Cameron Came Close To Standing Alone
Two one-hundredths of a second.
That’s what separated Bert Cameron from standing alone in NCAA history.
Cameron, who competed collegiately for UTEP and hails from Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica, won back-to-back 400-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1980 and 1981 as well as a third crown in 1983. His victory in 1981 set a meet record of 44.58, which would stand for five years and marked just the third time someone cracked the 45-second barrier in that event in meet history.
Those three titles also made Cameron only the third man in meet history to earn three career titles in the event, joining Hermon Phillips of Butler (1925-1927) and George Rhoden of Morgan State (1950-1952). Look across each NCAA division and that total blossoms to seven men as Larance Jones of Truman (1972-1974) and Myles Pringle (2017-2019) did so at the NCAA DII level and Mike Spangler of Susquehanna (1986 to 1988) and Bobby Young of Lincoln (Pa.) (2005 to 2007) accomplished the feat on the NCAA DIII ranks.
No man ever strung four together – but Cameron came awfully close. In fact, Amber James of NCAA DIII Wheaton (Ma.) is the only athlete in NCAA history with four career outdoor quarter-mile titles to their credit (She also completed the four-year sweep indoors).
The year was 1982 and Cameron entered the NCAA Championships in Provo, Utah, as the two-time defending champion. Also in the race was Kasheef Hassan of Oregon State, a fifth-year senior at the time, who won the title in 1979 and redshirted in 1980. Cameron and Hassan raced against each other in the NCAA final the previous year, where the former established the meet record (Hassan ended up a distant third in 45.31).
“Many fans had predicted the 400 duel between Hassan and Cameron would approach a record, but the strong wind prevented a fast time,” Reid English wrote in the Salem Statesman Journal on June 6, 1982. “It didn’t stop the duel, as the two ran the last 100 meters almost head-to-head. A lunge at the tape earned Hassan the victory.”
The final result read: Kasheef Hassan, Oregon State – 45.47; Bert Cameron, UTEP – 45.49.
Cameron got the last laugh, though; his 12 points helped UTEP win its fifth national team title in a row, a feat that hadn’t been done since Southern California won seven in a row from 1949 to 1955. That would be the Miners’ last outdoor national title and best finish in the past 38 years.
Post-collegiately, Cameron won 400-meter gold at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, and represented Jamaica at three consecutive editions of the Summer Olympics. He carried the Jamaican flag at the opening ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and left many at a loss for words with his incredible finish in the 400-meter semifinal that year.
Cameron now coaches Jamaica’s 400-meter runners for its national team.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).