Two Laps To Glory For Everett
Mark Everett of Florida was looking for one of the few things missing in his war chest of honors at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships – a win in the 800 meters.
This would be the last opportunity for Everett, a 1988 Olympian who was favored to match his 1990 NCAA Indoor title.
“I’ve won The Athletics Congress (TAC) national title, but the NCAA outdoors has kind of eluded me,” Everett told Darrell Fry of the Tampa Bay Times a week before the 1990 NCAA Outdoor. “But, not this time. This year, hopefully everything will piece together.”
Everett’s main competition was familiar: He’d beaten George Kersh of Ole Miss all three times earlier in the year – and they knew each other since 1987 when they ran on the national Junior (U20) 4×400 relay team together. Kersh was one spot away from joining Everett on the 1988 Olympic team in the 800.
At Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium, Kersh won the first heat in 1:46.05, Everett the second in 1:47.86 and Baylor’s Terril Davis the third in 1:47.43. While Kersh’s time would last as the meet’s fastest preliminary for 21 years, the final would produce a performance that would endure for 26 editions.
Kersh and Davis were closest to Stanford’s David Strang through an opening lap of 51.1 while Everett was near the back of the pack. Kersh took control on the backstretch as Everett followed his lead until unleashing a monstrous outburst in the last 200 that Kersh – or anyone – couldn’t match.
Everett stormed home in 1:44.70, a collegiate record and just the second sub-1:45 time in meet history as he won by almost a full second over Kersh (1:45.69). The previous bests by a collegian were run by Oregon’s Joaquim Cruz (1:44.91 to win the 1983 NCAA) and Jim Ryun of Kansas (1:44.9 for 880 yards in 1966).
“I dedicated the race to my mother, who came down to watch me,” said Everett, who hails from Bagdad, a small town near Pensacola on the Florida panhandle. “I always run well in front of her.”
A day later Everett anchored the fourth-place Gator 4×400 squad in 44.5, displaying sprint speed that would help explain his domination of the indoor 500 meters and 600 yards for the next decade while he also made two more Olympic 800 teams (1992 and 2000).
Everett broke a historic mark in 1992 at the Millrose Games, running 1:07.53 to surpass Martin McGrady’s 600-yard world best of 1:07.6 set in 1970. Both times were set at Madison Square Garden on a 160-yard banked board track.
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.
Providence’s Smith Left Field In The Dust
Kim Smith won the 5000 meters at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 36.04 seconds in 15:48.86 for the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Gatlin Doubled Up In Back-To-Back Years
Justin Gatlin completed back-to-back 100-200 doubles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2001 & 2002. He went 10.08/20.11 & 10.22/20.18 in those respective years.
UTEP’s Hoglund First To Crack 70-Foot Barrier
Hans Hoglund was the first man to touch the 70-foot barrier in the SP at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He also won by more than 4 feet with his 21.33m (70-0) heave in 1975.
LSU’s Hobbs Couldn’t Be Caught In 2018
Aleia Hobbs anchored LSU to a 4×100 relay MR of 42.25 & then doubled back to win the 100 by 0.23 seconds at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Michael Johnson Had 1990 NCAAs To Remember
All eyes were on Michael Johnson of Baylor in the 4×400-meter relay at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Riley Completed Unprecedented Double In 2012
Andrew Riley completed the only 100-110H double in NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships history in 2012. Riley won the 100 in 10.27 & then captured the 110H crown in 13.53
Leatherwood Rolled To Back-To-Back 400 Titles
Lillie Leatherwood won back-to-back 400-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1986 & 1987. She set a meet record of 50.90 in that second year.
Iowa’s Jones Made Distance History
Charles “Deacon” Jones set a meet record in the 2-mile at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with his time of 8:57.6.
Locke Doubled Up On Sprint Titles In 1926
Roland Locke entered the 1926 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships as the WR holder in the 220. He left with the meet record in that event (20.9) & also won the 100 in 9.9.
McLain Bounded To All-Conditions TJ Best
Erica McLain won the triple jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships by nearly two feet! McLain bounded to an all-conditions meet best at 14.60m (47-11).