ACU’s Morrow Doubled Twice, Set WRs
Bobby Morrow of Abilene Christian had a simple answer after running a world record in the heats of the 1957 NCAA Championships.
“I had to win it,” Morrow explained. “If you win you get that choice middle lane for the finals.”
A triple Olympic gold medalist the previous fall, Morrow was placed in the same NCAA 100-yard heat as Western Michigan’s Ira Murchison, a fellow Olympic relay gold medalist, as well as superb starter (some called him the “Human Sputnik”). Most race accounts have Murchison blasting to an immediate lead that he held until about 80 yards, at which point Morrow rocketed past to victory in 9.3, equal to the world record and a new meet record*. Murchison, who felt Morrow did not pass him until the last 5 yards, was also clocked in 9.3.
“Murch got out on me – he always does,” Morrow told the press afterwards. “Of course, if he hadn’t gotten that start on me I might have relaxed and done no good at all.”
Morrow won the NCAA final in 9.4 (overcoming another great start by Murchison), then completed his second-straight NCAA sprint double by winning the 220 in 21.0.
His first NCAA sprint double also featured a world record – this time at 200 meters, as he won easily and tied the world record of 20.6 (He would end the 1956 season with three such times as WRs). However, his 100 victory captured more attention, avenging a loss at the Drake Relays to Duke’s Dave Sime that ended Morrow’s 31-race winning streak.
Morrow – a native of San Benito, Texas (near Brownsville at the southern tip of Texas) – was Abilene Christian’s first NCAA champion in any sport, but he didn’t arrive on the NCAA scene unannounced. As a freshman in 1955, he collected the first of three 100-200 doubles at the NAIA Championships, winning the century in a wind-aided 9.1 – equal to the fastest-ever recorded at the time, under any conditions.
Morrow passed away on May 30 at age 84.
*The race broke a significant logjam of legends having a share of the oldest meet record then on the books – 9.4 set in 1929 by George Simpson and equaled by Frank Wykoff (1930), Ralph Metcalfe (1933) and Jesse Owens (1936), all WRs at the time by stars already who’ve been featured in our series of great NCAA moments. That 9.4 MR was untouched until Morrow’s 9.3 in 1957.
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.
Bagyula Boasted Incredible Pole Vault Prowess
Istvan Bagyula won three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1990 & 1992. He was the first to clear 19 feet (5.80m) in 1991.
Rotich Went Back-To-Back-To-Back In Steeple
Anthony Rotich won three consecutive steeplechase titles, doing so from 2013 to 2015. His 8:21.19 from 2013 is the ninth fastest mark in meet history.
Lawrence Twins Doubled Down On Outdoor Crowns
Twins Shadae & Shardia Lawrence both won titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships: Shardae in the discus (2017); Shardia in the triple jump (2019).
Sink Steepled Into The Record Book
Sid Sink won back-to-back titles in the steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1970 & 1971. He set meet records in each of those years.
Georgia Tech’s Taylor Triumphed In 1998
Angelo Taylor won the 400 Hurdles and doubled back to anchor the winning 4×400 relay team at the 1998 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Tennessee’s Skinner Set Javelin MR In 1970
Bill Skinner set a meet record in the javelin of 82.49m (270-8) at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships.
Turner Left No Doubt In 800 Meters
Inez Turner won the 800 meters at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 2.24 seconds for what is still the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Cheruiyot Won By Slim Margin In 1989
Kip Cheruiyot beat teammate Peter Rono by 0.03 seconds in the 1500 at the 1989 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. It was the closest margin of victory since the NCAA adopted FAT.
Emordi Led Texas Southern 1-2 LJ Finish In 1987
Paul Emordi led the only 1-2 finish by teammates in the men’s long jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1987. Emordi won with a leap of 8.25m (27-0¾).
Anchor Down: Tolbert Set 400H CR In 1997
Ryan Tolbert set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 54.54 at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. Tolbert also finished third in the open 400!