Indoors? Outdoors? Johnson Starred In The PV
The pole vault competition at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships started outdoors, but an injury on the slippery runway convinced officials to move the event indoors.
That’s where “Jan Johnson of Kansas was born as a great vaulter,” as Cordner Nelson wrote in Track & Field News.
Johnson matched BYU’s Altti Alarotu, the pre-meet favorite, and Paul Heglar of UTEP in clearing 17-0 (5.18m), the first time in meet history that more than one vaulter was above 17-feet at low altitude.
Still, Johnson – whose PR was 16-6¼ (5.03m) prior to the meet – aimed higher. Having gone 17-2 (5.23m) in practice, Johnson would need to clear a better bar in order to give Kansas its first NCAA title in the event, as he sat in third place. While Johnson was the only one able to get over 17-4 (5.28m), the competition wasn’t over as Alarotu passed after a single miss.
The bar went to 17-7 (5.36m), equal to the NCAA meet record and – as the event was being conducted inside Drake’s field house – a potential world indoor best.
Johnson sailed over on his first attempt, causing the many fans who followed the competition inside to erupt in celebration.
With victory in hand, the bar was next set at the barrier-breaking height of 18-0 (5.49m), a height confirmed by none other than Dutch Warmerdam, vaulting royalty as the world’s first 15-footer in 1940. Johnson came closest to being history’s first 18-footer on his third attempt, the bar falling after being grazed on Johnson’s descent.
“I hit it with my armpit on the way off,” he said. “If I could have relaxed more, I would have been all right.”
Johnson eventually got over 18-feet, making 5.50m (18-0½) at the 1972 Olympic Trials before earning a bronze medal in the Munich Olympics.
Johnson’s daughter, Chelsea, won the pole vault at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships while competing for UCLA, making them the first parent-child combination of champions in meet history in the same event. Chelsea later earned a silver medal in the 2009 World Championships.
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.
Spearmon Sprinted Past Stacked 200 Field
Wallace Spearmon Jr. won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2004 & 2005. He ran 19.91 (-0.7 m/s) in 2005 to beat a loaded field by 0.17 seconds.
Collegiate Record For BYU’s Andersen
Kassi Andersen set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:44.95 at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, capping a three-year streak in which BYU athletes won the event.
Hook ‘Em, Ivan: Wagner Tied Best HJ Margin
Ivan Wagner won the high jump at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by more than four inches to tie the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Mason’s Muzzio Starred In Decathlon
Rob Muzzio won back-to-back decathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1984 & 1985. His victory in 1985 was by 3 points, the smallest margin in meet history.
Roesler Dusted The Competition In 2014
Laura Roesler won the 800 at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships with a negative split (61.06/60.16) & the 2nd largest margin of victory in meet history (1.70 seconds).
Fuchs Went Back-To-Back In Shot Put
Jim Fuchs won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1949 & 1950. He set a meet record in that first year, heaving the orb 17.10m (56-1½).
Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
Don Lash led a 1-2-4 finish by Indiana in the 5K at the 1936 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the first time in meet history that one team had three top-4 finishers in that event.
Surprise! Brown’s Win Sent Texas A&M To Title
Kamaria Brown beat Jenna Prandini by 0.007 seconds for the 200-meter title at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was the smallest margin of victory in meet history.
Coleman Cruised To The Bowerman In 2017
Christian Coleman dazzled at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a collegiate record in the 100!
Blanford Blitzed 100H Record Book
Rhonda Blanford set an all-conditions meet record in the 100 Hurdles of 12.70 at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. She also won the race by 0.30 seconds!