Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985

June 1, 1985

“All for one, one for all” is the motto of the Three Musketeers.

A trio of high jumpers from Arizona put that to action at the 1985 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

The Wildcats had three of the four jumpers who cleared a meet record 1.88m (6-2) – still the only time in meet history with as many (four) over that height. It represented a PR for both heptathlon champ Lauri Young of Louisiana-Monroe and Arizona’s Camille Harding.

Arizona had the top two spots at this point with Maryse Ewanje-Epee ahead on fewer misses over Katrena Johnson, the latter having a share of the previous MR of 1.87m (6-1½) in 1983.

Young exited the competition at 1.85m (6-3), but Harding scored a second PR to join Ewanje-Epee and Johnson over the bar. It was also a PR for Johnson.

Three Wildcats now had a share of the MR, and never again – at least as of this writing – would any program have this many in meet history over 6-3. Or any meet.

With a 1-2-3 Arizona finish secure, the only drama left was the order. Ewanje-Epee had the edge, leading as the bar was set at 1.94m (6-4¼), the same height she had cleared the previous summer in finishing fourth at the Los Angeles Olympics for her native France.

But only Johnson could jump as high this day, scoring another PR – and the collegiate record as well – to conclude one of the finest days of high jumping and teamwork.

“If one of us is jumping well, the other two will as well,” Ewanje-Epee explained to Ruth Laney for Track & Field News.

The jumping crew, coached by Bob Myers, saw both Johnson and Harding set PRs by 2+ inches that day. Myers oversaw future logjams in the school (and CR) category, with J.C. Broughton (1990) and Tanya Hughes (1991) equaling Johnson’s 6-4¼ mark.

posted: February 17, 2021
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
The Tie Goes To The Buckeye

Dave Albritton of Ohio State won three consecutive high jump titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships & remains one of just two men to do so.

No One Vaulted Like Nilsen At NCAAs

Chris Nilsen of South Dakota set meet records for height and win margin in the pole vault at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.