Myricks Starred Across Divisions At NCAAs
It took three years, but Larry Myricks of Mississippi College finally made it back to the top of the podium in the long jump at the 1979 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Half of that time – 18 months – was spent recovering from a broken ankle suffered while warming up for the finals of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Myricks had won the long jump at the 1976 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a leap of 7.96m (26-1½) and looked to be part of a U.S. medal sweep in Montreal.
“This championship was more satisfying than the one in 1976,” Myricks told Lee Baker of the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi. “Because a lot of people said after I got hurt in Montreal that I’d never be able to come back.”
Myricks’ comeback in 1979 – with a then-PR of 8.11m (26-7¼) – was actually just beginning.
He finished the summer with an incredible 8.52m (27-11½) to win the World Cup at the very same Montreal Olympic Stadium where his career got derailed. At the time, the only jump longer was Bob Beamon’s famous 8.90m (29-2½) from the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
DID YOU KNOW: Mississippi College is an NCAA Division II program and was when Myricks competed, so he got an opportunity to rack up national titles in each division in his career (That was when top NCAA DII & NCAA DIII athletes were invited to compete at the NCAA DI Championships). In addition to those NCAA DI crowns, he added five more to his haul at the NCAA DII meet, with three coming in the long jump (1976, 1978-1979) and two more in the 200 (1978-1979).
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.
Clemson’s Ross Kept Getting Faster In 1995
Duane Ross PR’d twice in the 110H at the 1995 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Ross won in 13.32, he became the No. 3 performer in collegiate history.
Illinois’ Kerr Went Back-To-Back At NCAAs
George Kerr won back-to-back 800/880 titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1959 & 1960. Kerr set a meet record of 1:46.4 in the 800 meters in 1960.
UCLA’s Baucham Bounded To TJ CR In 2005
Candice Baucham won the triple jump at the 2005 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a collegiate record of 14.07m (46-2). Baucham took the event by more than one foot.
San Romani Went From Unknown To Legend
Archie San Romani won back-to-back 1500/mile crowns at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1935 & 1936.
Auburn’s Glance Made Them Look Twice
Harvey Glance completed the 100-200 double as a freshman at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He set a meet record of 10.16 in the 100.
Nova’s Rhines Did NCAA 5K Three-Peat
Jen Rhines was the first female athlete in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win three consecutive 5K titles.
Georgia’s Erm Cruised To 2019 Decathlon Title
Johannes Erm won the decathlon at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by 342 points with his 8352 total. That was also the fifth-best score in meet history.
McMillen Adapted, Set 1500 MR In 1952
Bob McMillen set a meet record in the 1500 meters of 3:50.7 at the 1952 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
LSU’s Duhaney Destroyed NCAA 200 Field In 1992
Dahlia Duhaney owns the largest margin of victory in meet history in the 200 with her 0.44-second winner at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Rice’s Roberts Cooked Up Pole Vault Greatness
Dave Roberts was the second man to win three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, doing so from 1971 to 1973.