Fromm Rewrote NCAA Javelin History
John Fromm’s first collegiate record almost never happened.
The junior javelin thrower from Pacific Lutheran was in danger of not qualifying for the finals of the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin.
That changed on his last throw of the trials.
Despite having won the NAIA Championships a week earlier with the year’s top collegiate effort of 243-11 (74.34m), Fromm was the last and final qualifier in the NCAA meet at 213-11 (65.20m).
As Track & Field News co-founder Bert Nelson reported, a sleepless night seemed to help Fromm as the next day “he moved into fourth with 225-0 (68.58m), then uncorked the winner on his ultimate try.”
The distance of 247-1 (75.32m) wasn’t just a PR, but also a new meet and collegiate record.
Fromm’s uneasiness was a result of his unfamiliarity with using a new Held javelin, the en vogue model designed by Dick Held, brother of three-time NCAA champ Bud Held of Stanford. Held javelins had just begun a rage of popularity in the mid-1950s.
Fromm was a heavy favorite for the 1958 NCAA meet in Berkeley, especially having improved his own CR to 252-10½ (77.06m). But still Fromm entered the finals trailing New Mexico’s Buster Quist, who had PRed 239-9 (73.08m).
On his last effort Fromm unleashed a huge throw which landed with its middle on the concrete curb of the track. It was ruled fair, and the measurement of 257-1 (78.36m) gave the Lute another CR as he won by a then-meet record margin of 17-4 (5.28m).
Fromm’s NCAA titles were the first in any sport for the small school in Tacoma, Washington, which now competes in NCAA Division III. He remains the only javelin thrower to set CRs in more than one NCAA meet.
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.