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
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!