O-H-I- … Oh, What A Race By Davis!
The 440-yard final at the 1958 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships was a unique matchup: It featured – at the time – the world’s two fastest in the history of the 400-meter hurdles: Ohio State’s Glenn Davis and Eddie Southern of Texas.
The pair collected gold and silver medals in 1956 as Davis led an American 400H sweep in the Melbourne Olympics. They were also the first – and still only at the time – to run under 50 seconds in the event as Davis (49.5) and Southern (49.7) went 1-2 in an incredible Olympic Trials.
But the NCAA Championships in 1958 were one year away from holding the 400 hurdles on a regular basis, so each went to their 1a event – the one-lap race without hurdles, in which both had shining credentials. Davis had tied the 440-yard world record of 45.8 in winning the Big Ten Championships and Southern was hot off back-to-back 45.9 wins in west coast invitationals.
The NCAA final in Berkeley seemed to favor Southern, who lined up in lane 4 while Davis drew lane 8. In fact, as Cordner Nelson of Track & Field News reported, Southern had a clear lead early – but Davis caught him entering the homestretch and pulled away to a WR 45.7 in his final race as a Buckeye. Southern, who tied up near the finish, was second in 46.5 – equal to the meet’s previous low-altitude best (He would win the 440 the next year).
The WR for Davis – amazingly his only NCAA title – added to his legacy as the only athlete to hold world records in both one-lap events, the 400/440 and 400 hurdles. Later that summer, Davis lowered his 400 hurdles WR to 49.2 and in 1960, became the first repeat Olympic gold medalist in the event.
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.
Oregon’s Burleson Races To Meet’s First Sub-4 Mile
ON THIS DAY: Dyrol Burleson of Oregon recorded the first sub-4 minute mile in meet history at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Burleson finished in 3:59.8 and used a 55.2 closing lap to seal the deal.
Nebraska’s Greene Equals 100-Yard World Record
ON THIS DAY IN 1967: Charlie Greene of Nebraska equaled the world record in the 100 yards with his time of 9.1 at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Twice As Nice For Texas’ Richards In 2003
ON THIS DAY: Sanya Richards of Texas became the first freshman (man or woman) to win the 400 & double back to anchor the winning 4×400 relay team.
Hubbard Makes World History At NCAAs
ON THIS DAY: DeHart Hubbard of Michigan achieved the first ratified world record ever set at the NCAA Championships in 1925.
Barringer Caps Legendary Collegiate Career
Exactly 11 years ago, Jenny Barringer of Colorado became the first woman to win the steeplechase three times in a career at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Villanova’s Reid Completes Historic 1500-5K Double
Sheila Reid of Villanova completed the first 1500-5K double at the same NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 11, 2011!
Brazier Makes History Two Laps At A Time
Donavan Brazier of Texas A&M set the collegiate record of 1:43.55 in the Men’s 800 Meters at the 2016 NCAA Track & Field Championships.
Wottle Leads Eight Men Under Four Minutes
On this day in 1973, Dave Wottle of Bowling Green led eight runners under the 4-minute barrier for the mile – just the second time such depth had occurred anywhere in the world.
Fight On! Southern California’s Historic Day
Three collegiate records in 80 minutes is what Southern California’s men’s team did ON THIS DAY back in 2018.
Holloway’s Texas Two-Step Into The Record Book
On this day in 2019, Grant Holloway of Florida broke Renaldo Nehemiah’s 40-year-old collegiate record in the Men’s 110 Hurdles.