Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

It was time for Darrin Plab to have some fun at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

With his second-straight NCAA high jump title wrapped up at the comfortable height of 2.24m (7-4¼), the Southern Illinois junior asked for the bar to be raised to 2.34m (7-8). That was a considerable increase, as his PR was 2.30m (7-6½) set in winning the 1991 NCAA crown.

Amazingly Plab cleared it on his first attempt – even though he needed all three attempts at 7-4¼. The clearance marked the highest achieved at low altitude in meet history.

Then the Saluki either got cocky or crazy as he asked for the bar to be raised all the way to 2.44m (8-0), which would match the world record.

Plab thought he had one decent attempt at the record, but none were particularly close.

“I didn’t think I had an eight-foot jump in me,” Plab explained to Kevin E. Boone of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “But when you’re hot, you’re hot. I thought that might push me over. Not many people ever get to try 8 feet.”

Just over two weeks later, Plab improved his PR to 2.35m (7-8½) to make the U.S. Olympic team.

posted: May 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
Rhoden Keeps Historic Company

George Rhoden is 1 of just 2 men in NCAA DI history to win 3 consecutive 400/440 titles at the Outdoor Championships. He did so from 1950 to 1952 & added 1951 220 for a double.

“Kori Monster” Crushed 400H CR In 2013
June 7, 2013

Kori Carter set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 53.21 at the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She won that title & took runner-up honors in the 100H.

“Moon” Rose To Occasion In High Jump

Irv “Moon” Mondschein won back-to-back high jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1947 and 1948. He also finished as the national runner-up in 1949.

Rice’s Cavanaugh Ruled The NCAA Shot

Regina Cavanaugh was the first woman in NCAA DI history to win three career shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She did so consecutively from 1985 to 1987.

Brown Soared To HJ Meet Records

Reynaldo Brown won two career high jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships, which included a pair of meet records (He topped 2.23m (7-4) in 1973).