Brophy Led “Deca Central” With MR In 1992

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

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.

posted: January 5, 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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!