In 1921 a change was made to accommodate the exceptionally large entries in the 440-yard dash and 880-yard run. Up until now, the enormous number of entries in events were solved by heats, qualifying standards, and the addition of ten sectionals which qualified the top two to the IHSAA State Finals. This meant that the 440, 880 and mile would have 20 in each race. However, more had to be done to eliminate several rows of contestants in the 440-yard dash and 880-yard run. The sprints were contested in heats races in the morning and finals in the afternoon. The IHSAA and coaches agreed to add two sections for the 440-yard dash and 880-yard run to be contested in the afternoon with both scoring. In 1922, they both agreed to add the mile run to the two-section format. Sprint coaches were not always favorable to this format. However, it was an improvement over the one-race format. This format of two race finals in the 440-yard dash, 880-yard run, and mile run continued until 1949, at which time four regional meets were added with three qualifying in the 440-yard dash (12 total) and two qualifying in the 880-yard run (eight total) and mile run (eight total) and the IHSAA State Finals went back to one race in each of the above.

During this, many unique finishes occurred. In the 440-yard dash, Ivan Fuqua of Brazil won with the slowest time in 1928 (52.4) and won in both 1929 (52.0), 1930 (50.2 record) and defeated the next three-time winner Carl William, Lebanon, 1930 slowest time (51.3) and 1931 (50.3) and 1932 (50.7). Others: Homer Davidson, Marion 1926 (52.5) and 1927 (51.4), Freeman Wampler, Vincennes, tied time in 1923 (53.3) and won in 1924 (52.6), as did Harold Jones, Gary Roosevelt tied in 1946 (50.6) and won in 1947 (49.4) and Roy Pearson, Ben Davis, slow time in 1940 (51.0) and won in 1941 (50.5).

Multi winners in the 880 included: Eugene Yates, Anderson, four-time winner two slowest 1937 (2:03.6), 1938 (2:02.9) and two fastest 1939 (1:58.8) and 1940 (2:00.0); Herbert Sears, Indianapolis Tech, three-time winner all fastest 1927 (2:03.3), 1928 {2:00.2 record), and 1929 (2:02.6); George Carrol Spradling, Frankfort two fastest 1921 (2:06.4) and 1922 (2:04.0 record); Mel Truitt, Hammond 1933 (1:57.9 smashing the record) and 1934 (2:00.5) [However he won the 440 (51.0) before the 880 race]; Harold Evans, Elwood two fastest 1943 (2:02.6) and 1944 (1:59.0); Russell Smith, Anderson 1947 (1:58) and 1948 (2:01.1). Four won with two slowest: Alfred Jackson, Anderson 1922 (2:07.0) and 1923 (2:07.0); Dale Teeters, Elkhart, 1925 (2:07.4) and 1926 (2:04.0),  Harold Salyer, Muncie Burris, 1942 (1:59.2) and 1943 (2:03.5) and James Welsflog, Michigan City, 1946 (2:03.3) and 1947 (1:59.0).

The mile multi winners were: Ashley Hawk, Fort Wayne North Side, won three times 1941 (4:34.4), 1942 (4:31.8) and 1944 (4:26.6). However, he was second to John Corridan, Terre Haute Wiley, who ran a record 4:24.4 in 1943. Andrew Sears, Greencastle, won three times two fastest and one slowest 1925 (4:46.7), 1926 (4:38.3) and 1927 (4:35.0); Earl Mitchell, Anderson, won two fastest 1938 (4:34.5) and 1939 (4:27.6), as did John Stayton, Anderson, 1947 (4:28.4) and 1948 (4:24.9). Stayton would go on to win in 1949 when the distance races were contested as one race then and thereafter. Three won a fastest and a slowest Virgil Bolding, Bedford, 1930 (4:34.3 slowest), 1931 (4:28.5 fastest); William Southworth, Anderson 1935 (4:28.3 fastest) and 1936 (4:30.2 slowest); Rodney Grobey, Muncie Central 1940 (4:32.7 fastest), 1941 (4:35.3 slowest) and Victory Flynn, Sullivan, won two slowest 1927 (4:38.1) and 1928 (4:40.5).