Brophy Led “Deca Central” With MR In 1992
Brian Brophy’s participation in the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships was deemed “questionable” after the Tennessee decathlete incurred a leg injury three weeks earlier.
Brophy – still on crutches the week prior – amazed just about everyone at the NCAA meet with a meet-record score of 8276, his best by nearly 250 points.
As good as the performance was, it might have never gotten off the ground.
“I was going to warm up and see,” Brophy explained to Jeff Hollobaugh of Track & Field News. “If I felt the slightest twinge, I would have stopped.”
With no pain, Brophy treated it like a normal decathlon – except on an impressive PR pace. He finished the first day with a score of 4270 that was almost 200 points better than he’d ever achieved.
However, Brophy was still 43 points behind defending NCAA champion Aric Long, another Volunteer also in PR territory. Considering that both were already 8000-pointers, some big totals looked possible.
Day 2 of the NCAA decathlon saw the Vol teammates – described by Brophy as “having another coach” – exchange the lead as they became the first (and still only) duo from the same program to go 1-2 in the event, Long scoring 8227 for a PR by 200+ points behind Brophy’s 8276 MR.
Tennessee had already gained the nickname of “Deca Central” thanks to the efforts of USTFCCCA Hall of Famer Bill Webb, and Matt Shelton added to their 10-event glory. Shelton was eighth for the second year in a row with Brophy and Long. No other program has ever had the same trio of athletes score twice in the NCAA decathlon.
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.
ON THIS DAY: Kerley Set 400-Meter CR In Austin
Fred Kerley set a collegiate record in the 400 on this day in 2017. Kerley went 43.70 at the NCAA DI West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas.
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).
Foster Won All-Time Classic 110H In 1978
Greg Foster won an epic 110H race at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Foster beat Renaldo Nehemiah & set an AR, CR & MR in the process with his 13.22.
D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012
Abbey D’Agostino won back-to-back 5K titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2012 & 2013. When D’Agostino won in 2012, it was by just 0.03 seconds.
Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.
Arkansas’ Brown Notched All-Time 100H Mark
Janeek Brown won the 100H at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 12.40, narrowly missing the collegiate record and meet record.
Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
Doug Brown won back-to-back steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1973 & 1974. His victory in 1973 was by 17.2 seconds!
EMU’s Jones Hurdled Into NCAA History
Hayes Jones completed the 120H-220H sweep at the 1959 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Jones won the last 220H title ever awarded at the meet.
Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.
Paige Turned Three NCAA Mid-Distance Titles
Don Paige won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a 800-1500 sweep in 1979.