Wykoff Wins Stacked NCAA 100 Final
Six world record holders in one race?
It happened in the 100-yard final at the 1930 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
That wonderful collection built upon a stacked final the previous year, when George Simpson of Ohio State ran the first 9.4 to win over a field with four others who had equaled the existing world record (then 9.5).
READ MORE: Simpson Sprints To All-Time Mark In 1929
All four returned for the 1930 season, which added two more names to the record books – Frank Wykoff of Southern California and Hubie Meier of Iowa State, who both equaled the 9.4 Simpson had run to win in 1929.
Wykoff was the new star – at least on the NCAA scene. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he grew up in Glendale, California, and set multiple high school records before finishing the summer leading off the U.S. Olympic 4×100 relay team that won gold in 1928.
The field of six world record holders also included 1928 NCAA champ Claude Bracey of Rice, Eddie Tolan of Michigan and Cy Leland of TCU. Tolan, the eventual 1932 Olympic 100-meter gold medalist, was also already a claimant to the 100-meter WR of 10.4.
The race lived up to its exciting billing, with Wykoff equaling his 9.4 WR. As Charles W. Dunkley of the Associated Press reported: “Wykoff’s achievement in cracking the world mark for the century was a thriller. He was away winging, first out of his holes, and led every foot of the race, with Simpson snapping at his heels after the first 30 yards. With a mighty drive at the tape, Wykoff’s chest broke the white string a full eighteen inches ahead of Simpson. The Buckeye flyer, defeated for the first time outdoors this year, made one of the worst starts of his career and was last of the eight sprinters off his mark. He overhauled them all except Wykoff, who raced on to victory with the speed of a frightened deer.”
After Simpson was surprise third-place finisher Emmett Toppino of Loyola of New Orleans, followed by Tolan, Bracey and Leland; Meier was eighth.
Wykoff was one of just two individual champs that year for the Trojans, who won their first official team title (USC was credited with an unofficial team title by the NCAA in 1926). He repeated as champion in 1931 (again leading the Trojans to victory) and added two more Olympic gold medals on the 1932 and 1936 4×100 relay teams.
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.
ON THIS DAY: Kerley Set 400-Meter CR In Austin
Fred Kerley set a collegiate record in the 400 on this day in 2017. Kerley went 43.70 at the NCAA DI West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas.
Reese Left Her Mark On NCAA LJ
Brittney Reese won the long jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a mark of 6.93m (22-9). Reese missed the meet record by just 1cm (½ inch).
Foster Won All-Time Classic 110H In 1978
Greg Foster won an epic 110H race at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Foster beat Renaldo Nehemiah & set an AR, CR & MR in the process with his 13.22.
D’Agostino Won By Slim Margin In 2012
Abbey D’Agostino won back-to-back 5K titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2012 & 2013. When D’Agostino won in 2012, it was by just 0.03 seconds.
Tupuritis Shocked The Field In 1996
Einars Tupuritis won the 800 at the 1996 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 0.14 seconds! Turpiritis crossed the finish line in 1:45.08.
Arkansas’ Brown Notched All-Time 100H Mark
Janeek Brown won the 100H at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 12.40, narrowly missing the collegiate record and meet record.
Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
Doug Brown won back-to-back steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1973 & 1974. His victory in 1973 was by 17.2 seconds!
EMU’s Jones Hurdled Into NCAA History
Hayes Jones completed the 120H-220H sweep at the 1959 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Jones won the last 220H title ever awarded at the meet.
Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
Kendall Ellis had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships that sent Southern California to the meet title.
Paige Turned Three NCAA Mid-Distance Titles
Don Paige won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a 800-1500 sweep in 1979.