Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
Tennessee’s chances for a team title didn’t rest entirely on Doug Brown at the 1974 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
The Volunteers had a strong team, and Brown tried to contribute as many points as possible.
Brown was defending champion and meet record holder in the steeplechase after a dominant win in 1973 by over 17 seconds. He had recently added the American record (8:23.2) and chose to include the 6-mile to his championship repertoire in hopes of boosting UT’s point total.
With the 6-mile race on the day between the steeple trials and finals, it wasn’t a crazy idea – Brown was third in the NCAA 6-mile as a freshman in 1971 before he even attempted the steeple.
However, after 16 laps (4 miles), Brown’s name was added to a long list of runners who didn’t finish the 6-mile race in hot conditions.
The next day Brown lined up in his specialty, the steeplechase. He was one of three Vols in the final and his goal was still all about team points.
After four laps in the steeple, Brown took the lead and forged the pace, strong enough to drop everyone but teammate Ron Addison, who stuck with Brown until the end. The Vol pair finished 1-2, Addison clocking a huge 8:36.8 PR behind Brown’s 8:36.0.
“I knew I would win it,” Brown said afterwards of the steeple. “I just hoped that Ron would stay with me.”
The steeplers combined for 18 points, helping Tennessee win its first track & field title. Brown and Addison were part of the cross country team that won the NCAA crown in 1972, and Brown added additional Vol history in 1991 when he was head coach of the UT squad that won the NCAA DI Outdoor title.
The only other person who was both a coach and athlete on championship teams in the NCAA DI Outdoor meet – and win an individual title as well – is Jess Mortensen, who coached Southern California to seven titles (1951-61) after winning the javelin in 1929 and being part of USC’s 1930 championship team.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.