Fight On, Sim! Iness Set World Record In 1953
Something was missing when Sim Iness of Southern California threw a world record 190-0⅞ (57.93m) at the 1953 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska.
“Iness got off his throw with such ease he omitted his usual grunt,” reported Cordner Nelson of Track & Field News.
“The discus left my hand so easy I figured it wasn’t going very far,” explained Iness, repeating his title from 1952. “I never spun in the ring as fast as I did today.”
The ease of the throw belied the difficulty Iness experienced during the 1953 season.
Earlier in the year Iness – whose first name of “Sim” is actually short for “Simeon” – was dominating his collegiate competition much the way a 1952 Olympic gold medalist would be expected to. But a fall down some steps set him back some 25 feet from when he threw 185-5¼ (56.52m) in April – merely the longest by an American on U.S. soil.
Then, a week before the NCAA Championships, Iness was hit squarely in the mouth by a flying disc, leaving him questionable for the meet. But, when he eventually arrived in Nebraska and launched a meet record of 183-0 (55.78m) in the trials, everybody knew he was good to go.
The WR effort came on his third and final effort the next day in the finals as Iness successfully defended his NCAA title. Second place – for the second-straight year – went to teammate Parry O’Brien, who would go on to win repeat as NCAA shot put champion.
Fun fact: Iness was a high school teammate of Bob Mathias. Both graduated from Tulare (California) High School in 1948 and Mathias went on that summer to win the first of two Olympic golds in the decathlon. As the 10-eventer would not become part of the NCAA meet until 1970, Mathias was NCAA runner-up for Stanford in the 1951 discus and 1952 120-yard hurdles.
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.
Providence’s Smith Left Field In The Dust
Kim Smith won the 5000 meters at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships by 36.04 seconds in 15:48.86 for the largest margin of victory in meet history.
Gatlin Doubled Up In Back-To-Back Years
Justin Gatlin completed back-to-back 100-200 doubles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 2001 & 2002. He went 10.08/20.11 & 10.22/20.18 in those respective years.
UTEP’s Hoglund First To Crack 70-Foot Barrier
Hans Hoglund was the first man to touch the 70-foot barrier in the SP at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. He also won by more than 4 feet with his 21.33m (70-0) heave in 1975.
LSU’s Hobbs Couldn’t Be Caught In 2018
Aleia Hobbs anchored LSU to a 4×100 relay MR of 42.25 & then doubled back to win the 100 by 0.23 seconds at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Michael Johnson Had 1990 NCAAs To Remember
All eyes were on Michael Johnson of Baylor in the 4×400-meter relay at the 1990 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Riley Completed Unprecedented Double In 2012
Andrew Riley completed the only 100-110H double in NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships history in 2012. Riley won the 100 in 10.27 & then captured the 110H crown in 13.53
Leatherwood Rolled To Back-To-Back 400 Titles
Lillie Leatherwood won back-to-back 400-meter titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor T&F Championships in 1986 & 1987. She set a meet record of 50.90 in that second year.
Iowa’s Jones Made Distance History
Charles “Deacon” Jones set a meet record in the 2-mile at the 1957 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with his time of 8:57.6.
Locke Doubled Up On Sprint Titles In 1926
Roland Locke entered the 1926 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships as the WR holder in the 220. He left with the meet record in that event (20.9) & also won the 100 in 9.9.
McLain Bounded To All-Conditions TJ Best
Erica McLain won the triple jump at the 2008 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships by nearly two feet! McLain bounded to an all-conditions meet best at 14.60m (47-11).