UTEP’s Hoglund First To Crack 70-Foot Barrier
It would be an understatement to say that Hans Hoglund of UTEP had a great day in the shot put at the 1975 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Provo, Utah.
The first thrower in the competition, Hoglund opened with a PR 67-11 (20.70m) to improve on the meet record of 67-9¼ (20.65m) set by legendary Randy Matson of Texas A&M in 1967.
As it turned out, that first-round effort would have won the competition by more than two feet, but the Miner senior was far from done.
BOOM!
Hoglund followed in Round 2 with a bomb that landed well beyond the end of the dirt portion of the sector, more than 68-feet away.
The mammoth heave was initially announced as 70-0½, then changed to 70-0¼. When it was changed a second time to 70-0 (21.33m), announcer Dwain Esper told the officials, “Gentlemen, that’s far enough.”
Sure enough, the re-measuring was complete and Hoglund had become the world’s 10th member of the 70-foot club – and its first left-hander.
Hoglund had two more legal efforts – both also over the meet record when the event began – for a glorious afternoon as he finished his collegiate career with his four farthest throws and a comfortable NCAA victory by more than four feet.
It was the fifth career NCAA shot put title for Hoglund, who won the NCAA Outdoor in 1973 as well as the NCAA Indoor from 1973-75 (setting indoor meet records in 1974 and 1975).
Even better for UTEP was that freshman teammate Hans Alstrom – like Hoglund, a Swedish native – finished second, and the 18 combined points proved even bigger than their marks. The Miners went on to win their first team title in program history.
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.