Tipton Led 1-2-3 Oregon Finish In 1964 JT
The first 1-2-3 finish in any event at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships wasn’t as easy as the saying goes.
Host Oregon had a favorite in the javelin with Les Tipton, the year’s leading American as the 1964 NCAA meet returned to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The 1964 NCAA meet was the final one in which marks from the trials carried over to the next day’s finals in field events.
In Friday’s trials Tipton provided a solid starting point, topping all throwers at 249-10½ (76.16m), but he was joined by two unlikely teammates advancing to the finals – unlikely only because of the previous several weeks.
The Ducks’ Ron Gomez was third in the trials at 230-7½ (70.28m), which gave him some sweet satisfaction – a year earlier he threw 233-4½ (71.12m) yet failed to reach the finals at the 1963 NCAA meet in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“I can get up for a meet like this,” Gomez told Jerry Uhrhammer of the Eugene Register-Guard. Gomez related that he’d been throwing “lousy” the past few weeks, but here he was relaxed.
Even more surprising was the UO’s Gary Reddaway, who qualified fifth at 219-10 (67.00m) after having not thrown even in practice the previous six weeks due to a sore elbow. He took a cortisone shot for this meet but his list of ailments had grown to having a cold and hay fever, plus being kicked in the thigh by a horse the week before.
In the first round of Saturday’s finals, Gomez moved into second place at 232-8½ (70.92m), putting Oregon at 1-2-6 (Reddaway had moved down a notch).
Reddaway provided the final touch in Round 2 after his first throw in the final “hurt like a fury” as he told the Register-Guard. He said his next try didn’t hurt at all as the spear sailed to a PR of 246-1½ (75.02m) which gave Oregon a 1-2-3 that survived the final round (Tipton did not improve).
The javelin was the first event on the meet’s final day, and the 24 points Oregon gained started an avalanche that saw the Ducks amass 70 points, 30 more than second-place San Jose State.
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.
Bagyula Boasted Incredible Pole Vault Prowess
Istvan Bagyula won three consecutive pole vault titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 1990 & 1992. He was the first to clear 19 feet (5.80m) in 1991.
Rotich Went Back-To-Back-To-Back In Steeple
Anthony Rotich won three consecutive steeplechase titles, doing so from 2013 to 2015. His 8:21.19 from 2013 is the ninth fastest mark in meet history.
Lawrence Twins Doubled Down On Outdoor Crowns
Twins Shadae & Shardia Lawrence both won titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships: Shardae in the discus (2017); Shardia in the triple jump (2019).
Sink Steepled Into The Record Book
Sid Sink won back-to-back titles in the steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1970 & 1971. He set meet records in each of those years.
Georgia Tech’s Taylor Triumphed In 1998
Angelo Taylor won the 400 Hurdles and doubled back to anchor the winning 4×400 relay team at the 1998 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Tennessee’s Skinner Set Javelin MR In 1970
Bill Skinner set a meet record in the javelin of 82.49m (270-8) at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships.
Turner Left No Doubt In 800 Meters
Inez Turner won the 800 meters at the 1995 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 2.24 seconds for what is still the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Cheruiyot Won By Slim Margin In 1989
Kip Cheruiyot beat teammate Peter Rono by 0.03 seconds in the 1500 at the 1989 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. It was the closest margin of victory since the NCAA adopted FAT.
Emordi Led Texas Southern 1-2 LJ Finish In 1987
Paul Emordi led the only 1-2 finish by teammates in the men’s long jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1987. Emordi won with a leap of 8.25m (27-0¾).
Anchor Down: Tolbert Set 400H CR In 1997
Ryan Tolbert set a collegiate record in the 400 Hurdles of 54.54 at the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. Tolbert also finished third in the open 400!