Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 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.
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.
Merchant, Muller Led Cal’s Field Day In 1922
Jack Merchant and Harold Muller combined for six top-5 finishes in five field events at the 1922 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
NC State’s Springs Doubles Up Distance Titles
In 1983, Betty Springs became the first woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to sweep the 5K/10K titles.
“Marvelous Mal” Whitfield Stars Over Two Laps
“Marvelous” Mal Whitfield won back-to-back NCAA 800-meter/880-yard titles in 1948 and 1949.
Ewen Was A True Triple Threat At NCAAs
Maggie Ewen is the only woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with titles in three different throwing events.
Wanamaker Wins Inaugural Decathlon Title
Rick Wanamaker of Drake won the first-ever decathlon title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1970!
SMU’s Connor Bounds To Triple Jump Greatness
It’s been 38 years and still no one has broken the meet record Keith Connor of SMU set in the triple jump at the 1982 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Provo, Utah.
Hail Lorenzo! Daniel Sprints To 200-Meter Records
Lorenzo Daniel of Mississippi State made four consecutive appearances in the final of the Men’s 200 Meters and set a collegiate and meet record in his last race.
Talented Twins Dominate Pole Vault Podium
Twin sisters Lexi Jacobus and Tori Hoggard finished on the same podium five times in eight seasons at the NCAA Championships and each won an outdoor title.
Blozis Was A “Giant” In The Shot
“Giant” Al Blozis won three consecutive shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships between 1940 and 1942.
Cameron Came Close To Standing Alone
Two one-hundredths of a second separated Bert Cameron of UTEP from standing alone in NCAA history.