Walder’s Leaps Stand Test Of Time

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Walder’s Leaps Stand Test Of Time

When you own the most career field event titles in the combined NCAA Division I Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships, it can be difficult to select the greatest of them all.

This is the case with Erick Walder of Arkansas, whose 10 crowns has him with one more than the next winningest field eventers: A pair of other Razorback long jump/triple jump greats in Michael Conley (1983-85) and Robert Howard (1996-98).

Walder’s collection is unique in at least a couple of ways, at least compared to his fellow alumni.

First, the majority of Walder’s wins came in the long jump (6 of the 10), while Conley and Howard were more successful in the triple jump (5 and 6 of 9, respectively). Second, each of Walder’s NCAA wins contributed to him being the highest-scoring Arkansas athlete on a national championship team – that’s saying something for a program with 30 combined indoor/outdoor track & field team championships.

Walder made history with each of his three NCAA Outdoor long jump victories. The native of Mobile, Alabama, won in 1992 with the then-two longest leaps in meet history at 8.47m (27-9½) and 8.46m (27-9¼). In 1993, Walder became the first collegian to nail a legal 28-footer, spanning that mark exactly at 8.53m. Those three jumps remain the longest in meet history, and the 28-0 remains the longest low-altitude outdoor jump by a collegian.

An incredible nail-biter ensued in 1994, some two months after Walder set the still-standing collegiate record of 8.74m (28-8¼) in El Paso. After three rounds at the NCAA Championships, Walder was in an unusual position – tied for first with Middle Tennessee State’s Roland McGhee as both had marks of 8.34m (27-4½). Despite jump-by-jump drama in the final three rounds, neither improved. The result was decided on the better second-best mark, which Walder claimed by just five centimeters (two inches) at 8.24m (27-0½). It remains the closest long jump countback competition in meet history.

“I had no idea coming in that it would be that tight,” Walder told Jon Hendershott of Track & Field News. “I was hoping I could get a good jump early, then kind of take it easy. But that wasn’t the case. It was a great competition.”

For McGhee it was his third NCAA runner-up finish to Walder, including one indoors.

“Erick always jumps well when he’s behind,” McGhee said. “If he sees someone catch out in front of him, he goes out there and gets ‘em.”

Walder was also successful indoors and remains the only man or woman with three NCAA long jump titles in both meets. His indoor best of 8.43m (27-8) in 1994 is second only in NCAA Indoor meet history to Carl Lewis of Houston, who jumped 8.48m (27-10) in 1981.

posted: September 6, 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
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
June 11, 2016

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).