A native of Kingsport, Darwin Bond became one of the greatest runners to hail from the state. While he attended high school at Dobyns Bennett in Kingsport, he led the track program to regional and national prominence. Bond remained undefeated during his high school career in the 100, 220, and 440. He was a three time state champion in the 440 and his state record time still stands today (the longest standing individual track record in the state).
Darwin was heavily recruited by major college track powers before choosing to attend the University of Tennessee. Bond finished his University of Tennessee career as one of the greatest sprinters in the proud history of the program.
With Bond’s help, Tennessee turned back the powers of the day to win its first NCAA outdoor track and field title in 1974, a rarity then as no other southern school had won a national track title since 1933.
During Bond’s time as a Volunteer, Tennessee dominated the conference, winning seven of eight SEC indoor and outdoor titles. Bond’s 440yd school record of 45.2, which converts to 45.04 in the 400m, stood for a remarkable 28 years.
Bond also still holds a spot in the Tennessee record book in the mile relay and the freshman outdoor 440 record with a 46.0 in 1971. Bond earned a silver in the 400 and contributed eight points to Tennessee’s championship run at the 1974 NCAA Outdoors. Bond also volunteered for anchor leg duty on Tennessee’s third-place 4x110yd relay.
Bond won five SEC titles during his collegiate career. He won his specialty, the 440, at the conference outdoor meet in 1973 and ’74. Testament to his unselfish and team-oriented nature, in 1974 Bond ran the anchor leg on the SEC indoor champion two mile relay. Such a relay mix is rarely seen because of the vast differences between running the 110 and 880, but Bond ran both to help the Vols sweep both SEC Indoor and Outdoor titles in 1974.
Bond accumulated eight All-American honors during his college career and helped establish Tennessee as a dual-meet power and scoring threat across all events. Bond also enjoyed success competing internationally during his collegiate career. He struck gold in the 440 at the 1971 World University Games in Madrid.
Bond helped the U.S. team to gold in the 4×400 and placed fifth in the 440 at the 1973 World University Games in Moscow. Bond also finished second in the 440 in the 1971 U.S. vs. Russia meet. Bond took top honors in the 400 at the Martin Luther King Games in Oslo, Norway.