EMU’s Jones Hurdled Into NCAA History
The last 220-yard hurdle race at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships was one to remember.
The prime contenders had decisively won titles in back-to-back races less than hour earlier at the 1959 NCAA meet at Lincoln, Nebraska.
Charlie Tidwell of Kansas won the 100 yards in a wind-aided 9.3, equal to the meet’s fastest under any conditions. In the 220 hurdles, he won the 1958 NCAA title in 22.7, a world record he matched in 1959 at the Big 8 meet.
Hayes Jones of Eastern Michigan followed by equaling the NCAA meet record in the 120-yard hurdles at 13.6 to win by three-tenths of a second. He led by almost two yards when defending champ Elias Gilbert of Winston-Salem pressed hard, falling after the eighth hurdle.
In the 220 hurdle final, Tidwell drew lane 3 while Jones got lane 5 as lane 4 was empty with Gilbert (runner-up in the 1957 NCAA race) scratching. Even without Gilbert it was “one of the greatest footraces of all time,” as Cordner Nelson wrote in Track & Field News.
The 220 hurdles was often run as a straightaway event, to which Jones was more accustomed. Here, though, the race was held with the start on a curve and Tidwell and Jones entered the homestretch even. Jones then took the lead, but Tidwell fought back.
Tidwell tipped the ninth hurdle, allowing Jones to approach the final barrier leading by about a yard, but his final clearance gave him cause for concern.
“I tightened over the last hurdle and he caught me,” said Jones afterward. He saw an official point to Tidwell and thought he had lost.
Actually, Jones won by the slimmest of margins as both he (22.5) and Tidwell (22.6) bettered Tidwell’s world record of 22.7. An aiding wind of 2.4 m/s negated any records.
As a post-collegian, Jones found plenty of success in the high hurdles. He won gold at the 1964 Olympics in the 110-meter hurdles. Indoors, he was undefeated at various hurdle distances in 55 finals from 1960-64.
The 220-yard hurdles was discontinued at the NCAA Championships after the 1959 meet, permanently replaced by the 400-meter hurdles.
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.
Bagyula Boasted Incredible Pole Vault Prowess
Istvan Bagyula won three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1990 & 1992. He was the first to clear 19 feet (5.80m) in 1991.
Rotich Went Back-To-Back-To-Back In Steeple
Anthony Rotich won three consecutive steeplechase titles, doing so from 2013 to 2015. His 8:21.19 from 2013 is the ninth fastest mark in meet history.
Lawrence Twins Doubled Down On Outdoor Crowns
Twins Shadae & Shardia Lawrence both won titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships: Shardae in the discus (2017); Shardia in the triple jump (2019).
Sink Steepled Into The Record Book
Sid Sink won back-to-back titles in the steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1970 & 1971. He set meet records in each of those years.
Georgia Tech’s Taylor Triumphed In 1998
Angelo Taylor won the 400 Hurdles and doubled back to anchor the winning 4×400 relay team at the 1998 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Tennessee’s Skinner Set Javelin MR In 1970
Bill Skinner set a meet record in the javelin of 82.49m (270-8) at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships.
Turner Left No Doubt In 800 Meters
Inez Turner won the 800 meters at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 2.24 seconds for what is still the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Cheruiyot Won By Slim Margin In 1989
Kip Cheruiyot beat teammate Peter Rono by 0.03 seconds in the 1500 at the 1989 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. It was the closest margin of victory since the NCAA adopted FAT.
Emordi Led Texas Southern 1-2 LJ Finish In 1987
Paul Emordi led the only 1-2 finish by teammates in the men’s long jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1987. Emordi won with a leap of 8.25m (27-0¾).
Anchor Down: Tolbert Set 400H CR In 1997
Ryan Tolbert set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 54.54 at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. Tolbert also finished third in the open 400!