Thursday, September 21, 1967
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9
Challenge faces frosh
by Don Steffens UDK Sports Editor
Coach Bob Timmons has again recruited one of the nation's best freshmen cross-country teams. But the new Jayhawks have a challenging tradition to meet.
Their predecessors have captured first in the nationally recognized postal meet three times, second once and no finishes lower than sixth in the last six years. This is better than any other team in the country.
Heading the list are two of California's top prep milers (Thorn Bigley and Mike Solomon) from last year and one of Kansas' best ever all-round middle distance runners (Jim Neilhouse).
They are joined by a number of other fine distance men with nearly as impressive credentials.
Solomon comes to Mt. Oread as the California State prep mile champion, a high distinction among prep tracksters, with a best mile time of 4:09.2, a time which ranked seventh in the nation last spring.
His two-mile best of 9:23.0 earned him runner-up spot in the schoolboy postal competition last fall.
He's from Westminster, Calif. high school and under those colors met his present teammate, Bigley, twice in interscholastic competition. Solomon was a narrow winner on both occasions.
Their first encounter was in the state meet and the second at the almost-national high school meet in mid-July held at Sacramento, Calif.
Bigley brings a unique story of initiation to track with him from Clairement, Calif., high school. Thorn was a member of the school tennis team until former
KU great and Olympic champion Billy Mills talked him into trying out for track.
They are neighbors in this suburb of San Diego.
The immediate results were nearly fantastic as Bigley posted a 1.54:5 half as a junior and clipped off a 4:10.2 mile this past spring. He further proves his versatility with a 48.9 440-relay leg.
Bigley hasn't been fully tested over long cross-country distances that range up to six miles but he appears to hold an enormous reservoir of untapped talent. He may be just starting to show it.
He copped five individual state championships ranging from 440-yards to two-miles last year.
Another frush who didn't bloom until late in his senior campaign is Jim Neihouse, a lanky diversified runner from Sacred Heart High School in Salina.
Neihouse ran away with the state cross-country class A crown last fall and came back to win the indoor quarter and half-mile titles. Outdoors he swept the 880 and mile.
In a summer meet he lowered his best half clocking to 1.51.8.
good for seventh fastest in the nation. That time was seven seconds faster than any time he had clocked previous to last year.
Three more Kansans give the yearling Hawks excellent depth: Phil Young and Dennis Petterson, teammates from Wichita East, and Buddy Wiles, from Tonganoxie.
Petterson and Wiles showed cross-country ability last year as each placed second in the state harrier meet in class AA and B divisions, respectively. Young is another versatile runner, with good times in the quarter through two-miles.
Jay Mason, from Hobbs, N. Mex., brings one of the nation's better two-mile records to Kansas with a best of 9:23.4. He led his high school teammates to two straight cross-country championships and one in track. Individually, he placed no lower than fifth in any of those years.
Rounding out the squad are: Anthony Eliassen (Oak Park, Ill.); Jay Steinberg (Glen Ellyn, Ill.); Geoff Cahoon (Woods Hole, Mass.); Ralph Stewart (Rockford, Ill.); and Craig Rindt (Wichita East).
WELCOME to Southside CHURCH OF CHRIST 25th and Missouri
Services:
Bible Study—9:30 a.m. Worship—10:30 a.m.
Evening Worship—6:00 p.m.
If you need a ride call VI 3-3867 or VI 3-2433
SINGERS Coming Next Week!
A new folk singing group formed of college students from Kansas and Nebraska this summer will be singing at the Ballroom of the Kansas Union.
8:15 p.m.
Tickets $1.00
Thursday, Sept. 28, 1967
TEE PEE
RE-OPENS FOR THE FALL SEMESTER
FRIDAY,SEPT.22nd
With
THE FANTASTICKS
8-12 p.m.
Admission $1 per person