Rice’s Roberts Cooked Up Pole Vault Greatness
Dave Roberts wasn’t in the lead until making his final pole vault attempt at the 1973 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium.
The senior from Rice had won the 1971 and 1972 NCAA meets, but he found himself behind after a third-attempt clearance at his opening height of 17-0 (5.18m).
Even though it was a clutch make for Roberts, he would need one more in order to win and put himself in never-before territory.
The proving ground was the event’s final height of 17-4 (5.28m), and everything came down to the final attempt after Terry Porter of Kansas and Florida’s Mike Cotton missed three times. At that point Cotton held the lead with Porter ahead of Roberts as all of the places were determined on fewer misses.
Roberts made tie-breaking procedures moot with a final-attempt clearance, and his victory was also significant in that it made him the event’s first three-time winner without a tie.
As a post-collegian, Roberts went on to set two world records, including one at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials with a pole borrowed from then-WR holder Earl Bell, a young Arkansas State star who would later match Roberts’ feat of three solo NCAA titles in the pole vault.
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.
Ryun Raced To Only NCAA Outdoor Title In 1967
Jim Ryun won his only outdoor national title at the 1967 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with his victory in the mile!
Pihl Led BYU’s Decathlon Dominance In 1975
Raimo Pihl set a meet record in the decathlon at the 1975 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and led a dominant BYU performance.
Groenendaal Flew To Back-to-Back NCAA MRs
Claudette Groenendaal set meet records in back-to-back years in different events at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Kerron Clement Had Record Speed
Kerron Clement set a world indoor record and a collegiate outdoor record at the NCAA Championships in 2005.
McWilliams Ran Into The 1500 Record Book
Tiffany McWilliams won back-to-back 1500-meter crowns at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included a three-second victory in 2003 where she set the collegiate record of 4:06.75.
Carter’s Shot Put Prowess Was Legendary
Michael Carter, patriarch of the famed Carter family, won three shot put titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in his career!
Lendore Capped Dream Year At NCAAs
Deon Lendore won the 400, clocked a 44.10 anchor leg on the winning 4×400 relay team and guided Texas A&M to a runner-up finish in the 4×100 relay at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Butler Starred With Three 3K Victories
Kathy Butler of Wisconsin won three consecutive 3000-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships from 1995 to 1997.
Myricks Starred Across Divisions At NCAAs
Larry Myricks of Mississippi College won two long jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in his career.
Thomas Rose To Occasion In The High Jump
Mazel Thomas won the high jump at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships after finishing runner-up to a teammate at the NCAA DII meet two weeks earlier.