Bell Rang True In Long Jump
Greg Bell of Indiana felt conditions were good enough at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships to go after the world record in the long jump.
In fact, after practicing a day before at Texas’ Memorial Stadium, Bell found the runway so fast that he set his starting mark back a foot or so, noted Bob Halford of the Austin Statesman.
The world record – 26-8¼ (8.13m) – was the oldest one on the books at the time, having been set by Jesse Owens of Ohio State on his Day of Days at the 1935 Big Ten meet. And it was Bell himself who had come the closest attempt to it with a 26-6½ (8.09m) jump the previous fall a month before winning gold at the Melbourne Olympics.
Bell went for the record in the NCAA prelims on Day 1, opening up with a safe (for him) 25-8½ (7.83m) that would be good enough to win. On his next attempt Bell added almost a foot, breaking the sand at 26-7 (8.10m) and despite the impressive effort knew it wasn’t perfect.
“That should have been a 27-foot jump,” Bell told Halford afterward. “But I was too far forward on my takeoff and had to drop my feet.”
Bell didn’t improve on his final two attempts in the prelims – which included four rounds at the time – so he waited until the next day’s final to see if he could improve. The Hoosier started off big, but a first-round 26-5 (8.05m) was still short of the record. He followed with two fouls, both estimated to be over 26-feet.
While Bell didn’t eclipse the WR, he did break the meet record of 26-6 (8.07m) set by Willie Steele of San Diego State in 1947. That mark by Steele, which had broken Owens’ MR of 26-1¼ (7.95m) from 1935, had been the closest to Owens until Bell drew closer in 1956.
Bell finished his career in 1960 with a total of 13 jumps over 26-feet, then the most in history.
On May 30, Bell retired after 50 years as Director of Dentistry at Logansport State Hospital in Indiana. Born on this day in 1930, he is one of the oldest living NCAA track & field champions at age 90. His paternal grandfather was 102, and he wants to beat that.
“I’m feeling good now,” he told David Woods of the Indianapolis Star in June. “And I’m having a ball.”
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.
Sternberg Reached New Heights In 1963
Brian Sternberg won the pole vault title at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He was the first athlete to clear 16 feet in meet history at 4.97m (16-3¾).
Williams Went Back-To-Back With CR In 1996
Tonya Williams won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1995 & 1996. She set a CR of 54.56 in 1996 & won by 0.35 seconds.
Kimobwa Ran Into Record Book In 1977
Samson Kimobwa set a MR in the 10K of 28:10.27 at the 1977 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He won by 12.21 seconds in a race that saw the top-2 finishers under previous meet record.
Florida’s Taylor Set All-Conditions TJ Best In 2011
Christian Taylor set an all-conditions meet best in the triple jump of 17.80m (58-4¾) at the 2011 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Taylor also won the TJ crown in 2010.
Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985
Katrena Johnson led a 1-2-3 finish by Arizona athletes in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson cleared 1.94m (6-4¼) to set a collegiate record.
Fresno State’s Robinson Equaled WR In 1957
Ancel Robinson equaled the world record in the 220H of 22.2 at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. He also matched the American record & collegiate record.
Johnson Set 1500 MR After Thrilling Duel
Sinclaire Johnson set a meet record in the 1500 of 4:05.98 at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson won an epic duel against Jessica Hull of Oregon.
Bohni Soared To Pole Vault MR In 1983
Felix Bohni set a meet record in the pole vault of 5.55m (18‑2½) at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Bohni was one of three men to top 18 feet.
Frerichs Broke Steeplechase Records In 2016
Courtney Frerichs set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:24.41 at the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Frerichs won by the second largest margin in meet history.
URI’s Black Rolled To NCAA’s 1st 10K Title
Robert Black won the first 10,000-meter title ever awarded at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1948. Black crossed the finish line in 32:13.5, 48 seconds ahead of the runner-up.