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.
Carr Displayed His World Record Speed
Henry Carr set a meet record in the 220 yards of 20.5 at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Joaquim Cruz’d To Meet Record, 800-1500 Double
Joaquim Cruz won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. In 1983, he set a meet record in the 800 of 1:44.91 & completed the 800-1500 double in 1984.
Back-To-Back 200-Meter Crowns For Annelus
Anglerne “Angie” Annelus won back-to-back 200m titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2018 & 2019. Her 22.16 winner from 2019 is the 4th fastest mark in collegiate history.
Indoors? Outdoors? Johnson Starred In The PV
Jan Johnson won the pole vault title at the 1970 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and tied the meet record of 17-7.
Beard Capped Sensational Year At NCAAs
Jessica Beard won the 400 & then split the fastest 4×400 leg ever recorded at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to lead Texas A&M to a relay crown.
Biles Brothers Boast Historic Winning Feat
Martin Biles & Robert Biles were the first siblings to win the same event at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Marty won the javelin in 1940 & 1941, while Robert did so in 1942.
Branta Set NCAA MRs In 1500, 3000
Cathy Branta set meet records in back-to-back years at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships: 8:59.57 in the 3000 (1984); 4:12.64 in the 1500 (1985) as part of a 1500-3K double.
Brophy Led “Deca Central” With MR In 1992
Brian Brophy led a 1-2 finish by Tennessee athletes in the decathlon at the 1992 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. He won with a meet record of 8276 points.
UCLA’s Brenner Won Amazing SP Duel In 1984
John Brenner completed the discus-shot put double at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships and won the shot put after an incredible duel against Michael Carter.
Ellerbe, Misipeka Dominated The Hammer
Dawn Ellerbe and Lisa Misipeka went 1-2 in each of the first two years that the women’s hammer was contested at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.