Dennis Ivory
Dennis Ivory (born July 2, 1956) is a former American track and field athlete best known for his collegiate success in the long jump and triple jump during the late 1970s. A standout at the University of Maryland, he earned All-American honors and multiple ACC titles. He is considered one of the top horizontal jumpers in University of Maryland history.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | July 2, 1956 |
| Years active | 1970s |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | Long jump, Triple jump |
Early life
[edit]Dennis Ivory was born on July 2, 1956, and raised in Maryland. His high school coach, who had previously attended and competed alongside University of Maryland coach Frank Costello, introduced Ivory to the university's track and field program. This connection played a pivotal role in Ivory's decision to attend the University of Maryland, where he would go on to have a distinguished athletic career.[1]
College career
[edit]At the University of Maryland, Dennis Ivory was a dominant force in the horizontal jumps from 1975 to 1979. In 1977, he won both the long jump and triple jump at the ACC Championships, setting a meet record in the long jump and helping Maryland secure the overall team title.[2] He helped lead the Maryland Terrapins to three consecutive conference championships and contributed to a sixth-place finish at the 1979 NCAA Indoor Championships. That same year, Ivory set both the University of Maryland and ACC outdoor record in the triple jump with a mark of 55 feet 3 inches (16.84 meters).[1] His record stood for 40 years, until it was broken in 2019 by Jordan Scott of the University of Virginia with a jump of 17.07 meters (56 feet).[3] Ivory also consistently ranked among Maryland’s all-time best in the long jump.
Awards and honors
[edit]| Year | Honor |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Long Jump Champion – ACC[4] |
| 1977 | Long Jump and Triple Jump Champion – ACC[4] |
| 1978 | Long Jump and Triple Jump Champion – ACC[4] |
| 1979 | Triple Jump Champion – ACC[4] |
| 1979 | NCAA All-American – Triple Jump[5] |
| 2008 | Inducted into University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame[1] |
Later life and legacy
[edit]After graduating with a degree in education in 1979, Ivory continued training with the goal of qualifying for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. However, his plans were disrupted by the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics, which ended his Olympic aspirations.
Ivory later relocated to California, where he worked as an educator and coached the Los Angeles Falcons Track and Field team. He eventually returned to Maryland and remained active in athletics as a coach and mentor within the local community.[1]
His accomplishments—including a 55-foot-3-inch triple jump that stood as the Atlantic Coast Conference record for four decades—have made him one of the most decorated field athletes in University of Maryland history. His 2008 induction into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame recognized his lasting impact on the program and collegiate track and field.[1]
See also
[edit]- Atlantic Coast Conference
- University of Maryland, College Park
- Track and field
- 1980 Summer Olympics boycott
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Where Are They Now? Dennis Ivory". UMTerps.com. University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (April 24, 1977). "Maryland Dominates ACC Track". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ "Scott Smashes Triple Jump Mark to Lead UVA at Virginia Challenge". VirginiaSports.com. University of Virginia Athletics. April 21, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Men's ACC 50th Anniversary Teams". UMTerps.com. University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "Men's All-Americans". UMTerps.com. University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved May 30, 2025.