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.
Sternberg Reached New Heights In 1963
Brian Sternberg won the pole vault title at the 1963 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He was the first athlete to clear 16 feet in meet history at 4.97m (16-3¾).
Williams Went Back-To-Back With CR In 1996
Tonya Williams won back-to-back 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1995 & 1996. She set a CR of 54.56 in 1996 & won by 0.35 seconds.
Kimobwa Ran Into Record Book In 1977
Samson Kimobwa set a MR in the 10K of 28:10.27 at the 1977 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He won by 12.21 seconds in a race that saw the top-2 finishers under previous meet record.
Florida’s Taylor Set All-Conditions TJ Best In 2011
Christian Taylor set an all-conditions meet best in the triple jump of 17.80m (58-4¾) at the 2011 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Taylor also won the TJ crown in 2010.
Johnson Led 1-2-3 HJ Sweep By Arizona In 1985
Katrena Johnson led a 1-2-3 finish by Arizona athletes in the high jump at the 1985 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson cleared 1.94m (6-4¼) to set a collegiate record.
Fresno State’s Robinson Equaled WR In 1957
Ancel Robinson equaled the world record in the 220H of 22.2 at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. He also matched the American record & collegiate record.
Johnson Set 1500 MR After Thrilling Duel
Sinclaire Johnson set a meet record in the 1500 of 4:05.98 at the 2019 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Johnson won an epic duel against Jessica Hull of Oregon.
Bohni Soared To Pole Vault MR In 1983
Felix Bohni set a meet record in the pole vault of 5.55m (18‑2½) at the 1983 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Bohni was one of three men to top 18 feet.
Frerichs Broke Steeplechase Records In 2016
Courtney Frerichs set a collegiate record in the steeplechase of 9:24.41 at the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Frerichs won by the second largest margin in meet history.
URI’s Black Rolled To NCAA’s 1st 10K Title
Robert Black won the first 10,000-meter title ever awarded at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1948. Black crossed the finish line in 32:13.5, 48 seconds ahead of the runner-up.