The 1956 NCAA Track and Field Championships were held in Berkeley, California in June 1956.
UCLA won the team title, ending a seven-year streak by the University of Southern California.
[1] Bobby Morrow of Abilene Christian led all athletes with 20 points in the meet.
[1] Morrow went on to win three gold medals in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Rafer Johnson led the scoring for team champion UCLA.
Johnson scored 16 of UCLA's 55-7/10 points with second-place finishes in the broad jump and high hurdles.
[1] Johnson went on to win the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Arnie Sowell of the University of Pittsburgh set the new American mark with a time of 1:46.7.
Lee Calhoun, North Carolina College – 13.7 2.
Floerke, Kansas – 24 feet 5 inches (7.44 m) High jump[2] 1.
Dyer, UCLA – 6 feet 8+1⁄4 inches (2.038 m) Pole vault[2] 1.
Landstrom, Michigan – 14 feet 4 inches (4.37 m) Discus throw[2] 1.
Bitner, Kansas – 223 feet 11+1⁄2 inches (68.263 m) Shot put[2] 1.
Owen, Michigan – 57 feet 2⁄3 inch (17.391 m) Hammer throw[2] 1.
McWilliams, Bowdoin – 195 feet 3 inches (59.51 m) (new NCAA meet record) 2.
Morefield, MIT – 193 feet 2 inches (58.88 m) Hop, step and jump[2] 1.