Vicki Huber’s first and last track race at the NCAA Championships had the same result – victory. She collected eight NCAA titles in all, tied for second most when women combining Division I cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. While Huber set five collegiate records that included one each in the indoor…
DeHart Hubbard set records – and broke barriers – on a seemingly regular basis. His first NCAA Championships meet as a sophomore in 1923 will be remembered for winning the long jump to become the first black athlete in any sport to win an NCAA title. His chance to repeat in 1924 vanished when the…
Carlette Guidry was once called “a team by herself.” While at times she seemed to be everywhere, she was most prominent in the sprints. That’s where gained the appropriate nickname of “Ms. Turbo.” No other man or woman has won more combined indoor or outdoor NCAA Division I individual sprint titles than Guidry’s seven. She…
Charlie Greene had speed to burn, and when a sprint championship race lined up with him in it, a spectacle was about to unfold with records always in danger. Greene claimed the first three 60-yard dash titles at the NCAA Indoor Championships, setting or tying the meet record each time. He followed in June each…
The most impressive aspect of Suzy Favor’s career at Wisconsin might be that she won nine NCAA titles, the most ever by a woman in track & field. Or – some could contend – it’s that she never lost an NCAA individual final track race. Both views show her dominance that began as a freshman…
Known affectionately as “Bones” due to his slight build, Harrison Dillard joined a fellow high school alum in being a legend in track & field. Stories tell that Dillard was encouraged by Jesse Owens – another graduate of Cleveland’s East Technical High school – with returning to college following serving in World War II. Dillard…
The history of the mile struck gold with Ron Delany, who became the first of a long line of Irish talents in the event to star collegiately at Villanova. He owned a miler’s best weapon – a punishing kick. Delany’s rise to stardom is a wonderful story. He shaved nearly six seconds off his mile…
Ralph Boston’s greatness was just beginning when he won the NCAA Championships long jump title in 1960. That summer he went on to break the world record set by Jesse Owens in 1935 while qualifying for the Rome Olympics, where he won the gold medal. His senior season of 1961 saw him break the indoor…
The range of talent for Jenny Barringer seemed to have no boundaries, stretching from the 1500 to 5000 meters. But the sweet spot was certainly at 3000 meters – particularly with barriers and a water jump – the distance at which she won all of her four NCAA titles. Barringer was particularly dominating in her…