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.
Villanova’s Delany Starred In NCAA 1500/Mile
Ron Delany won four career titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships, including three consecutive 1500/mile crowns from 1956 to 1958. He set MRs in the 1500 (3:47.3) & mile (4:03.5).
Patience Paid Off For Stanford’s Plumer In 1984
PattiSue Plumer finally broke through at the 1984 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Plumer set the 5K MR of 15:39.38 after finishing runner-up in the 3K three consecutive times.
NCAA 100 On Spring Break
With the plethora of collegiate track & field and cross country slated to take place over the first-half of March, our daily posts highlighting the best from a century of NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take a “spring break” from March 1-15.
Gig ‘Em, Lindon: Victor Ruled The Decathlon
Lindon Victor won back-to-back decathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2016 & 2017. He has the No. 2 & No. 3 largest point totals in meet history.
Greene Came Up Clutch In 1989 Long Jump
One of Joe Greene’s best days of long jumping started off dismally. It would end with a victory in one of the most memorable competitions in the near 100-year history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
SMU’s Dean Starred In The Javelin At NCAAs
Windy Dean is the only woman in NCAA DI history to win three consecutive javelin titles at the Outdoor Championships. Dean did so from 1996 to 1998.
Cal’s Williams Set World Record In 1936
Archie Williams set a world record in the 400 of 46.1 in the heats of the 1936 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams then won the NCAA title by just 0.1 seconds!
Coghlan Made History In Back-To-Back Years
Eamonn Coghlan made history in back-to-back years at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1975 & 1976!
Henderson Set 400-Meter Records In 2005
Monique Henderson set a collegiate record in the 400 of 50.10 at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Fight On, Clancy: Edwards Doubled Up With MRs
Clancy Edwards completed the 100-200 double at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships with meet records in each event – 10.07 in the 100 & 20.16 in the 200.