McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
An amazing collection of talent graced the 120-yard hurdles final at the 1967 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The meet’s past two winners – Southern California’s Paul Kerry (1965) and Ron Copeland of UCLA (1966) – were joined by three upcoming greats who were in their first year of varsity eligibility: sophomores Richmond Flowers (Tennessee) and Erv Hall (Villanova), along with junior college transfer Earl McCullouch (USC).
With the meet being held at high altitude in BYU’s Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah, fast times were expected and the meet record of 13.6 (co-held by Kerry) was equaled in the heats by Flowers and McCullouch despite each running into a headwind.
Day 2 of the three-day meet had both the semifinals and final scheduled. In the first semi, Flowers lowered the MR to 13.4 as Copeland was also under the old record at 13.5. McCullouch won the second semi in 13.5 as both races were again run into the wind.
The final came an hour later. McCullouch and Flowers were both great starters, but the Trojan was easily out best and led at the first hurdle, a lead that held up all the way to the end. McCullouch hit the last two barriers, which allowed Flowers to nearly catch him as McCullouch equaled the MR of 13.4 while Flowers ran 13.5, again into the wind. Hall (13.5) and Copeland (13.6) followed while Kerry (13.9) was sixth.
The finish was actually much closer – Bulova Phototimer results showed McCullouch and Flowers with auto times of 13.47 and 13.50, respectively.
McCullouch, however, wasn’t done.
The next day, he teamed with three 100-yard finalists for the 4×110-yard relay, in which USC was heavily favored – just a week earlier, the foursome of McCullouch, Fred Kuller, O.J. Simpson and Lennox Miller set a world record of 39.0. Here they went even faster at 38.6 to win by a whopping 1.7 seconds – still the largest margin in event history (men or women).
McCullouch got his own world record in the summer of 1967, tying the 110-meter hurdle standard of 13.2.
In 1968, McCullouch again won the NCAA 120 highs (another close finish as he and Hall tied the MR at 13.4), and the same USC 440 relay team won again, though “only” in 39.5. McCullouch chose a pro football career late in the summer of 1968 after being drafted by the Detroit Lions as a wide receiver.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).