Sharpe Bounded To Meet History In 1956

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Sharpe Bounded To Meet History In 1956

June 16, 1956

Bill Sharpe of West Chester saw a lot of changes in the triple jump.

When he first tried the event it was called the “hop, step and jump.”

And when Sharpe got his first attempt in the 1956 NCAA Championships at Berkeley, the meet record had already been increased to 49-3¼ (15.01m) by Ira Davis of La Salle on his opening effort.

That gave Sharpe all the motivation he needed, immediately responding with the first 50-foot mark in meet history at 50-4¾ (15.36m).

It was just shy of the 50-5 (also 15.36m) effort that Sharpe had turned in some two months earlier at the Penn Relays, when the two eastern Pennsylvania rivals became the first collegians over 50-feet (Davis jumped 50-1¾ or 15.28m).

As neither jumper could improve further at the NCAA Championships, Sharpe finished as the first – and still only – NCAA DI winner from West Chester in track & field. Davis finished third, getting passed by Kent Floerke of Kansas at 49-6¼ (15.09m).

Sharpe and Davis went on to further jumping success, both competing beyond 1963 when the NCAA changed the event’s name to its current triple jump.

Sharpe set an American record in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics at 15.88m (52-1¼) while finishing fourth in the first of his three Olympics, while Davis set four American records in the 1960s with a best of 16.43m (53-11).

posted: January 23, 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
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
June 11, 2016

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).