Villanova’s Delany Starred In NCAA 1500/Mile
A duel of collegiate miler greats was one of the features of the 1956 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Edwards Stadium on the campus of California at Berkeley.
The headliners were about as big as possible, pitting the first two collegians to break the 4-minute mile barrier with each having done so impressively.
Defending NCAA mile champ Jim Bailey of Oregon was the first sub-4 collegiate miler at 3:58.6, upsetting Australian countrymate and mile world record holder John Landy in early May with a ferocious last lap of 55.5. Bailey’s time was a PR by seven seconds.
A well-beaten third in that race was Villanova’s Ron Delany, but the sophomore showed amazing improvement a month later when he chopped nearly six seconds off his PR with a 3:59.0 to edge Denmark’s Gunnar Nielsen – a co-world record holder in the 1500 and indoor mile WR holder. Delany’s last 120 yards was clocked in 14.4 – then the fastest finish of any sub-4 miler.
With 1956 being an Olympic year, the NCAA held a 1500 meters instead of the then-normal mile.
Nobody was surprised that neither fast-finisher wanted the early lead, but no one else was extremely interested to lead so the pace dawdled – 2:06.6 for the first two laps with all 16 runners in the field bunched together.
At the bell lap, Don Bowden of the host Cal Golden Bears shot to the front and still led with half a lap to go, although Bailey was right with him and seemed well poised to unleash his kick.
However, Delany beat Bailey to the punch, emerging from the pack and going wide around the last curve to take the lead. Bailey followed as the two sprinted furiously, quickly separating themselves from the rest.
Delany held the lead all the way to the tape, winning by some five feet in a meet-record 3:47.3. Bailey (3:47.6) followed as the top five all bettered the previous 1500 meet record. Delany’s last lap was timed in 54.1, while Bailey’s was 54.6.
Delany would add global superiority in the fall, winning the Melbourne Olympics 1500 for his native Ireland. No other miler has ever won the 1500 or mile titles in the NCAA and Olympics in the same year.
Delany added three more career NCAA mile titles, winning the mile in 1957 and 1958 – the latter part of a double with the 880. During his senior season at Villanova he set the first of three career indoor mile world records.
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.
SIU’s Roggy Dominated The Javelin In 1978
Bob Roggy won the javelin title at the 1978 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships by more than 20 feet. Roggy qualified first for the final with a MR heave of 89.30m (293‑0).
Makusha Made History In Bowerman Year Of 2011
Ngoni Makusha became just the fourth man in meet history to win individual titles in both the 100 and LJ. It was his 3rd career LJ crown and he set a CR in the 100 of 9.89.
George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988
Nena Gage won the long jump at the 1988 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a shocking upset over Gail Devers.
Texas’ Thompson Marveled In NCAA Distance Events
Jerry Thompson won three career distance titles at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. His first came in 1943. Then he won again in 1947 & 1948 after serving in World War II.
Grinnell’s Paulu Sprinted To NCAA History
Leonard Paulu was the first athlete to complete the 100-200 double in NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships history in 1922. That also made him the 1st to win back-to-back 100 titles, too.
Scott Won Back-To-Back NCAA Hammer Titles
Candice Scott won back-to-back hammer throw titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2003 & 2004. Scott set a meet record of 69.77m (228-11) in that first year.
Drouin Soared To The Bowerman In 2013
Derek Drouin won two career HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. When Drouin won in 2013, he was only the fourth man to clear 2.34m (7-8) in meet history.
Watts Made Quick Work Of NCAA 400
Quincy Watts set a meet record in the 400 of 44.00 at the 1992 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It lasted 25 years until 2017.
Iowa State’s Koll Rolled To 5K-10K Crowns
Lisa Koll won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in dominant fashion. Her average margin of victory in those 5K & 10K races was 37.73 seconds.
LSU’s Hardin Completed Unique 440-220H Double Twice
The nearly unheard of 440-220H double was so nice that Glenn Hardin did it twice! Hardin became the first to do so in meet history in 1933 and then swept them again in 1934.