Hume Brothers Had Officials Seeing Double
Robert Hume and Ross Hume of Michigan tied for the mile title at the 1944 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Marquette Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
It was the first time in NCAA meet history that a running event ended in a tie, but it was nothing new for these brothers, who gained the nickname the “Dead Heat Twins” during the year for their signature finish of crossing the line hand-in-hand in first place.
In fact, this was the ninth time that the Humes tied for victories in a mile race in 1944, including the Big Ten indoor and outdoor championships. Only once that year were they unsuccessful, failing to tie in a dual meet when an official determined one was a few inches ahead of the other.
Their unique finish provided most of the NCAA race’s drama, as the two finished some 100 yards ahead of the field, which had just four runners (The meet saw reduced entries due to World War II travel restrictions). The Humes’ time of 4:16.6 was short of the 4:14.6 they’d run earlier as the year’s fastest by collegians (in another tie).
The Dead Heat Twins weren’t done.
In 1945, the brothers Hume again tied in the Big Ten indoor and outdoor mile and tried to replicate their NCAA tie – again held in Milwaukee – but officials were able to find Ross just ahead of Robert as they finished 1-2. Ross came back to add another win in the 880, an event Robert took second in at the 1944 meet (In 1945, Robert doubled back in the 2-mile, finishing fifth).
Together, the Humes scored 30 of the Wolverines’ 53 2/5 points, good enough for third place in the team battle. The duo by themselves would have finished fifth in team scoring.
The only other running-event ties in NCAA DI outdoor meet history came coincidentally in the same meet – 1964, in both the 400 and 5000 meters.
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.
Texas’ Turner Soared To Triple Jump Greatness
Terri Turner was a two-time TJ champion at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Turner won her 2nd title in 1986, she set an all-time world best of 13.66m (44-9¾).
Stanford’s Rothert Starred In The Shot Put
Harlow Rothert won three consecutive shot put titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships between 1928 & 1930. He set meet records in both 1929 and 1930.
Indiana’s Kharun Set Javelin MR In 2003
Irina Kharun won the javelin title at the 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships with a meet record heave of 61.82m (202-10). It also helped her win by more than 30 feet!
Hume Brothers Had Officials Seeing Double
Twins Robert & Ross Hume purposefully tied for the mile crown at the 1944 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. They tried again in 1945, but officials gave Ross the win.
Woo Pig Sooie! McLeod Sizzled Track In 2015!
Omar McLeod clocked a sizzling 13.01 (+3.9) to win the 110HH at the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Only one man had ever gone faster in meet history at the time.
Felicien Starred In The 100H At NCAAs
Perdita Felicien won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 2002 & 2003. She set a MR of 12.68 in the semifinals on the way to title No. 2.
Truly “Unbroken,” Zamperini Shined At NCAAs
Louis Zamperini set a meet record in the mile of 4:08.3 at the 1938 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. Zamperini, who also won the mile in 1939, saw his record last 15 years.
Hughes Soared To Three Consecutive HJ Titles
Tanya Hughes was the first woman to win three high jump titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships. Hughes did so consecutively in 1991, 1992 & 1993.
Kyriazis Made Point With Javelin In 2017
Ioannis Kyriazis set a meet record in the javelin of 82.58m (270-11) and won by more than 19 feet at the 2017 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Sharpe Bounded To Meet History In 1956
Bill Sharpe became the first man to eclipse the 50-foot barrier in the triple jump at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1956. Sharpe won with his 15.36m (50‑4¾) effort.