Eyestone Held Nothing Back At NCAAs

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

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.

posted: November 9, 2020
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!