Greene Came Up Clutch In 1989 Long Jump

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Greene Came Up Clutch In 1989 Long Jump

June 2, 1989

One of Joe Greene’s best days of long jumping started off dismally.

It would end with a victory in one of the most memorable competitions in the near 100-year history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Greene entered the 1989 NCAA meet at Provo, Utah, with the year’s longest jump by a collegian, a wind-aided 8.22m (26-11¾) from winning the Big Ten Championships. Undefeated by collegians outdoors, he relished a rematch with Houston’s Leroy Burrell, who won the NCAA Indoor when Greene was third.

Burrell – who owned the year’s legal best at 8.14m (26-8½) – took immediate command, spanning a solid 8.10m (26-7) that stood up as the leader through the event’s trials. Greene advanced for three more attempts, but only as one of the last finalists at 7.81m (25-7½).

Things heated up in the finals, especially in Round 5.

Oregon’s Latin Berry tied Burrell for the lead at 26-7 before Boris Goins of Auburn took over at 8.15m (26-9).

Burrell was up to the challenge and quickly regained the lead, leaping a meet record 8.37m (27-5½) to finish off an exciting Round 5. Burrell’s MR was also the longest in meet history, bettering the wind-aided 8.36m (27-5¼) by Ralph Spry of Ole Miss in winning the 1983 meet.

By this point Greene was buried in the standings in 8th place, having fouled (albeit impressively) in Rounds 4 and 5.

But everything came together for the Buckeye in Round 6 as his final effort broke the sand at 8.41m (27-7¼) to take the lead. Unfortunately, the jump couldn’t count as a record, due to a barely-over-the-maximum wind reading of 2.04 meters per second when the limit is 2.0.

Greene had to wait out the final attempts of others, but no one came close to his mark, thus sealing the NCAA title – the first in the event for OSU since legendary Jesse Owens won a pair in 1935 and 1936.

Greene continued on to post-collegiate success, earning bronze medals in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

posted: February 27, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First 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.

Memorable Moments
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win

Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!

Little Made Big 400H History
June 11, 2016

Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.

Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939

Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.

McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs

Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.

Walton Started It All In The 800

Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.

Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History

Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).