UCLA’s Brenner Won Amazing SP Duel In 1984

Shot put classics have few equals.

John Brenner of UCLA and Michael Carter of SMU made the event one to remember at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Never before had two 70-footers met as collegians: Brenner and Carter didn’t disappoint, as they ended the meet with its six longest throws at the time.

Excitement started early when Carter – aiming for an eighth NCAA title combining indoors and outdoors – began the trials’ three rounds with a meet record and PR 21.51m (70-7). He followed with successive efforts of 21.41m (70-3) to give him the three longest throws in meet history.

Brenner – then owner of the most 70-foot throws in collegiate history (five) – had a best in the trials of 21.29m (69-10¼), meaning Carter would be throwing last in the finals.

A long delay before the two combatants’ final three efforts gave way to the shortest throws of the day for each in Round 4, but that changed in Round 5 when Brenner took the lead in a massive way – a collegiate record of 21.92m (71-11).

In Round 6 – the final collegiate efforts for both – Brenner didn’t improve, but added another 70-footer, the record seventh of his career. Carter responded with a PR at 21.76m (71-4¾) for his fourth 70-footer of the competition, but it wasn’t enough for an eighth NCAA victory.

Brenner, who PR’d to win the discus a day earlier at 63.45m (208-1), had struggled in much of the shot competition with positioning issues until his CR. “When I hit the big throw, as soon as I saw the flight I knew it was going,” he said.

The magnitude of the battle didn’t escape Brenner, noting that Carter “is the greatest competitor I’ve ever gone against.”