Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu’s sprint career seemed unlikely, but he started two trends that remain popular at the 1922 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Those trends are winning titles – either as a repeat champion or double victor.
Paulu, from small Grinnell College near Des Moines, Iowa, won the 100 yards at the inaugural NCAA Championships in 1921, then returned to Amos Alonzo Stagg Field in Chicago for the 1922 meet to improve his meet record from 10.0 to 9.9.
That 100-yard victory made Paulu the first repeat winner in meet history (not counting ties). A total of 19 men have won multiple titles in the 100 yards/meters (only the men’s shot put, with 22, has more).
Paulu came back in the 220 with another win, lowering the meet record to 21.8 in becoming the meet’s first 100/200 double winner. That event combination is the meet’s most successful double, having been achieved 35 times by 27 men (and 12 times by 12 women).
The unlikely part of Paulu’s story is that he returned to Grinnell in 1919 after sustaining injuries from shrapnel while serving in World War I in 1918. Paulu lost an eye and surgery on his right leg caused a four-inch differential in his stride, his right being shorter than his left.
Of joining the track squad, Paulu recalled to Maury White of the Des Moines Register in 1978, “Chuck Hoyt had returned to the school as the track coach and was teaching my physical education class that spring. One day, he had us run a sprint. I won.”
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.
Texas’ Hooker High Jumped To NCAA Glory
Destinee Hooker won three career high jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a massive victory in 2009 by more than two inches.
De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double
Andre De Grasse completed the 100-200 double at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with scorching times: 9.75 (+2.7) in the 100; 19.58 (+2.4) in the 200.
Merritt Broke Long-Standing 110H MR In 2006
Aries Merritt broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 110H when he won the crown at the 2006 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 13.21.
UGA’s Torrence Made NCAA History With Double
Gwen Torrence completed the 100-200 double at the 1987 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Torrence was also the first woman to finish top-8 four times in the 100.
Bayer Gave It His All For NCAA 1500 Title
Andrew Bayer won the 1500 at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in one of the closest finishes in meet history – 0.01 seconds.
Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
Les Tipton led the first podium sweep of any event in the history of the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Tipton and his Oregon teammates went 1-2-3 in the 1964 javelin.
K-State’s Jones Captured Heptathlon Crown In 2015
Akela Jones won the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with 6371 points. That is the fourth-best score in both collegiate history & meet history.
Same Athletes, Same Result For LSU At NCAAs
The LSU foursome of Bennie Brazell, Pete Coley, Robert Parham, Kelly Willie swept the 4×100 & 4×400 crowns at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Martin Won Distance Titles For Two Programs
Francis (Frank) Martin made history twice in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FSU’s Williams Soared To Jumps Double In 2009
Kim Williams swept the horizontal jumps at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Williams was particularly dominant in the TJ, winning at 14.38m (47-2¼) & by nearly 2 feet.