Walker Completed Only Hurdling Triple
George Walker of Illinois completed a career hurdle “triple crown” that likely will never be matched, winning titles over hurdles at three different distances in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
As a freshman, Walker showed promise, winning the 120-yard/220-yard hurdle double at the 1945 NCAA meet at Marquette Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
That made Walker the fifth in history to complete that combination, and the only freshman.
The next two years saw him face a future legend – Walker was second in the 220 lows to world-record setter Harrison Dillard of Baldwin Wallace at the NCAA meet – and miss the 1947 NCAA due to injury.
With 1948 being an Olympic year, the NCAA held the 400-meter hurdles for just the third time, temporarily suspending the 220 hurdles.
The 220 lows and 400 hurdles are quite different events. The length of the event, of course, is the first noticeable part, but the hurdle height adds the other dynamic – the lows are 30” (0.762m) high, while the 400H is held at the “intermediate” height of 36” (0.914m).
Walker thus faced a new event, but that was generally true for all of the long hurdlers at the 1948 NCAA meet in Minneapolis. His prime opponent was the Golden Gopher’s Lee Hofacre, who entered the 1948 meet as fastest in the field at 52.7 for the 440-yard hurdles.
The two waged an early battle in a preliminary heat on Friday, Walker edging a fading Hofacre at the finish in a PR 53.3 that was close to the meet record of 52.9 set in 1932.
In the final on Saturday, Walker lowered his best to 52.4, a new meet record that made him the first – and still only – winner of three hurdle events in NCAA DI Outdoor history.
Walker lowered his PR to 51.9 three weeks later at the U.S. Final Olympic Trials, but finished an agonizing fourth by inches when only the top three made the Olympic team.
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.
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
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.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
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.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
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.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
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.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
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).