Greene Came Up Clutch In 1989 Long Jump
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.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.