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.
Oregon’s Burleson Races To Meet’s First Sub-4 Mile
ON THIS DAY: Dyrol Burleson of Oregon recorded the first sub-4 minute mile in meet history at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Burleson finished in 3:59.8 and used a 55.2 closing lap to seal the deal.
Nebraska’s Greene Equals 100-Yard World Record
ON THIS DAY IN 1967: Charlie Greene of Nebraska equaled the world record in the 100 yards with his time of 9.1 at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Twice As Nice For Texas’ Richards In 2003
ON THIS DAY: Sanya Richards of Texas became the first freshman (man or woman) to win the 400 & double back to anchor the winning 4×400 relay team.
Hubbard Makes World History At NCAAs
ON THIS DAY: DeHart Hubbard of Michigan achieved the first ratified world record ever set at the NCAA Championships in 1925.
Barringer Caps Legendary Collegiate Career
Exactly 11 years ago, Jenny Barringer of Colorado became the first woman to win the steeplechase three times in a career at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Villanova’s Reid Completes Historic 1500-5K Double
Sheila Reid of Villanova completed the first 1500-5K double at the same NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 11, 2011!
Brazier Makes History Two Laps At A Time
Donavan Brazier of Texas A&M set the collegiate record of 1:43.55 in the Men’s 800 Meters at the 2016 NCAA Track & Field Championships.
Wottle Leads Eight Men Under Four Minutes
On this day in 1973, Dave Wottle of Bowling Green led eight runners under the 4-minute barrier for the mile – just the second time such depth had occurred anywhere in the world.
Fight On! Southern California’s Historic Day
Three collegiate records in 80 minutes is what Southern California’s men’s team did ON THIS DAY back in 2018.
Holloway’s Texas Two-Step Into The Record Book
On this day in 2019, Grant Holloway of Florida broke Renaldo Nehemiah’s 40-year-old collegiate record in the Men’s 110 Hurdles.