Emordi Led Texas Southern 1-2 LJ Finish In 1987
The setting: LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium for the 1987 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The event: the men’s long jump.
Although the event was taking place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it turned out to be a Texas intrastate showdown.
Sophomore Eric Metcalf of Texas entered as the defending champion, and the Longhorn led through the first four rounds with a wind-aided jump of 8.13m (26-8¼).
However, a pair of Texas Southern Tigers had other ideas. Entering the finals, teammates Vernon George and Paul Emordi stood second and third, respectively.
Overall, it was a furious final two rounds with seven jumps over 8 meters (26-3). In Round 5, James Madison’s Dezalya Manns moved from eighth to third, at 8.02m (26-3¾). Emordi then took over second place with a leap of 8.10m (26-7), but teammate George responded with a new stadium record 8.24m (27-½) to take over the lead from Metcalf by over four inches.
Metcalf fouled his fifth jump which returned the order back to the top for the sixth-and-final round with George in the lead, Metcalf in second, Emordi in third. JMU’s Mann retook third place early in the round with his best-of-the-day, 8.12m (26-7¾).
Emordi took the runway with three jumpers remaining in the competition and uncorked the new-leading mark, a 8.25m (27-1) jump that moved his teammate George to second by a centimeter. Next up was George who nearly repeated the same mark for his final retort, but came up an inch short with an 8.21m (26-11¼). Metcalf had one last chance to defend his title, but it was a foul: Emordi and George — the Texas Southern duo — finished one-two.
In the history of the men’s long jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, never before, and never still has the same program claimed the top two spots in the event.
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.
Gerber Graduated To Elite Company
Farley Gerber of Weber State turned the steeplechase at the 1984 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships into an ultimate game of “Catch Me If You Can.”
Jenkins Set Low-Altitude Meet Best In 1999
LaTasha Jenkins of Ball State set a low-altitude meet best of 22.29 in the 200 meters at the 1999 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships!
Rice Cooked On The Course & Track
Greg Rice, winner of the first NCAA cross country title OTD in 1938, also won two career crowns at the outdoor championships, both in the 2 mile.
Prandini Dazzled At NCAAs In 2015
2015 The Bowerman winner Jenna Prandini scored 26 points at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships that year, winning the 100 and finishing runner-up in the 200 and long jump.
Devers Reached Legendary Status In 1988
Gail Devers scored 28½ points at the 1988 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships: 100 (1st, 10.86w), 4×400 (1st, 51.4 split), LJ (2nd, 6.55m | 21-6), 4×100 (2nd), 100H (3rd, 12.90).
Hall Equaled 120H World Record In 1969
Erv Hall won the NCAA title in the 120 Yard Hurdles at the 1969 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships, one day after setting the world record of 13.2 in the prelims.
Tulloch Shook Nerves, Dominated Javelin
Valerie Tulloch became the first woman in NCAA DI history to win three javelin titles, doing so in 1992 and then back-to-back in 1994 & 1995.
Seagren Vaulted Into The Record Book
Bob Seagren won two career pole vault titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He set meet records with victories in 1967 (5.28m/17-4) and 1969 (5.35m/17-7).
Gophers’ Gordien Golden With The Disc
Fortune Gordien finished runner-up in the discus at the 1943 NCAA Championships, spent two years in the Navy during World War II and then won three consecutive titles between 1946 and 1948.
Price Was Right In The Hammer
DeAnna Price won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2015 and 2016.