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.
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.