Cal’s Williams Set World Record In 1936
Archie Williams of California couldn’t believe what he heard during his 400-meter preliminary heat at the 1936 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Chicago’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Field.
Athletes from rival schools were urging him to slow down, but Williams sped on. He had blazed past 200 in an unofficial 21.6 – just off his PR of 21.5.
“I bet these guys are trying to make me run a lousy time,” Williams recounted his thoughts years later.
Williams did ease up, but that was just before the finish. His announced final time was shocking – 46.1, shaving a tenth of a second off the world record of 46.2. Just a week earlier, Williams had challenged the WR, running a collegiate record 46.3.
The rest of that heat proved to be impressively fast as only the top-2 were guaranteed spots in the final. Harold Smallwood of Southern California and Harold Cagle of Oklahoma Baptist followed in 46.4 and 46.5, respectively – both under the NCAA meet record of 47.0.
The next day’s final was surprisingly close as Williams (47.0) held off USC’s Al Fitch (47.1) for the title. Later that summer, Williams won the Berlin Olympics by inches and finished the year with seven races of 46.7 or faster – a collection of depth that wouldn’t be seen again until 1948.
After graduation, Williams earned his pilot’s license and as a civilian was one of the initial flying instructors for the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a segregated group of black military pilots during World War II. He later joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, flying missions in World War II and then the Korean War after the creation of the U.S. Air Force.
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.
Cal’s Hudson Wins Epic Triple Jump With World’s Best
On this day in 1987, Sheila Hudson of California set world best in Women’s Triple Jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships when she bounded 13.78m (45-2½).
Track. Field. Houston’s Lewis Does It All!
On this day in 1981, Carl Lewis of Houston became the first athlete since Jesse Owens to win a track event and field event at the same NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
UCLA Men’s 4×400 Clocks NCAA’s First Sub-3
On this day in 1988, the UCLA men’s 4×400 relay team became the first collegiate quartet to break three minutes, clocking 2:59.91 with Steve Lewis, Kevin Young, Danny Everett and Henry Thomas.
LSU’s Sowell Dominates 1989 NCAA Championships
On this day in 1989, Dawn Sowell of LSU culminated one of the most dominant performances in the history of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Givens’ Quad Leads Florida State to Team Title
On this day in 1984, Randy Givens of Florida State completed a remarkable – and still, unmatched – feat, winning a quadruple set of titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Rono Rolls Into The Record Books
On this day in 1978, Henry Rono of Washington State became the first (and still only) man to set two different NCAA Championships meet records in distance races on the same day.
Jackie Joyner Doubles Down On Multi Crowns
On this day in 1983, Jackie Joyner of UCLA became the first woman to win an event twice at the NCAA Championships, claiming her second consecutive crown in the heptathlon with a then-collegiate-record-setting score of 6390 points.
Connect Four: Prefontaine Makes History
Steve Prefontaine of Oregon became the first athlete to win titles in the same outdoor event four times, claiming the 3-mile/5000m from 1970-73.
Ralph Metcalfe Is Mr. Triple-Double
Ralph Metcalfe, who was born on this day (May 29) in 1910, won three consecutive 100 and 200 titles while at Marquette from 1932-34, becoming the first athlete to win three NCAA titles in two separate events.
Georgia’s Orji Jump-Starts Record-Breaking Career
On this day in 2016, Keturah Orji of Georgia set her first collegiate record in the triple jump of 14.29m (46-10¾) at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida.