URI’s Black Rolled To NCAA’s 1st 10K Title
The NCAA’s first 10,000-meter race was held in 1948 at the Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis.
It was by far the longest distance in meet history – previously the longest event was the 2-mile, with the exception of a 5000 meters being held once in 1936. The race was even longer than the 4-mile that the NCAA used for its cross country championships.
However, the distance wasn’t new to Robert Black of Rhode Island – two years earlier as a freshman he won the AAU national cross country title at 10K in 1946 after serving more than three years in the Army’s Air Forces in World War II.
And just a week before the NCAA 10K race Black set the American record for the similar 6 miles in 30:28.2.
In that inaugural NCAA 10K, Black proved himself the class of the field as he easily won in 32:13.5, finishing some 300 yards ahead of runner-up Vic Twomey of Illinois (33:01.6). The race was the only final held on Friday of the two-day meet and became a regular event on the NCAA schedule in 1963.
Later in the fall of 1948, Black won the first of his two NCAA cross country crowns, both over Wisconsin’s Don Gehrmann, who was the first winner of three-straight NCAA 1500/mile titles (1948-50).
Black is remembered as one of Rhode Island’s greatest distance runners. Though he graduated from Rhode Island State (now University of Rhode Island), the track & field facility at Rhode Island College is named Robert J. “Bob” Black Track for him, following a gift to RIC from Bob’s wife Sarah in his name after his death in 1998.
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.
Mikkola Set Javelin MR With Huge Win
Esko Mikkola was a two-time JT winner at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Mikkola won in 1998, he set a MR of 81.86m (268‑7) and won by 17 feet!
Little Made Big 400H History
Shamier Little won three consecutive 400H titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships between 2014 & 2016. Little became the No. 2 performer in collegiate history with her 53.51 winner in 2016.
Comenentia Completed Historic Double In 2018
Denzel Comenentia became only the third man in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to complete the HT-SP double back in 2018.
Ellerbe Won After Film Review In 1939
Mozelle Ellerbe won back-to-back 100-yard dash titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships in 1938 & 1939. His victory in the 2nd year was confirmed by a film review.
Saunders Won Back-To-Back SP Titles, Set CR
Raven Saunders won back-to-back SP titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2015 & 2016. Saunders set a CR & MR of 19.33m (63-5) in that second year.
McCullouch Ran Legendary Times At NCAAs
Earl McCullouch of Southern California won back-to-back 120H titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was a member of a WR-setting quarter-mile relay team.
Hook ‘Em, Leo: Manzano Made 1500 History
Leo Manzano was the first male freshman in the history of the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships to win the 1500/mile in 2005. Manzano added a 2nd title to his haul in 2008.
Walton Started It All In The 800
Delisa Walton won the first women’s 800 at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1982. Walton is the mother of Ebonie Floyd, who finished 2nd in the 2007 100.
Rupp Capped Sensational Senior Year In 2009
Galen Rupp completed an unprecedented year at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships when he swept the 5K & 10K.
Gipson, Ugen Made Long Jump History
Whitney Gipson & Lorraine Ugen were the first teammates to win women’s long jump titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in consecutive years (Gipson in 2012; Ugen in 2013).