Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL, May 23–24, 1930
The second half of May marked the start of the US collegiate track and field season approaching its climax. The multi-university championships, the so-called conferences, began to pile up. In the highest-quality conference, the Big 10 (also known as the Western Conference), the best result was achieved by 23-year-old pole vaulter Verne McDermont of the University of Illinois, who on his third attempt cleared the season's third-highest mark, 4.22 (13-10). Only Tom Warne, who cleared 4.24 (14-4½) twice, was ahead of him in the rankings. In Evanston, Warne perhaps surprisingly lost to McDermont.
George Simpson, starting from the holes, became the double winner of the games. He pocketed gold medals in both the 100 and the 220-yard dash (straight track). Future Olympic champion Eddie Tolan of the University of Michigan had to watch the Ohio State University man's spikes from behind. Times cannot be discussed, as the raw, cool air and drizzle in the Greater Chicago suburb slowed down the pace.
Rookie of the season, Lee Sentman of Illinois, won both the 120-yard and the less-common 220-yard hurdles (straight track). Richard Rockway, who had competed in Finland in the summer of 1929, took third place in the 100-yard dash and second place in the 220-yard dash.
Ed Gordon, who had taken it easy in the long jump qualification, sharpened up for the final. He won, churning the sand 7.52 (24-8) from the take-off board. Those were the eighth-longest figures in the world that season.
Gordon crowned his career by winning the Olympic gold in the long jump at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. He did not stop there but continued to tame the take-off board until the late 1930s. Gordon's namesake son appeared on American television in the 1990s and the 2000's, where he hosted a talk show.
Ed Gordon should not be confused with Edward "Ned" Gourdin, who set the long jump world record in 1921 and was a lawyer who graduated from Harvard University.
The University of Michigan, led by Tolan, won the Big 10 team championship. The victory was hard-earned. Michigan battled closely with Illinois for points and managed to turn the situation in its favour with victories in the last two events. Steve Farrell, who had coached the school's squad for 18 years, retired after the season.
1–3 (Spalding’s NCAA Guide 1931)