Eyestone Held Nothing Back At NCAAs
Ed Eyestone’s final two races for BYU were dominant victories at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, but nowhere to be seen was the lack of extra motivation.
When Eyestone toed the line for his first final, he had at least two memories going through his mind: one, being for his older brother, whose funeral he had just attended the previous weekend (boating accident); two, when five years earlier, an 18-year-old freshman Eyestone was pulled off the same Memorial Stadium track in Austin because he was “running sideways” in the NCAA 10K final.
Not that Eyestone needed any motivation, though: He was the defending NCAA 10K champion having won the previous year with what is still the third fastest time in meet history and just a few months earlier, entered with a minute-plus PR on the field thanks to a swift 27:41.05 from back in April.
Eyestone took control of the 10K midway and left only the winning margin in doubt.
“I decided to surge for a couple of laps to try to break the field down,” Eyestone said afterward. “After that I had a gut feeling that if I kept on surging I might be able to open it up. When I got the gap up to 30 yards, they might have decided to run for second, which is what I’d hoped.”
Once Eyestone polished off that victory – by 6.42 seconds – he went to work on another title, as the only man to attempt the 5K/10K double that year. He won the 5K almost as decisively (4.86 seconds), defeating steeple champion Peter Koech of Washington State.
Counting his individual title from the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships from the previous fall, Eyestone had now won four NCAA titles during the 1984-85 academic year.
Eyestone’s post-collegiate career initially focused on marathoning – He was an Olympian in 1988 and 1992 – but now is coaching at his alma mater. The Cougar men made headlines in 2019, first in the NCAA 10K – Clayton Young (one of six BYU finalists) joined his coach as the program’s only other NCAA men’s champ in the event – then last fall when Eyestone led them to their first NCAA title in cross country.
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).