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Thursday, June 17, 1976
University Daily Kansan
KU trackmen try for Olympics
Rv COURTNEY THOMPSON
Staff Writer
Twenty-two current and former University of Kansas athletes will represent KU this weekend at the opening of the 2016 Big Ten Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.
The week-long competition, which begins
saturday at the University of Oklahoma
team for the NCAA Tournament,
is played in Monroe.
"I'm really happy that so many of these men have qualified for the trials," Bob Timmons, head track coach, said yesterdays. "We need to elevate individual talents and the overall strength of
Sports
our track program. I don't think we've ever bad this many men qualify before."
"The TRIALS will present the toughest competition any of our present team has seen, although some of our former athletes may since have faced competition comparable to that of the Olympic trials," Timmons said.
Often the trials proved to be more difficult than Olympic competition itself, he said.
The KU athletes must be in top form every day of the trials to make the Olympic team. One bad performance could cast doubt on qualifying for the Olympics isn't unusual.
for Jajawkh trackman. Timmons said that this tradition in Kansas track program is similar to the traditional one.
"When you talk about people like (Billy) Mills, Biller Nider and Jim Ryun, you're talking about some of the greats in the history of track and field." he said.
RAY MOUTLON was the first KU trackman to go to the Olympics, in St. Louis in 1904. Since then, 16 KU track athletes have competed in a total of 11 Olympias and have won a total of 13 medals, including seven gold ones.
The first KU athlete to win a track gold medal was decathlon runner Jim Busein in the 1964 Olympics, and the 1956 Olympics to start his string of four consecutive first-place finishes. In 1960 Bill Nieler won the win in the 10,000 meter run at the 1972 Summer Games.
The strength of this year's group appears to lie in the sprint events, Timmons said. Current KU sprinters Laverne Smith, Larry Jackson and Clifford Wiley have qualified for the trials in the 100 and 200 meters, which will be joined by former KU star Mark Lutz.
THOSE FROM THE '76 team who have qualified for the 400 meter dash are Waddell and Erik Schmidt.
Big Eight track and football star Nolan Crownhill will be competing in the 2014 MLS season.
In the field events, the javelin and long jump will be the Jahwaha's strong points.
the current KU team, will throw the javelin.
Each has thrown it over 280 feet.
Six former KU athletes will also represent the Jachayhs in field events. Long jumpers David Smith and Andrew Whitley have qualified, Keith Gunn and Randy Smith will compete in the high jump. Terry Porter, who recently cleared the 18 mark in vaulting, will also represent KU.
FOR THE first time the U.S. Olympic Committee will pay the athletes' transportation, room and board. Timmons said. "We are very disappointed for workdays lost from the
beginning of the training period until the conclusion of the games, he said.
Another first is that men's and women's trials will be held simultaneously.
Intramural scores
Co-recessional slowpitch
Our Gang 27, Plumbers' Unit 7
Praetier and Associates 19, Royals 12
THE TASTE IS IN THE SAUCE
All the Kirk's Men 18, Speedtraders 4
Late Cormiers 9, Once is Not Equal 8
Men's sleepspych
Manny O'Neal's Hairy Rators 12, Ballet Hall Bombers 9
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