Coghlan Made History In Back-To-Back Years
The last mile race contested at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships did not figure to be fast.
Not because the 1975 meet was lacking in fast milers, but rather the site of BYU’s Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah – approximately 4600 feet (1400 meters) above sea level.
It would be the first race of any kind at such a high altitude for Eamonn Coghlan of Villanova, whose unbelievable spring was highlighted by a scorching 3:53.3 three weeks earlier.
Two altitude-based runners – defending NCAA champion Paul Cummings of BYU and UTEP’s Wilson Waigwa – loomed as the biggest challengers. Cummings owned the stadium record at 4:01.0 but was solidly beaten by Waigwa in the Western Athletic Conference meet – held at nearby Salt Lake City – in 4:00.8. Waigwa owned an impressive PR of 3:55.6.
The altitude proved to be little issue for Coghlan, who stuck near Cummings as the Cougar led on his home track through three laps at 3:03.0. Coghlan had brief control going into the final backstretch before Waigwa took the lead going into the final turn, but Coghlan overtook him on the homestretch with his signature burst of finishing speed.
Coghlan – whose name is pronounced “Ay-mun Cogk-lun” – was ever-so-close to becoming the first collegian to run sub-4 at altitude, clocking 4:00.06. The meet’s previous altitude best was set on the same track in 1967 when Jim Ryun – then the world record holder – won the NCAA meet in 4:03.5.
Coghlan followed the next year with an NCAA victory in the now-standard championship outdoor distance of 1500 meters in a meet-record 3:37.01. He also won two NCAA titles in the indoor mile, an event in which he would later set three world records and become known as “The Chairman of the Boards.”
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.