Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships
Lash Led Indiana Dominance In NCAA’s First 5K
June 20, 1936
In 1936, Don Lash became known as “The Iron Man of Indiana.”
Befitting his nickname, Lash made winning the first 5000-meter title at the NCAA Track & Field Championships look easy.
The 5K distance was more than one mile longer than the longest race normally contested by collegians then – the 2-mile. It just so happens that Lash broke the world record in the 2-mile just one week earlier.
But Lash had already proven that the so-called “long distance” of 5K was right in his wheelhouse after having already won two AAU national cross country titles over 10,000 meters.