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.
Cal’s Hudson Wins Epic Triple Jump With World’s Best
On this day in 1987, Sheila Hudson of California set world best in Women’s Triple Jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships when she bounded 13.78m (45-2½).
Track. Field. Houston’s Lewis Does It All!
On this day in 1981, Carl Lewis of Houston became the first athlete since Jesse Owens to win a track event and field event at the same NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
UCLA Men’s 4×400 Clocks NCAA’s First Sub-3
On this day in 1988, the UCLA men’s 4×400 relay team became the first collegiate quartet to break three minutes, clocking 2:59.91 with Steve Lewis, Kevin Young, Danny Everett and Henry Thomas.
LSU’s Sowell Dominates 1989 NCAA Championships
On this day in 1989, Dawn Sowell of LSU culminated one of the most dominant performances in the history of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Givens’ Quad Leads Florida State to Team Title
On this day in 1984, Randy Givens of Florida State completed a remarkable – and still, unmatched – feat, winning a quadruple set of titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Rono Rolls Into The Record Books
On this day in 1978, Henry Rono of Washington State became the first (and still only) man to set two different NCAA Championships meet records in distance races on the same day.
Jackie Joyner Doubles Down On Multi Crowns
On this day in 1983, Jackie Joyner of UCLA became the first woman to win an event twice at the NCAA Championships, claiming her second consecutive crown in the heptathlon with a then-collegiate-record-setting score of 6390 points.
Connect Four: Prefontaine Makes History
Steve Prefontaine of Oregon became the first athlete to win titles in the same outdoor event four times, claiming the 3-mile/5000m from 1970-73.
Ralph Metcalfe Is Mr. Triple-Double
Ralph Metcalfe, who was born on this day (May 29) in 1910, won three consecutive 100 and 200 titles while at Marquette from 1932-34, becoming the first athlete to win three NCAA titles in two separate events.
Georgia’s Orji Jump-Starts Record-Breaking Career
On this day in 2016, Keturah Orji of Georgia set her first collegiate record in the triple jump of 14.29m (46-10¾) at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida.