Gophers’ Gordien Golden With The Disc
Did Minnesota have a shot at the team title in the 1948 NCAA Outdoor Championships?
The hosts were only fourth in the Big Ten Championships, but after first-day qualifying a title looked possible after advancing six to the finals. Two of those spots were courtesy of Fortune Gordien, the Gophers’ high-point man from 1947 when Minnesota finished third as a team.
The first final for Gordien – pronounced “GORE-dean” – was the shot put, and a 52-7¼ (16.03m) effort moved him up from fourth in qualifying to a career-best second place in the event, worth eight points in team scoring.
That left only the discus for Gordien, who had won the last two NCAA titles in the event. What figured to be an easy 10 points became a nail-biting 10 points as Gordien won by just three inches at 164-6 (50.14m). Individually, Gordien made history as the event’s first four-time scorer – his third-straight title was preceded by a runner-up finish in 1943 before spending two years in the Navy.
Still, team points-wise, Minnesota needed more to win. The Gophers were at 36, while Southern California was sitting at 35½. As the meet wound down to a close each squad had only one opportunity for points, and both were in events rarely contested in those days – the 400-meter hurdles and the triple jump.
The Trojans moved up to 41½ after the last track event. Meanwhile, Minnesota had Lloyd LaMois in a very competitive triple jump. LaMois – competing in the then-named hop, skip and jump for the second time in his life – came through as a hero, winning at 45-10 (13.97m) to put the Gophers at 46 points and claim the school’s first – and still only – NCAA track & field team title.
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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).