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.
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).