Joe Dial Vaulted To NCAA History
Joe Dial of Oklahoma State was eagerly looking forward to the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
“Austin is one of my favorite places to jump – like Manhattan is now,” Dial told Don Steffens for Track & Field News in mid-May.
Manhattan – as in Manhattan, Kansas, site of the Big Eight Championships, where Dial had just become the first collegian to clear 19 feet (5.79m). But Dial wasn’t even done, continuing that day to scale an American record of 5.83m (19-1½).
In Austin, Dial was predictably the favorite, but the field turned out to be the deepest yet in meet history and Dial actually needed to better the meet record twice to seal up the victory in his final collegiate competition.
Baylor’s Todd Cooper and Fresno State’s Doug Fraley followed Dial over the first meet-record height of 5.56m (18-2¾) – a notch higher than the MR that Dial had helped set in previous years (along with two other vaulters). Only Dial could negotiate the next height of 5.64m (18-6) for the win.
A total of seven vaulters cleared 18 feet or better to smash the meet’s previous best collection of three set in 1983. An NCAA meet would not have more over that barrier until 1991 saw eight over 18.
Dial’s achievements in the pole vault began as a high schooler in Marlow, Oklahoma. In 1981 he famously became the first prep to clear 18 feet.
As a post-collegian, Dial would set an indoor world best – 5.91m (19-4¾) in 1986. The last of his eight outdoor American records – 5.96m (19-6½) in 1987 – would last seven years, the longest duration for a pole vault AR since the nearly 15 years of Dutch Warmerdam’s last record in 1942.
After retiring from competition in 1992, Dial became a full-time coach – and since 1994, has led the programs at Oral Roberts. One of his pupils – Jack Whitt in 2012 – won the NCAA pole vault title.
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.
Iowa’s Gordon Made Competition Pay In LJ
Edward Gordon won three consecutive long jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships from 1929 to 1931.
Powell Capped Career With 2006 Masterpiece
Ginnie Powell won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2005 & 2006. Powell set a collegiate record with her 12.48 from that second year.
Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1957 & 1958. Fromm set MRs each time, hitting 257-1 (78.36m) in that second year.
Allen Sealed Oregon’s Title With 110H MR
Devon Allen won two career 110H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Allen set a MR of 13.16 in 2014.
Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983
Leslie Deniz won the discus throw at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a MR heave of 63.96m (209-10).
Fonville Made Shot Put History In 1947
Charles Fonville won back-to-back shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1947 & 1948. His best mark came in 1947 when he won at 16.73m (54‑10⅞).
Montana’s Brown Set Two MRs in 1965
Doug Brown completed the 3-mile/6-mile double at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships with MRs in each event: 13:40.2 in the 3-mile, 27:59.2 in the 6-mile.
Hook ‘Em, Courtney: Okolo Starred At NCAAs
Courtney Okolo won two career 400-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Okolo’s 50.23 winner from 2014 is the fastest mark by a sophomore in meet history.
UTEP’s Munyala Dominated The Steeplechase
James Munyala won three consecutive steeplechase titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1975 & 1977. He set a MR of 8:24.86 in 1976.
UCLA’s Johnson Set MRs In Back-To-Back Years
Sheena Johnson won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Johnson set MRs each time: 54.24 (2003) & 53.54 (2004).