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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Nov. 1, 1963
Easton's 'Ace in the Hole'
Sophomore Pushes Jayhawker Veterans
By Russ Corbitt
By Russ Corbitt
Assistant Sports Editor
Coach Bill Easton's cross country team has won its last 21 dual meets and has a string of 40 consecutive dual victories over Big Eight rivals.
The team appears to be on its way to another Big Eight championship and possibly even the NCAA championship.
But with four of the seven men on the regular team being seniors, fabs are wondering if this may be the last great year for Easton's cross country teams.
THOSE WHO ARE familiar with the great Easton record, however, know the KU coach always keeps a supply of fresh talent ready to replace the graduating seniors.
One of these men being groomed for the coming years is sophomore John Lawson of Kansas City, Kan.
Lawson is already winning recognition as he placed second against Drake, and fourth against the Chicago Track Club.
He did not run for points in the season opener against Southern Illinois because of a leg injury, but still crossed the finish line third.
"I PULLED A tendon in the back of my right leg right after I came back to school," Lawson said. "I had to lay out for about ten days and wasn't able to run in the time trials before the Southern Illinois meet."
But his showing in that meet earned him a starting berth the following week, and he has been one of the top finishers in every meet since then.
Lawson, who plans to major in business, was graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City.
There he was a member of the cross country and track teams for three years.
LAWSON WAS THE state Class AA cross country champion in both his junior and senior years at Wyandotte.
Sports in Brief
PETE MEHRINGER, A TACKLE, represented KU in the college football all-star game in 1934. Mehringer was an Olympic gold medal winner in wrestling.
JOHN HADL, NOW A QUARTERBACK for the San Diego Chargers, is the only KU player ever to be presented a most outstanding back of the season's award by the Midwest Football Writers of America Association.
BYRON (WHIZZER) WHITE, A justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, was an all-America football back for Colorado in 1937.
CURTIS McCLINTON. NOW A halfback for the Kansas City Chiefs, led the Big Eight in scoring in 1961 with 54 points.
OWEN FIELD IN NORMAN,
Oklahoma, was built in 1924. Its
capacity is 61,826, making it the largest
football stadium in the Big Eight.
LEWIS FIELD AT OKLAHOMA Sate was built in 1920. Its capacity is 40,000.
JOHN L. (Paddy) DRISCOLL IS now in his 23rd season as a member of the Chicago Bears' coaching staff.
"I owe my high school coach, F. A. Swaim, a great deal." Lawson said. "He is the one that got me interested in running."
Last year, Lawson placed second in the freshman Big Eight postal meet, and also broke the KU freshman two-mile outdoor record by two seconds.
In addition to his manual labor job this summer, Lawson kept in shape by swimming and water skiing.
"I REALLY ENJOY water skiing and it gives me a break from running, as well as keeping me in shape." Lawson said.
All the members of the team are hoping for an undefeated season, at least in Big Eight competition, according to Lawson.
"There is a lot of rivalry among members on the team, which I think is good," Lawson said. "It pushes everyone a little harder to better goals.
"We have a real well-balanced team this year, and we think we can go a long ways."
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