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.
Oregon’s Washington Made NCAA History In 2016
Ariana Washington of Oregon became the first freshman woman to sweep the 100 and 200 at the same NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2016.
Juskus Capped Whirlwind Week With Title
Mike Juskus of Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) won the NCAA DI & NCAA DIII javelin titles in 1981.
Stanford Had Opponents Seeing (Cardinal) Red
Stanford’s distance runners led them to great success in the late 1990s, which resulted in a national title in 2000!
Ostrander Made Steeplechase History
Allie Ostrander of Boise State became the first woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships to win three consecutive steeplechase titles.
UCLA’s Boldon Bounced Back With 100 MR
Ato Boldon of UCLA set a meet record in the Men’s 100 Meters at the 1996 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Let’s Discus(s) Some NCAA Throwing History
Cliff Felkins & Eric “Duke” Kicinski both won discus titles at the NCAA DI & NCAA DII level and were members of Texas Tech’s national championship team in 2019.
“Year Of The Vault” Ends In Epic Duel
Sandi Morris and Demi Payne raised the bar in the Women’s Pole Vault during an epic 2015 season that was dubbed “The Year of the Vault.”
Lalang Avenged Loss, Made History
Lawi Lalang beat Edward Cheserek in a thrilling duel to set a meet record in the 5000 Meters at the 2014 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships & doubled back to finish runner-up in the 1500 Meters the next day.
Wolcott Hurdled Into NCAA History
Fred Wolcott of Rice won five NCAA hurdling titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including three consecutive crowns in the 220-yard version.
Tarr Family Collects Father-Daughter NCAA Crowns
Jerry Tarr & Sheila Tarr were the first father-daughter pair of each win an individual NCAA title at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.