Locke Doubled Up On Sprint Titles In 1926

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Locke Doubled Up On Sprint Titles In 1926

Roland Locke of Nebraska entered the 1926 NCAA Outdoor Championships as the first man in meet history to have run faster than the world record in both the 100 yards and 220 yards.

Locke won both events at the 1926 NCAA meet, but it was at the longer distance where he shined brightest.

The meet – held at Chicago’s Soldier Field for the first time instead of Amos Alonzo Stagg Field – provided a track capable to hold the 220 as a straightaway event. That proved to be a benefit, as each finalist went under the previous meet record of 21.7.

Locke was the only one to go sub-21, winning easily in 20.9. He didn’t need to run near as fast as his world record of 20.6 from a month earlier, which lasted as the WR for nine years – finally surpassed by Jesse Owens on his famous Day of Days at the 1935 Big Ten Championships at 20.4.

Locke was a home-grown Cornhusker star from Lincoln, Nebraska, who once scored 12 touchdowns in one game as a football halfback in high school. His 9.5 in the 100 yards at the 1926 Drake Relays, run in a cold rain, was never submitted for world record status. The ratified WR was then 9.6.

posted: January 14, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

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.

Memorable Moments
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
June 11, 2016

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).