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.
Ritchie Doubles Down In The Throws
Meg Ritchie of Arizona became the first woman in the history of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win any two events in 1982.
Three-For-Three: Woodruff Made It Look Easy
John Woodruff of Pittsburgh won three consecutive 800/880 titles at the NCAA Track & Field Championships from 1937 to 1939.
The Tie Goes To The Runner(s)
Bill Straub of Army and Jim Murphy of Air Force TIED for the 5000-meter title at the 1964 NCAA Track & Field Championships!
Ottey’s Audacious Quadruple In 1983
Merlene Ottey of Nebraska sought to win NCAA titles in the 100, 200, 400 and 4×100 relay in 1983.
He’s Great: LSU’s Davis Soars To History
Walter Davis, who turns 41 today, scored 22¼ points at the 2002 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship to lead LSU to the national team title.
Scott Neilson Is NCAA T&F’s Mr. Canada
Scott Neilson of Washington won four consecutive hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 1976 and 1979.
A Crowning Moment For Rogers In 2017
Back in 2017, Raevyn Rogers of Oregon dazzled at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a victory in the 800 and a sizzling anchor on the winning 4×400 relay.
Robinson Brothers Make NCAA T&F History
Can you name the first set of siblings to win NCAA Track & Field titles? We’ll give you a hint: Their last name is Robinson.
UTEP’s Nyambui Goes 7-For-7 Outdoors
Suleiman Nyambui of UTEP never lost a race at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He went a perfect 7-for-7 over four years.
Oxy’s Gutowski Vaults To Record Heights
Bob Gutowski of Occidental won the pole vault at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a clearance of 4.82m (15-9¾), a mark that surpassed the world record but was never ratified.