Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013

June 7, 2013

Only two men were left in the high jump at the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, when the bar went to 2.31m (7-7): Derek Drouin of Indiana and Erik Kynard of Kansas State. Drouin and Kynard, both seniors, were very familiar with each other from their previous battles and one of them won each of the past three NCAA Outdoor crowns (Drouin in 2010; Kynard went back-to-back in 2011 and 2012).

Kynard went over the batten on his first attempt, putting pressure on Drouin. When Drouin missed his first attempt, the Canadian chose to forgo his final two tries at the height. That meant the billet would increase to 2.34m (7-8), nearly unchartered territory in meet history (Only two men had topped that vertex before: Hollis Conway of Southwest Louisiana in 1989 and Darrin Plab of Southern Illinois in 1992. Conway’s 2.38m (7-9¾) topper is also the collegiate record).

Kynard missed.

Drouin missed.

Kynard missed.

Drouin made it!

Kynard missed.

Drouin won his second career NCAA Outdoor title and became just the third man in meet history to clear 2.34m (7-8). Couple that performance – and several others from the year – with a winning effort of 2.35m (7-8½) at the NCAA Indoor Championships from a few months earlier … You have the perfect recipe for the first – and still, only – high jumper to win The Bowerman in award history.

posted: March 21, 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
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
June 12, 2008

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).

Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
May 31, 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.

Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
June 9, 2018

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.