Larry Myricks, Mississippi College: Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, Class of 2024

Larry Myricks made a significant impact as a sophomore at Mississippi College, a Division II school, by winning the NCAA DI Outdoor long jump title and earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. His Olympic hopes were dashed by a broken ankle during the warm-up in Montreal. Despite this setback, Myricks made a strong comeback after an 18-month recovery period. 

He broadened his skills to include the 200 meters in 1978 and dominated his final collegiate year in 1979. He won both the AAU and NCAA DI indoor titles, and then repeated these victories outdoors, along with securing a 200/long jump double at the Division II level which were among his five career DII titles.

Myricks’s eventual return to Montreal for the World Cup was triumphant, where he jumped 8.52m (27-11½), marking one of the longest jumps in world history at that time. Myricks’s journey showcases resilience and a return to peak form following a major injury.