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For more than six decades, men’s outdoor track & field has helped define the history of the Western Athletic Conference. From NCAA championships and Olympic legends to world records and unforgettable dynasties, the WAC has consistently produced some of the sport’s greatest athletes and teams.

The story began in 1963, when Arizona State captured the first-ever WAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship. New Mexico followed with four conference titles before BYU emerged as the league’s early powerhouse.

BYU Reaches the Top
In 1970, BYU reached the pinnacle of collegiate track & field, earning a share of the NCAA National Championship. The Cougars were led by Ralph Mann, who delivered one of the most historic performances in NCAA history by setting a world record in the 440-yard hurdles with a time of 48.8 seconds.

UTEP Builds a Dynasty
The next era belonged to UTEP.
The Miners captured their first NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championship in 1975 behind standout performances from James Munyala in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Hans Hoglund in the shot put.
By 1978, UTEP launched one of the greatest dynasties in NCAA history, winning five consecutive NCAA team championships.
Key moments from the UTEP dynasty:

• 1978: Peter Lemashon won the 800 meters, while Michael Musyoki captured the 10,000 meters.
• 1979: Jerome Deal claimed the NCAA title in the 100 meters, and freshman Suleiman Nyambui won the 10,000.
• 1980: Nyambui swept the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, Bert Cameron won the 400, and Steve Hanna captured the triple jump title.
• 1981: Cameron repeated as NCAA champion in the 400, Nyambui again dominated the distance races, and Hanna defended his triple jump crown.
• 1982: Nyambui cemented his legacy with two more NCAA titles in the 5,000 and 10,000 as UTEP secured its fifth straight NCAA championship.

Several of those performances still remain part of WAC history today, including Cameron’s conference record in the 400 meters and Hanna’s long-standing mark in the triple jump.

BYU Controls the 1990s
In the 1990s, BYU once again became the conference standard, winning seven WAC championships before departing the league in 1999.

TCU’s Historic 2001 Season
One of the closest calls in NCAA championship history came in 2001, when TCU captured the WAC title and finished NCAA runner-up — missing the national championship by just one point.
The Horned Frogs were powered by:

• A national title in the 4x100-meter relay

Utah State and Grand Canyon Continue the Tradition
Utah State emerged as a conference power between 2007 and 2011, winning four WAC championships during that stretch.
More recently, Grand Canyon established itself among the conference’s elite programs with six WAC championships — third-most in conference history behind only BYU and UTEP.

The Current Champions
Today, Utah Valley sits atop the conference as the defending WAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field champions. The Wolverines have captured three conference titles in the past decade and continue to add to the rich tradition of the sport within the WAC.

A Legacy of Excellence
From world records and national championships to Olympic-level performances and historic dynasties, the legacy of WAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field remains one of the most accomplished stories in conference history.

The 2026 WAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by UT Arlington and will be held at Maverick Stadium in Arlington, Texas from Thursday, May 14 through Saturday, May 16.