Ryun Raced To Only NCAA Outdoor Title In 1967
In honor of Election Day, today’s moment features Jim Ryun, the last NCAA track & field champion elected to the U.S. Congress, serving for Kansas 1996-2007.
Jim Ryun of Kansas was about as big a favorite as could be to win his first NCAA outdoor title at the 1967 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Provo, Utah. He had set world records in both the mile and 880 yards in an undefeated 1966 outdoor season.
Ryun’s first collegiate season – which came before the NCAA allowed freshmen to compete on the varsity level – was so spectacular that Track & Field News named him 1966 World Athlete of the Year.
The excitement when Ryun ran at the 1967 NCAA Outdoor Championships boiled down to when he would unleash his killer kick, especially since no one expected a fast pace with the meet being held at high altitude. Ryun waited until the last lap to raise the heat, burning a 52.5 last quarter, with 23.9 coming on the final 220 to win easily in 4:03.5.
Ryun’s winning margin that day of 2.5 seconds seemed large, but not compared to his world records from 1966 – including a 6.7-second victory when, at 19, he became (and remains) the youngest man to set a world record in the mile (3:51.3).
Ryun had some early pacesetting help in that 1966 mile WR effort, but he chose to do all the work himself a week after the 1967 NCAA Championships. The situation of the AAU national championships in Bakersfield seemed unlikely for a record attempt, but Ryun went after it – storming home with a 53.7 last quarter to win by five seconds in a 3:51.1 that would last as the global standard until 1975.
Two weeks later, Ryun added the 1500 meters to his WR collection, running a last lap of 53.3 to win by 4.1 seconds in 3:33.1. That record stood until 1974.
Ryun, who became the first repeat World Athlete of the Year by T&FN with his 1967 season, finished his collegiate career with five combined indoor/outdoor NCAA titles, then the most by a middle-distance runner. The longest-lasting of his all-time collegiate bests was his first WR of 1:44.9 for 880 yards in 1966 – the converted 1:44.3 for 800 meters was finally surpassed 50 years to the day in 2016.
NOTES: The only other NCAA champion elected to the U.S. Congress was Marquette’s Ralph Metcalfe (Illinois, 1971-78). While not an NCAA champion, Stanford’s Bob Mathias also served in Congress (California, 1967-75), but the two-time Olympic decathlon gold medalist competed before the decathlon was included in the NCAA Championships (Mathias was second in the 1951 discus and 1952 110-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.
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.