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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).