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.
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.