NCAA

Simpson 9.4 – Not Ratified as the World Record

Stagg Field, Chicago, IL, June 7–8, 1929

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) held its championship meet at the familiar Stagg Field in early June.

Starting Blocks Appear

George Simpson of Ohio State won the 100-yard dash, beating Claude Bracey and Eddie Tolan, a season standout and future Olympic champion. His winning time of 9.4  broke the 9.5-second world record for the yardage. However, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) did not ratify the record, as Simpson used starting blocks invented by coach George Bresnahan. At the time, starting blocks were prohibited, giving Simpson what was considered an unfair advantage, comparable to today’s debates about high-tech shoes.

The NCAA, however, accepted Simpson’s time as a collegiate record, and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) officially ratified it in 1944.

Simpson also won the 220-yard dash (on a straight track) with a time of 20.8, which translates to approximately 21.2 seconds on a full curved 200-meter race. Once again, he defeated Tolan.

When touring in Europe later in the summer, fellow sprinter Reginald Bowen analyzed the success of the 1.80m (5-11) Simpson, who surged forward with a long, smooth stride:

"His running style is characterized by a pronounced forward lean of the torso and an unusually high knee lift."

Walter Posts World-Leading Time in the 440-Yard Dash

Russell Walter claimed the 440-yard collegiate title with a world-leading time of 47.9 (equivalent to 47.6 seconds for 400 meters). Walter skipped other major meets, such as the IC4A and U.S. championships, focusing solely on the NCAA event.

Walter’s victory mirrored Quincy Hall’s Olympic triumph 96 years later: Walter was fifth at the start of the home stretch but unleashed a final surge, overtaking rivals and narrowly defeating Riley Williamson by one-tenth of a second at the tape.

Rockaway Triumphs in the High Hurdles

Business student Richard Rockaway won the 120-yard hurdles with a time of 14.7 seconds. Later that summer, Rockaway toured Europe with the American team but was defeated in Helsinki by Bengt Sjöstedt of Finland. 

Tom Warne of Northwestern University and Ward Edmonds of Stanford University shared the pole vault title, both clearing 4.19 (13-9). Their performance set a meet record and tied for the second-best mark in the world for the season.

Future Olympic champion Ed Gordon from the University of Iowa leaped 7.53 (24-8⅜)  to record the third-longest jump of the season. Gordon should not be confused with Ed Gourdin, who set a world record in 1921.

Rasmus Surprises in Discus

In a high-quality discus competition, Peter Rasmus of Ohio State University delivered a surprise victory. Rasmus defeated top competitors, including future Olympic champion John Anderson and future world record-holder Paul Jessup. Even Eric Krenz, who had set a world record earlier in the year, struggled and placed sixth.

Rasmus’s winning toss of 48.51 (159-7) ranked third globally for the season. His career was short-lived, as he graduated in 1929 and competed only sporadically afterward.

Ohio State University took home the NCAA team title.

Results

• 1-5 (Spalding’s Official NCAA Guide Book 1930)

• Almost complete (Track and Field News)

Newspaper Stories

• AP, June 8, 1929

• AP, June 9, 1929

• AP, June 10, 1929

• New Britain Herald, June 12, 1929 (photos)

• Evening Star, June 12, 1929 (photos)