Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time
Maurice Peoples of Arizona State turned in one of history’s greatest one-lap performances at the 1973 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
And it wasn’t his upset victory in the 440 yards, which he won relatively easily to equal the year’s fastest time in the world at 45.0 at Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The real stunner came just under an hour later in the mile relay. The Sun Devils were in seventh place at the final exchange, more than two seconds behind UCLA when Peoples received the baton.
As John Wenos reported for Track & Field News, Peoples “proceeded to eat up the track (and fellow anchormen) like his life depended on it.”
Timers caught Peoples in a staggering 21.5 at the 220-yard point, but he continued to make up ground. Peoples now had the attention of almost everyone as he stormed down the homestretch, bringing ASU to a photo-finish with Texas for the runner-up spot (both in 3:05.0) behind UCLA (3:04.3).
Amazingly, Peoples had just split an unbelievable 43.4, the fastest ever in a mile relay. The fastest split in the 4 x 400-meter relay was 43.2, interestingly set by another Sun Devil great, Ron Freeman, on the second leg of the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 in Mexico City.
Statisticians use a 0.3-second differential to equate 440-yard times with the shorter 400 meters, meaning Peoples’ 43.4 was worth 43.1 on a converted basis. Peoples’ split was equaled as the world’s fastest in the 1992 Olympics by Quincy Watts. The mark surpassed in 1993 when Michael Johnson recorded an auto-timed 42.91 at the World Championships.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.