Oregon’s Burleson Races To Meet’s First Sub-4 Mile
Eight years after Roger Bannister proved it to be possible, period, Dyrol Burleson became the first collegian to clock a sub-4 minute mile at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Burleson, who competed for Oregon, won the NCAA mile title in 3:59.8 at Hayward Field on this day back in 1962. That was Burleson’s third consecutive 1500/mile title with a third consecutive meet record, a combined feat that hasn’t been matched in 58 years (Burleson is also one of just four men to win three straight crowns).
It was a special day for Burleson and the Men of Oregon in other ways, too. The Ducks won their first national track & field championship, while Hayward Field hosted its first of a record 16 NCAA outdoor meets. The site was also just 20 miles north of Burleson’s hometown of Cottage Grove, Oregon, and he entered as the American record holder in the event (3:57.6).
Though it would end up as the meet’s first sub-4 race it didn’t start like it, as Burly (as he was known) went to the lead and slowed the pace. He used a last lap 55.2 to win, with most of his powerful kick coming on the homestretch to overtake Bill Cornell of Southern Illinois, 3:59.8 to 4:00.5.
“No, I wasn’t surprised when (Bill) Cornell challenged me on the backstretch of the last lap,” Burleson was quoted in Track & Field News. “The pace for three laps was slow so there was bound to be fellows with something left. I just waited for someone to move and moved with him. It happened to be Cornell.”
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.