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.
Cal’s Hudson Wins Epic Triple Jump With World’s Best
On this day in 1987, Sheila Hudson of California set world best in Women’s Triple Jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships when she bounded 13.78m (45-2½).
Track. Field. Houston’s Lewis Does It All!
On this day in 1981, Carl Lewis of Houston became the first athlete since Jesse Owens to win a track event and field event at the same NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
UCLA Men’s 4×400 Clocks NCAA’s First Sub-3
On this day in 1988, the UCLA men’s 4×400 relay team became the first collegiate quartet to break three minutes, clocking 2:59.91 with Steve Lewis, Kevin Young, Danny Everett and Henry Thomas.
LSU’s Sowell Dominates 1989 NCAA Championships
On this day in 1989, Dawn Sowell of LSU culminated one of the most dominant performances in the history of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Givens’ Quad Leads Florida State to Team Title
On this day in 1984, Randy Givens of Florida State completed a remarkable – and still, unmatched – feat, winning a quadruple set of titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Rono Rolls Into The Record Books
On this day in 1978, Henry Rono of Washington State became the first (and still only) man to set two different NCAA Championships meet records in distance races on the same day.
Jackie Joyner Doubles Down On Multi Crowns
On this day in 1983, Jackie Joyner of UCLA became the first woman to win an event twice at the NCAA Championships, claiming her second consecutive crown in the heptathlon with a then-collegiate-record-setting score of 6390 points.
Connect Four: Prefontaine Makes History
Steve Prefontaine of Oregon became the first athlete to win titles in the same outdoor event four times, claiming the 3-mile/5000m from 1970-73.
Ralph Metcalfe Is Mr. Triple-Double
Ralph Metcalfe, who was born on this day (May 29) in 1910, won three consecutive 100 and 200 titles while at Marquette from 1932-34, becoming the first athlete to win three NCAA titles in two separate events.
Georgia’s Orji Jump-Starts Record-Breaking Career
On this day in 2016, Keturah Orji of Georgia set her first collegiate record in the triple jump of 14.29m (46-10¾) at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida.