On June 17 1921
June 17-18, 1921: Sixty-two teams participate in the first NCAA-sponsored championship, the National Collegiate Track and Field Championships, at the University of Chicago. Among the champions is Leonard Paulu of Grinnell, a veteran who lost an eye in World War I.
Sources:
Sources: “In the Arena: The NCAA’s First Century” by Joseph N. Crowley, NCAA News and Champion magazine archives, the NCAA Media Center, and NCAA record books