Fresno State’s Robinson Equaled WR In 1957

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Fresno State’s Robinson Equaled WR In 1957

June 15, 1957

The 220-yard low hurdles figured to be special at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

It did not disappoint.

Two of the world’s best were ready for their sixth hurdle race of the meet, with this 220H doubling as the finale of the first NCAA meet held at Texas’ Memorial Stadium in Austin.

Ancel Robinson of Fresno State entered with the fastest time at 22.3 – tied for second fastest in world history on a straightaway – while Elias Gilbert of Winston-Salem owned the world’s fastest-ever on a race using the curve, having run 22.8 the weekend prior in winning the NAIA Championships.

Both looked for a measure of redemption after the 120-yard hurdles an hour earlier. Robinson was second – albeit in a PR 14.0 – behind the 13.6 of Lee Calhoun, the reigning Olympic champion and teammate of Gilbert, who hit the last two hurdles and finished last. Gilbert had beaten Calhoun and equaled the WR of 13.4 the previous month.

Robinson had his usual rocket start and led by some four yards after the sixth of ten hurdles. It also proved to be right in Robinson’s wheelhouse as the race was held on the straightaway. Gilbert finished strongly, but couldn’t catch Robinson, whose time of 22.2 equaled the world record set by Dave Sime of Duke one year earlier.

Robinson’s time also bettered the meet record of 22.3 set 10 years earlier by Harrison Dillard when it was a then-WR. Gilbert’s time of 22.5 was his fastest-ever on a straightaway set of hurdles.

Robinson – a Korean War veteran – was surprised at the time. “I didn’t know I was going that fast,” he said. “I took off like a jackrabbit and went as hard as I could.”

posted: February 16, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!