Confident Ngeno Dominated Distances

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Confident Ngeno Dominated Distances

John Ngeno of Washington State was looking to make a statement in the 3-mile at the 1975 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

With a victory by 14.03 seconds over defending champ Paul Geis of Oregon, Ngeno made his point: Ngeno crossed the finish line in 13:22.73; Geis finished in 13:36.76.

That winning margin was – and remains – the largest by a man in meet history, even combining 5000-meter races. And it came a day after winning the 6-mile, making Ngeno the first such distance doubler since another WSU Cougar, Gerry Lindgren, won three from 1966-68.

Asked if the altitude at Provo, Utah, made it hard, Ngeno responded, “Hard? Why should it be hard? It is no different up here than down below.”

Ngeno – pronounced “nyen-no” – was born and raised in Kisumu, Kenya, at an altitude almost as high as Provo’s roughly 4600 feet (1400 meters). His win in the 1974 NCAA 6-mile made him the meet’s first Kenyan-born champion in any event.

Ngeno was known as being boldly confident. When asked if he was worried about Geis or anyone else in the 3-mile race, Ngeno told Tom Jordan of Track & Field News, “Why worry? I knew when I got up this morning that I would win.”

posted: December 10, 2020
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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!