Big 10

In the top division of U.S. collegiate athletics, the Western Conference aka Big 10, serious attempts were made to break the long jump world record. DeHart Hubbard leaped a conference record of 7.65  (25-1), falling just 4 centimeters short of Ed Gourdin’s world record. Even this jump secured the top spot in the world rankings before Hubbard improved to 7.67 (25-2) at the NCAA championships two weeks later.

In the 440 yards (402.3m), Paul Sweet of Illinois took victory with the second-fastest time of the year, 48.2 (equivalent to 47.9 for the 400-meter event). Joseph Bier of Washington came second with the 12th fastest time of the year, 49.0.

Fast Two Laps by Valley

Two laps around the track (880 yards; 804.7m) saw impressive performances, with Lloyd Valley of Wisconsin clocking 1:55.1, the fourth-best time of the year.

The 220-yard sprint (201.2m) on a straight track witnessed the son of a professor, Eric Wilson of Iowa, recording 21.2  in both the heats and finals, a mark that ranked ninth for the season and corresponded to 21.6 on a curved track for 200.

220-yard hurdles on a straight track saw Charles Brookins of Iowa set a world record of 23.2. Finnish fans remember Brookins for the 1924 Paris Olympics, where he finished second in the 400-meter timbers but was disqualified for a lane violation, elevating Erik Wilén of Finland to silver.

Dean Brownell of Illinois cleared 4.01 (13-¾) to win the pole vault. Although Charles Hoff of Norway dominated the year’s rankings, Brownell’s performance was the best by an American that summer.

Approximately 5,000 spectators filled the stands, often rising to cheer for the remarkable results.

Michigan University triumphed in the Western Conference team competition.

Results

• 1–4 (Spalding’s NCAA Guide)

Newspaper Stories

• AP, June 3, 1923 

• Casper Daily Tribune, June 3,  1923  

• Casper Daily Tribune, June 3, 1923  (comparison between the results of the IC4A and Western Conference)