Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
In 1936, Don Lash became known as “The Iron Man of Indiana.”
Befitting his nickname, Lash made winning the first 5000-meter title at the NCAA Track & Field Championships look easy.
The 5K distance was more than one mile longer than the longest race normally contested by collegians then – the 2-mile. It just so happens that Lash broke the world record in the 2-mile just one week earlier.
But Lash had already proven that the so-called “long distance” of 5K was right in his wheelhouse after having already won two AAU national cross country titles over 10,000 meters.
Lash, as expected, easily won that NCAA 5K in 14:58.5, leading an impressive 1-2-4 finish by the Hoosiers. Lash was the only runner in the field doubling back from the 1500, where he was third.
In the next two weeks, Lash would continue to show his “Iron Man” side, winning the 10K and 5K at the Olympic Trials – the 10K his track debut that broke a 12-year-old American record.
While cross country was not yet an NCAA championship sport, Indiana was strong enough in the next fall to score a perfect 15 points, going 1-2-3-4-5 at the AAU national championships. It was Lash’s third-consecutive individual title. Lash would eventually win seven straight, a record that stood until 1989 when Pat Porter won eight in a row.
Lash’s senior track season of 1937 was also strong. He anchored the Hoosiers to a world record 4xmile relay at the Penn Relays and won a third-straight Big Ten outdoor mile/2-mile double. In his final race for IU, he scared the world mile record, running 4:07.2 when the WR was 4:06.8.
Lash followed his running career with stints as a state trooper, FBI agent and five-term legislator in the Indiana House of Representatives.
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.
O-H-I- … Oh, What A Race By Davis!
Glenn Davis of Ohio State set a WORLD RECORD in the 440 yards at the 1958 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
LSU Hurdle Dominance Yet To Be Matched
Tananjalyn Stanley set a meet record of 12.70 in the 100 Hurdles at the 1989 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, which jump-started LSU’s dominance in the event over the next few years.
Anchors Aweigh! Navy Wins NCAA Team Title
Back in 1945, the United States Naval Academy (Navy) won the team title at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Pagel Won Shot Put With Record Heave
Ramona Pagel won the shot put at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a meet record heave!
Eyestone Held Nothing Back At NCAAs
Ed Eyestone of BYU won three career titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including a 5K-10K double in 1985!
Barrett Scared Long-Standing MR In 2013
Katrena Johnson set a collegiate record in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and led a 1-2-3 Arizona sweep!
Bell Rang True In Long Jump
Greg Bell won back-to-back long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and broke a meet record in 1957!
Guidry Capped Legendary Career In 1991
Carlette Guidry, who won 12 NCAA titles in her career, completed the 100-200 sweep in 1991.
Stanford Romped To National Title in 1928
Stanford won the team title at the 1928 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a then-meet record score of 72 points. Eric Krenz (pictured) led the way with 18 team points.
Smith Jumped Her Way Into Elite Company
Trecia-Kaye Smith won three career titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with two of those in the long jump, another in the triple jump.