Harris Set Discus World Record In 1941

Did anyone expect a world record at the NCAA Championships in a throwing event at the 1941 edition held at Stanford Stadium? 

Perhaps, only because of defending champion Archie Harris of Indiana. 

But in a qualifying round? 

Amazingly, Harris did both – and added another layer of history in becoming the first Black athlete to set a world record in any throwing event. 

Harris had challenged the existing world record numerous times with multiple 170-plus throws in the spring of 1941, including a Big Ten victory of 174-1 (53.06m) that was the best then yet on U.S. soil when the ratified best globally was 53.10m (174-2).

At the 1941 NCAA Championships, there were few witnesses for Harris’ ratified WR since the long throws were held outside of Stanford Stadium at Angell Field, where almost 60 years later, the grounds would be transformed into Stanford’s current Cobb Track at Angell Field. 

As the NCAA meet was then a two-day event, no one expected any fireworks in first-day qualifying, even though back then first-day performances in field events carried over to the finals. 

That mindset was changed radically by Harris in the discus. 

Harris opened up with an effort estimated at 162 feet, better than any other competitor would throw that day or even in the finals. He improved to 163 feet, by estimates, then followed with his record-setter of 174-8¾ in round 3 – the only one officially measured, including his performances the next day in the final. 

Incredibly – despite his world record – some claim Harris threw even farther, way back when he was 18 years old in 1937, as a high school senior in Ocean City, New Jersey. Nearly a finalist at the 1936 Olympic Trials, a young Harris warmed up despite reporting to the wrong 1937 AAU regional meet in Passaic, New Jersey. 

As the New York Times reported for that 1937 meet, his warmups were allowed, adding “the tape was put on his last toss and revealed 175 feet 8 inches.”

Harris missed chances at the 1940 and 1944 Olympics due to World War II and served as a pilot for the Army Air Forces.