Former Southern track and field standout and great Rodney Milburn is part of the inaugural class of inductees into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame for track and field and cross country, the USTFCCCA announced on Thursday.
Milburn elevated hurdling beyond collegiate competition, which started as a sophomore at Southern in 1971. That year, the J.S. Clark High School graduate was named the World Athlete of the Year by Track & Field News.
In 1971, Milburn won the first of his two NCAA titles in the 120-yard hurdles — his other came in 1973. He made it a double in '73 when he claimed the 60-yard hurdles at the NCAA indoor championships. Milburn also claimed the first of three consecutive titles in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1971 USA championships.
One year later, a victory at the USA meet qualified Milburn for the Olympics. In Munich, he broke the world record in winning the gold medal in 13.24 seconds. It was one of six certified world records he set as a collegian — three of them coming in his senior season in 1973.
He never lost an NCAA or NAIA championships hurdles race – indoors or outdoors, winning 12 championships in 12 of 12 times.
Milburn, the No. 1-ranked hurdler in the world from 1971-73, was honored as one of Louisiana's top 50 athletes of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
He was the second Olympic gold medal winner to come from Southern University.
NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Track & FIeld and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is proud to announce the establishment of the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame for the sports of track & field and cross country. In addition, the association is announcing details of the inaugural induction ceremony and the initial 30 athletes that will be enshrined.
Nearly 150 years has elapsed since the first known intercollegiate competitions of running, jumping, and throwing took place. Those events in the mid-to-late 19th century set the stage for the modern-day sports of collegiate track & field and cross country.
Millions of collegians have taken to the track, the field, and/or grassy terrain from coast-to-coast over the past century-and-a-half. A hall of fame honoring these best-of-the-best athletes is much overdue.
"The Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame is intended to acknowledge the great athletes who have made collegiate track & field and cross country such incredible sports," said Sam Seemes, CEO of the USTFCCCA. "Not only do we have a large queue of past athletes that are worthy of enshrinement into this hall of fame, we also recognize a vital responsibility in producing first-class presentations to properly commemorate their accomplishments"
In addition to an annual induction ceremony, plans for a permanent "hall" location are being pursued.
"I'm proud that we're stepping forward to preserve our history," added USTFCCCA President Leroy Burrell, in his 23rd year as head coach of track & field at the University of Houston. "Many of the coaches in our association agree that a collegiate athlete hall of fame is long overdue to recognize the athletes who have provided us with countless unforgettable moments."
The inaugural induction presentation will take place at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Ore., at 7:30 p.m., Pacific, on Monday, June 6. The onsite event will be free and open to the public and can also be accessed worldwide via YouTube live webcast.
ESPN's John Anderson will host the two-hour event that will celebrate the inducted athletes with a look back at their collegiate careers via video tributes, roundtable panel discussions, and special guest appearances. A number of the inductees will be in attendance to reflect on their own careers and provide perspective on the impact of fellow inductees.
"Our goal is to capsule into the past -- immortalize the incredible moments, accomplishments, and milestones that have defined our sports while also providing necessary context that resonates to present and future generations of collegiate athletes," added Seemes.
The induction will precede the 100th edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships which will be held at Hayward Field, June 8-11.
The inaugural group of 30 inductees – chosen solely on their accomplishments while a collegiate athlete – is just a starting point to showcase the robust history of excellence in collegiate track & field and cross country. This group during their collegiate careers compiled 205 national collegiate individual titles, 99 world records, and 19 Olympic gold medals.
They are: Jenny Barringer (Colorado, 2005-2009), Ralph Boston (Tennessee State, 1958-1961), Ron Delany (Villanova, 1955-1958), Harrison Dillard (Baldwin Wallace, 1942-1943, 1946-1948), Suzy Favor (Wisconsin, 1986-1990), Charlie Greene (Nebraska, 1964-1967), Carlette Guidry (Texas, 1988-1991), DeHart Hubbard (Michigan, 1922-1925), Vicki Huber (Villanova, 1985-1989), Jackie Johnson (Arizona State, 2004, 2006-2008), Jackie Joyner (UCLA, 1981-1983, 1985), Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech, 2005-2009), Carl Lewis (Houston, 1980-1981), Gerry Lindgren (Washington State, 1965-1969), Randy Matson (Texas A&M, 1964-1967), Ralph Metcalfe (Marquette, 1931-1934), Rodney Milburn (Southern, 1970-1973), Bobby Morrow (Abilene Christian, 1955-1958), Suleiman Nyambui (UTEP, 1978-1982), Billy Olson (Abilene Christian, 1978-1982), Merlene Ottey (Nebraska, 1980-1984), Jesse Owens (Ohio State, 1934-1936), Mel Patton (Southern California, 1946-1949), Steve Prefontaine (Oregon, 1969-1973), Meg Ritchie (Arizona, 1980-1983), Henry Rono (Washington State, 1976-1979), Wilma Rudolph (Tennessee State, 1959-1963), Jim Ryun (Kansas, 1966-1969), Erick Walder (Arkansas, 1991-1994), John Woodruff (Pittsburgh, 1936-1939).
Eligibility for induction this year was limited to men who had completed their collegiate eligibility prior to 2000 and women prior to 2010.
About the USTFCCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 11,000 coaching members encompassing 98-percent of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA and NJCAA, as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as an activist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.
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