Pitt’s Sowell Atoned With 800 Meet Record
Arnie Sowell of Pittsburgh had a point to prove at the 1956 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Berkeley, California.
Sowell won the 880 yards in the 1954 NCAA meet as a sophomore in a near-PR 1:50.5, but not making the 1955 NCAA final provided him special incentive for the 1956 race.
In 1955, Sowell finished fourth in his heat when only the top-3 advanced to the final. In that heat, he entered the homestretch boxed in.
“There was still time for a runner of Sowell’s ability to drop back and go around the field,” wrote Bert Nelson of Track & Field News. “But the champ elected to run it out in the middle and finish close up – but fourth.”
Sowell admitted that not remembering the top-3 advancement was his fault. “My coach told me, the starter told us, and I knew it,” he explained. “But somehow I forgot it. It was just stupid.”
In 1956, Sowell left no doubt.
After winning his 800-meter heat – the NCAA races that year were held at metric distances because it was an Olympic year – Sowell took off in the final like he’d never done before. He led by more than 10 meters after the first 200 in a blazing 24.3 and came through the first lap in 51.1.
T&FN’s Nelson reported that Sowell “passed 600 meters in 1:18.2 and although visibly tired was not distressed as he finished in 1:46.7.”
Not only did Sowell win by 2.5 seconds – still the event’s largest margin – he broke the American record of 1:46.8 held by Fordham’s Tom Courtney, who won the 1955 NCAA final in Sowell’s absence.
Courtney and Sowell would have at least two more memorable races that summer – Courtney reclaimed the AR by winning the Olympic Trials in 1:46.4 (Sowell 1:46.9) before an Olympic gold as Sowell finished fourth.
Sowell, a hurdler and long jumper in high school as a Pittsburgh native, showed uncanny range as a collegiate runner. In 1955 he once anchored his mile relay team in 45.4 – when the 440 world record was 46.0 – and finished third in that fall’s IC4A cross country meet.
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.
Merchant, Muller Led Cal’s Field Day In 1922
Jack Merchant and Harold Muller combined for six top-5 finishes in five field events at the 1922 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
NC State’s Springs Doubles Up Distance Titles
In 1983, Betty Springs became the first woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to sweep the 5K/10K titles.
“Marvelous Mal” Whitfield Stars Over Two Laps
“Marvelous” Mal Whitfield won back-to-back NCAA 800-meter/880-yard titles in 1948 and 1949.
Ewen Was A True Triple Threat At NCAAs
Maggie Ewen is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with titles in three different throwing events.
Wanamaker Wins Inaugural Decathlon Title
Rick Wanamaker of Drake won the first-ever decathlon title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1970!
SMU’s Connor Bounds To Triple Jump Greatness
It’s been 38 years and still no one has broken the meet record Keith Connor of SMU set in the triple jump at the 1982 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Provo, Utah.
Hail Lorenzo! Daniel Sprints To 200-Meter Records
Lorenzo Daniel of Mississippi State made four consecutive appearances in the final of the Men’s 200 Meters and set a collegiate and meet record in his last race.
Talented Twins Dominate Pole Vault Podium
Twin sisters Lexi Jacobus and Tori Hoggard finished on the same podium five times in eight seasons at the NCAA Championships and each won an outdoor title.
Blozis Was A “Giant” In The Shot
“Giant” Al Blozis won three consecutive shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships between 1940 and 1942.
Cameron Came Close To Standing Alone
Two one-hundredths of a second separated Bert Cameron of UTEP from standing alone in NCAA history.