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.
Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995
Duane Ross PR’d twice in the 110H at the 1995 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Ross won in 13.32, he became the No. 3 performer in collegiate history.
Illinois’ Kerr Went Back-To-Back At NCAAs
George Kerr won back-to-back 800/880 titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1959 & 1960. Kerr set a meet record of 1:46.4 in the 800 meters in 1960.
UCLA’s Baucham Bounded To TJ CR In 2005
Candice Baucham won the triple jump at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a collegiate record of 14.07m (46-2). Baucham took the event by more than one foot.
San Romani Went From Unknown To Legend
Archie San Romani won back-to-back 1500/mile crowns at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1935 & 1936.
Auburn’s Glance Made Them Look Twice
Harvey Glance completed the 100-200 double as a freshman at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He set a meet record of 10.16 in the 100.
Nova’s Rhines Did NCAA 5K Three-Peat
Jen Rhines was the first female athlete in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win three consecutive 5K titles.
Georgia’s Erm Cruised To 2019 Decathlon Title
Johannes Erm won the decathlon at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 342 points with his 8352 total. That was also the fifth-best score in meet history.
McMillen Adapted, Set 1500 MR In 1952
Bob McMillen set a meet record in the 1500 meters of 3:50.7 at the 1952 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
LSU’s Duhaney Destroyed NCAA 200 Field In 1992
Dahlia Duhaney owns the largest margin of victory in meet history in the 200 with her 0.44-second winner at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Rice’s Roberts Cooked Up Pole Vault Greatness
Dave Roberts was the second man to win three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, doing so from 1971 to 1973.