Gerber Graduated To Elite Company

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Gerber Graduated To Elite Company

June 1, 1984

Farley Gerber of Weber State turned the steeplechase at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships into an ultimate game of “Catch Me If You Can.” 

Gerber knew he had no chance to match kicks with Washington State’s Julius Korir, the returning NCAA runner-up with a much faster PR (8:20.02 to Gerber’s 8:24.72). 

So, Gerber broke away from the lead pack with two laps to go, opening up a sizable lead that led to an exciting chase on the final revolution. On the backstretch, Gerber led by as much as 15 meters before Korir started to catch up. 

After the final water jump, Gerber still led by 10 meters. Korir made up even more ground as both furiously fought for the finish. Gerber crossed first in 8:19.27 with Korir second in 8:19.85, which remains the only time two collegians have run under 8:20 in the same race. 

Gerber’s mark is particularly impressive by itself, too, when you take into account that only one man has and had run faster in meet history: Henry Rono of Washington State. 

“Julius Korir is just awesome at the end of the race,” Gerber explained afterwards. “If I had stayed back and tried to run with him in the last 200, he would have blown my doors off. So with a half-mile to go, I decided to make him run a little harder. If he was going to beat me, he was going to be in a race.”

Gerber’s assessment of Korir’s ability was on target: Korir won gold in the event at the Los Angeles Olympics two months later after unleashing a furious kick over the final 200 meters.

posted: November 23, 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
McWilliams Ran Into The 1500 Record Book

Tiffany McWilliams won back-to-back 1500-meter crowns at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which included a three-second victory in 2003 where she set the collegiate record of 4:06.75.

Lendore Capped Dream Year At NCAAs
June 13, 2014

Deon Lendore won the 400, clocked a 44.10 anchor leg on the winning 4×400 relay team and guided Texas A&M to a runner-up finish in the 4×100 relay at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Thomas Rose To Occasion In The High Jump
June 6, 1987

Mazel Thomas won the high jump at the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships after finishing runner-up to a teammate at the NCAA DII meet two weeks earlier.