Ralph Metcalfe Is Mr. Triple-Double
Ralph Metcalfe, who was born on this day (May 29) in 1910, won three consecutive NCAA title in two sprint events while at Marquette from 1932 to 1934. It was on June 23, 1934 — the day you see on the post — that he became the first athlete to win three NCAA titles in two separate events.
Metcalfe is one of three men to win three consecutive NCAA titles in the 100 yards or meters — joining Mel Patton of Southern California (1947-1949) and Charlie Green of Nebraska (1965-67) — and one of two men to do so in the “200” (220 yards or 200 meters), joining Walter Dix of Florida State, who accomplished the same feat from 2006-08.
As a sophomore in 1932, Metcalfe equaled the world record in 100 (10.2) and straight 200 (20.3) at the NCAA Championships, a meet that doubled as the Olympic Trials (He would later add a silver and bronze at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games). The following year, he again set or equaled world records in the 100 (9.4 for 100 yards) and straight 200 (20.4 for 220 yards).
His post-collegiate career saw a new collection of highlights: Olympic gold in 1936 with Jesse Owens on the 4×100 relay (Owens and Metcalfe led off the world record-setting quartet), coaching Xavier of Louisiana to the first HBCU victory at the Penn Relays in the 440-yard relay, rising to rank of first lieutenant in World War II for the U.S. Army, and serving four terms in Congress for Chicago until his death 1978.
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.
UCLA’s Vickers Ruled The 400 Hurdles
Janeene Vickers of UCLA was the first woman to win multiple NCAA DI titles in the 400 Meter Hurdles.
Wykoff Wins Stacked NCAA 100 Final
Frank Wykoff won a stacked 100-yard final at the 1930 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that featured six current or former world record holders.
Nehemiah Cruises To All-Time World Best In 1979
Renaldo Nehemiah of Maryland set an all-time world best of 12.91 (+3.5) in the 110 Hurdles at the 1979 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and won by 0.64 seconds.
Liquori Is Mr. Sub-4 At NCAAs
Marty Liquori won three consecutive mile titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, all in sub-4 times.
The 800 Is A Clark Family Affair
The 800 was a family affair for the Clark family, as Hazel Clark and Joetta Clark were the first sisters to win individual titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Johnson Unrivaled In The Heptathlon
Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State won four heptathlon titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships between 2004 and 2008.
Northrop Doubles Down In A Unique Way
Phil Northrop scored in unique ways at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships while competing for the Michigan Wolverines.
Texas A&M’s Mills Set 440-Yard WR In 1969
Curtis Mills set a world record in the 440-yard dash at the 1969 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships when he won in 44.7.
Crouser Family Rules NCAA Throwing Events
In 1982, Dean Crouser and Brian Crouser were the first siblings to win individual titles in different events at the same NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Richardson Sprints To Record Day In 2019
Sha’Carri Richardson of LSU broke the collegiate record in the 100 meters with her time of 10.75 at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, among other feats.