Friday, April 20, 1973
University Daily Kansan
Kansan Staff Photos by PRIS BRANDSTED
Al Oerter Winds Up to Throw
Former Jayhawk a four-time Olympic gold winner
By GERALD EWING
Kansan Staff Writer
Oerter Four-time Winner at Olympics
What is so important about Al Otert? He is the only man ever to win four consecutive gold medals for the discus throw in the Olympic Games. He won in 1956 at Melbourne, 1960 at Rome, 1964 at Tokyo and in 1968 at Mexico City. He has won in nearly every track meet imaginable in his career, which spanned from 1955 to 1969.
Oterer is a quiet, soft-spoken man with ...cocent in his voice that indicates he has a strong personality most of his life. He is a system analyst and a Vice President, Aircraft Corp., a Long Island, N.Y., based firm. He is 38 years old, married, has two children, and is 1982 graduate of the University of Kansas.
Otert came to KU in 1655 at the urging of his New Hydie Park, N.Y., high school coach, who was a graduate of Emporia State College. Bill Easton, the KU track coach at the time and the predecessor to Coach B Timmons, described Otert as a "big strapped boy with a butch haircut and a tremendous competitive desire."
Oerter's junior and senior years at KU were just as successful. He continued his domination of collegiate竞赛 competition by winning the Kansas, Texa and Drake Relays, and the Big Eight and NCAA also won the 1957 National Championship. He also won the 1957 NCAA All-American Athletic Union Championship, and was named to the 1957 and 1958 All-America team.
OERTER WASTED little time in establishing himself as a world renowned athlete. In 1956, as a 20-year-old sophomore, he won the discus competition in the Kansas Relays, Texas Relays, Drake Relays and Big Eight Outdoor Championship. In the after his sophomore year, he started winning in discus throws in Melbourne with a throw of 184 feet 10", an Olympic record.
Oerter graduated in 1958 with a degree in business. He then won the discus throw in the National AUCH Championship in 1959, 1960 and 1962. In 1960, at Rome, he won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal. He also became the winner, which betterowed his own Olympic record.
IN 1962, Olerer became the first man to throw the discus over 200 feet. His throw came at the Arkansas Relsays, held at Fayetteville. Although his throw was the second most powerful world record because of irregular conditions at the Fayetteville track. At the
In 1964, Oerter won his third consecutive Olympic gold medal. His throw was 201 feet $1 \frac{1}{2}$, and he became the first Olympian to throw over 200 feet.
National AAU Championships, his throw of
ten feet 10% was a world record which stood
until the last time.
In 1988 at Mexico City, Oerter's throw of
322 feet 7 feet won his fifth consecutive
winning game.
OERTER SAID that from what he observed in 1909, things had changed much more.
In 1969, Oster returned to KU to compete in the Kansas Relays. The Relays were dedicated to him that year, and a special开会 discussion created as a challenge for his team. Although he was practicing for only two weeks, he won the competition with a throw of 189 feet $7\%$.
"I don't think it is that much different," he said. "Physically it has changed a lot, especially the stadium with the new track. But, the students haven't changed much. They are still the same considerate people they were when I was here."
Easton said that Oterer always could prepare himself for the big meets.
"In all of his Olympic championships, he never was the favorite to win the gold medal. He did not win the medal he was. He prepared himself methodically that he just simply whipped the others when he needed to. He is a person who has an infinite belief in his ability to perform."
"At Mexico City, he just psyched the others clear out," Easted said. "It had beenraining all day and the ring was slippery and wet. But Al kept warm and ready, and when his time came he just outthrew them."
IN THE 1964 and 1968 Olympics Oerter competed with injuries that would have forced most athletes to withdraw. In 1964 at Tokyo, Oerter won despite having severely injured his right foot (90 at Mexico City, he won again, this time with a badly pinched nerve in his neck.
Easton said that Otert was one of the most decorated athletes in the world. In 1958, he was honored by the Dominican Republic as the principal subject of an airmail stamp. In 1964, he was named the Top Athlete for North America by the Helms Foundation. And in 1968, the British press voted him the Outstanding
Area Merchants Provide Trophies
By SARAH WOHLRABE Kansan Staff Writer
"Sol Mark's Jewelers is far beyond reproach as far as workmanship, craftsmanship and cost of the awards are contested. The manager of the Kansas Rulers Committee.
Since the founding of the Kansas Relays in 1923, Mark's Jewelers, 817 Mass., has furnished all awards and special trophies for winners and honored guests of the event. The company is supplying the awards is competitive, Mark's Jewelers has commanded the tradition.
Four years ago the Kansas Relays Committee adopted the Jayhawk to replace the standard track figures on plaques and cups.
"The Jayhawk is distinct in itself. It belongs only to the University of Kansas." said Elibel. "Not only is the Jayhawk distinct, it is topical to the Kansas Relays and makes the Kansas Relays distinct in itself."
The total cost of the trophies furnished by local businesses approaches $1,000. Lien hardy
William Lienhard, of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce said, "Seventeen trophies are provided by area businesses. The Chamber of Commerce gives business active in supporting the Kansas Trolley first opportunity to sponsor a trophy."
Local merchants through the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce absorb the cost of a number of special trophies, trophies for winning relay teams in university and plaques and plaques to winning relay teams in junior college and high school divisions.
"The Chamber of Commerce has never had a problem locating merchants to cover the country."
Special trophies presented by local businesses are:
- Don Pierce Memorial Award, presented to the outstanding Kansas Relays performer. It is given in memory of Pierce, University of Kansas sports information and performance performer is selected by a vote of the news media covering the Kansas Relays.
—Larry Winn Trophy, given to the winner of the 3,000-meter steep chase.
—Julius Marks Trophy, going to the winner of the six-mile open run. The trophy is named for the Lawrence jeweler who has recently furnished the Kansas Relays awards.
-Glenn Cunningham Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Cunningham mile.
—Cliff Cushman Trophy, which goes to the winner of the Cliff Cushman 440-yard low hurdles. Established in 1988 by Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe, the trophy is in honor of the former Kansas track captain who is missing in action in Vietnam.
—Chuck Cramer Mile Relay Trophy contributed by Chuck Cramer of Gardner. It goes to the winning university division mile relay team.
Aside from the special event trophies, awards are presented to the first, second and third place winners.
Champions of all university and college division individual events, open individual events and winning university division relay teams receive Kansas Relay wrist clubs are awarded to members of college membership relay teams. Second and third place winners of all individual and relay events receive silver and bronze medals.
Each year the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce presents special awards to per- mentors and instructors.
--the Kansas Relays. Kansas Relays wrist watches are given for 30 years of service as well.
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Three persons will be given these awards at the Kansas Relays. They are Dick Sklar, head judge of field events, James Gillispie, clerk of the track course and Chuck Moyer, track coach for the furnisher of trainers and training supplies to the Kansas Relays for over 30 years.
Come see . . .
For 25 years of Kansas Relays service the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce presents Jayhawk plaques. Six persons will receive the service plaque. They are Henry Shenk, Renee O'Neill, Greg Wheatley, Barnes, retrained Shawnee Mission school teacher; G. V. Bourrett, retrained Kansas City, Kans., school teacher; Cliff Olander, retreated Kansas City, Kans., school teacher; Min. Junior School track coach and Maj. Falkenstien, Kansas Relays announcer
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OERTER SAID that he couldn't point to one competition as his most gratifying at KU. "I probably enjoyed the Relsus circuit most," he said. "Coach Easton had set winning the Relsus circuit as a goal for all of us. We all strived to win the three relays three years in a row. I was just lucky enough to do it."
Otert said that he did miss being a part of the 1972 Olympic Games held in Munich.
"I didn't miss competing in the discus at all. But, I did miss being part of the Games. I always did enjoy the Olympic Games," he said.
The third Olympian is Sam Yawala, a RiJI Islander. He holds five ENM records, four in relays and another in the 440. Yawalia also performs in the 100, 220 and long jump.
Although Al Oster won't be present at this year's edition of the Kansas Relays, he said he would like to come back for the Relays in the very near future.
Mike Bolt of Kenya won a bronze medal in the 800-meter run and placed fourth in the 1,500-meter run at the Munich Olympics last fall.
"I'm sure I'll be back soon," he said.
"When I was back in 1969, I really enjoyed it. My wife liked it even more than did, so I sure we'll be returning sometime."
The University of Illinois will also bring an outstanding squad to the relays. The Illinois two-mile relay team could shatter a record held by a weak record with a victory this weekend.
New Mexico Track Reps To Include 3 Olympians
records in the mule, two-mile, three-mile and six-kilometer and was a member of a record-keeping unit.
New Zealand's Rex Maddaford, who ran in the 1968 Mexico City games but missed Munich because of an injury, is ENM's premier distance man. He holds school
Bill Silverberg, former All-American trackster at the University of Kansas, will bring three Olympic performers to the Mexico team with his Eastern New Mexico squad.
FANFARES