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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.