Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!
Paul Ereng of Virginia had one of the best kicks and everyone knew it.
The best strategy to beat him in the 800, it was thought, was to try to take the sting out with a fast pace, and that’s what Florida’s Mark Everett attempted at the 1988 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Everett, a 1:46.46 sophomore who also anchored the Gators’ 4×400 relay team, went out to a huge lead in the first 200 then cruised through the halfway point in 51.8.
It wasn’t fast enough. The freshman Ereng coasted in last place, waiting until just before the 600-meter point to unleash his vaunted finishing kick. By the homestretch, Ereng was battling Everett with Texas Southern’s Maude Ado trying to keep up. As Everett faded Ereng won in a near-PR 1:46.76 with remarkably even 400-meter splits of 53.5 and 53.3.
“I was tentative at the beginning,” explained Ereng. “I knew they were running hard. I knew I was going to run well at the end.”
Before Ereng won a second NCAA DI Outdoor title in 1989, the rest of the world saw just how a great a runner he was. In the summer of ’88 he won Olympic gold at Seoul in 1:43.45, beating 1984 gold medalist Joaquim Cruz, the former Oregon star who held the fastest “all-dates” collegiate best at 1:41.77.
Then in 1989, Ereng won the World Indoor Championships in a world record of 1:44.84 that remains the indoor collegiate record. A week later, he won the NCAA Indoor title in 1:47.69, then second-fastest in meet history.
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.