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.
UCLA’s Vickers Ruled The 400 Hurdles
Janeene Vickers of UCLA was the first woman to win multiple NCAA DI titles in the 400 Meter Hurdles.
Wykoff Wins Stacked NCAA 100 Final
Frank Wykoff won a stacked 100-yard final at the 1930 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that featured six current or former world record holders.
Nehemiah Cruises To All-Time World Best In 1979
Renaldo Nehemiah of Maryland set an all-time world best of 12.91 (+3.5) in the 110 Hurdles at the 1979 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and won by 0.64 seconds.
Liquori Is Mr. Sub-4 At NCAAs
Marty Liquori won three consecutive mile titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, all in sub-4 times.
The 800 Is A Clark Family Affair
The 800 was a family affair for the Clark family, as Hazel Clark and Joetta Clark were the first sisters to win individual titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Johnson Unrivaled In The Heptathlon
Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State won four heptathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 2004 and 2008.
Northrop Doubles Down In A Unique Way
Phil Northrop scored in unique ways at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships while competing for the Michigan Wolverines.
Texas A&M’s Mills Set 440-Yard WR In 1969
Curtis Mills set a world record in the 440-yard dash at the 1969 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships when he won in 44.7.
Crouser Family Rules NCAA Throwing Events
In 1982, Dean Crouser and Brian Crouser were the first siblings to win individual titles in different events at the same NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Richardson Sprints To Record Day In 2019
Sha’Carri Richardson of LSU broke the collegiate record in the 100 meters with her time of 10.75 at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, among other feats.