Stagg Field, Chicago, IL, USA, June 15–16, 1923
The best track and field athletes from U.S. universities gathered for the third consecutive year at Chicago's Stagg Field to compete for the NCAA championships.
The long jumpers had stirred up the top of the world rankings at the NCAA championships in 1922. The trend continued a year later, albeit with only one man. Future Olympic champion DeHart Hubbard of Michigan was only two centimeters short of Ed Gourdin's world record when he leaped 7.67 meters (25-2). Silver medalist Ray Van Arsdele from Wabash was more than half a meter behind.
Ivan Riley of Kansas State University ran the 120-yard hurdles so swiftly that his winning time of 15.2 seconds would have ranked tenth in the world. In the heats, Earl Frazier and Jake Brickman managed 15.1 seconds. However, the finals did not go as well for the duo, who finished 6th and 7th respectively in the tight race.
Architect Riley, who tragically passed away from a brain tumor before turning 50, navigated seamlessly between different hurdle distances during his athletic career. In 1923, the two-time Olympian claimed the U.S. championship in the 400-meter hurdles, and a year later, in the 110-meter hurdles.
There was also a strong performance in the longer hurdle race. Charley Brookins clocked a time of 23.6 seconds. However, hurdles were knocked over along the way, so the performance was not recognized even as an unofficial world record due to the outdated rule regarding hurdle collisions. In the heats, Brookins set a time of 23.9.
The second place in the low hurdles went to three-time Olympian F. Morgan Taylor, who defeated Erik Wilén of Finland at the Paris Olympics, where Wilén earned silver due to Brookins' disqualification.
Future hammer throw Olympic champion and captain of Bowdoin University's track and field team, Fred Tootell, dominated his event. He threw the hammer to a distance of 53.36 meters (175-1), which would have secured the top spot in the world rankings if he had not already thrown even farther a couple of weeks earlier at the IC4A championships.
The team competition was clearly won by the University of Illinois. Jack Merchant was absent from the California team, so the defending team champions from Berkeley couldn't even field a full team.
Almost complete (Track And Field News)
1-5 (Wikipedia)
1-5 (Spalding’s NCAA Track And Field Guide 1924)