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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.