was by 3 points, the smallest margin in meet history.
Roesler Dusted The Competition In 2014
Laura Roesler won the 800 at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships with a negative split (61.06/60.16) & the 2nd largest margin of victory in meet history (1.70 seconds).
Fuchs Went Back-To-Back In Shot Put
Jim Fuchs won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1949 & 1950. He set a meet record in that first year, heaving the orb 17.10m (56-1½).
Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
Don Lash led a 1-2-4 finish by Indiana in the 5K at the 1936 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the first time in meet history that one team had three top-4 finishers in that event.
Surprise! Brown’s Win Sent Texas A&M To Title
Kamaria Brown beat Jenna Prandini by 0.007 seconds for the 200-meter title at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the smallest margin of victory in meet history.
Coleman Cruised To The Bowerman In 2017
Christian Coleman dazzled at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a collegiate record in the 100!
Blanford Blitzed 100H Record Book
Rhonda Blanford set an all-conditions meet record in the 100 Hurdles of 12.70 at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. She also won the race by 0.30 seconds!