Friday, April 19, 1957
10. c) 40 g = ___
University Daily Kansan
Page 3
200-Foot Discus Throw Oerter's Goal
A 200-foot discus throw might be considered today just as improbable as the 4-minute mile was a few years ago. But Kansas might have the man who can accomplish this feat in the person of Al Oerter, New Hyde Park, N.Y., junior.
"My goal for the future is to throw the discus 200 feet," he said.
This goal could very well become a reality in the near future if Oerter continues to improve as fast as he has since he first started throwing the discus.
During his freshman year he became the best frosh thrower in the nation with a heave of 171 feet, 6 inches. Last year, besides winning first for Kansas in many meets, he brought fame to himself and KU by winning the discus throw in the Olympics with a heave of 184 feet $10 \frac{1}{2}$ inches.
Certainly one of the best bets Kansas has to gain an individual championship in the Kansas Relays rests in the stout right arm of this 6-3, 222-pounder.
"The Olympic title was undoubtedly the greatest thrill of my life and probably always will be," he said, "but it would also be great to capture first places and set new records in all three of the big relays.
Trainer Nesmith Best In Business
He has trained the West All-Stars against the East in the annual Kansas City Shrine basketball game the past two years'.
Dean Nesmith, KU's athletic trainer for 18 years, is one of the most highly regarded men in his profession.
During the days of the Big Seven Southwest track dual he twice trained the Big Seven aces. In 1950 he headed a course in treatment of athletic injuries at the "Top of the Nation" school.
During the 1952-53 school year, Nesmith served as chairman of the Board of National Collegiate Athletic Trainers Assn.
He became head trainer in 1938 after a one-year apprenticeship under Elwyn Dees.
Oerter was referring to the Drake, Kansas and Texas relays, where he won discus titles at each meet last year.
Oerter's career in the disheus was started purely by accident. When he first went out for track in high school, he started in the sprints and hurdles.
Needed Discus Thrower
**Reckoned Discussions**
“Our high school team didn’t have any discus throwers,” he said, “so I switched to the discus.”
After making the switch, Oerter went on to capture the national high school record with a heave of 184 feet $2 \frac{3}{4}$ inches.
Since coming to KU he has also proved to be a capable shot putter. He won the Big Seven crown in that event during the recent indoor season, which added valuable points to the total Kansas used to capture the championship.
"I would much rather concentrate on the discus," he said, "but in an attempt to add points which are needed for keeping KU on top in Big Seven track, I throw the shot also."
Teamwork Dominant Factor
Teamwork Dominant Factor This strong feeling of teamwork among Kansas track members is one of the reasons KU has been able to dominate the conference in track and field during the past six years.
Even with the many hours which are spent by Oerter in practice, he has managed to keep a B- average in his studies.
Concerning the Jayhawker's chances for winning the NCAA track and field title this year, Oerter said, "If we had Charlie Tidwell and Bob Cannon, (ineligible Kansas track stars) it would be much easier. Without them it will be a fight, but we still have a chance of winning."
AL OERTER —(Daily Kansan photo)
Olympic Coach Relays Referee Second Time
Head coach of the 1956 United States' Olympic team, Jim Kelly, will referee the 32nd annual Kansas Relays April 20 and 21.
It will be Kelly's second time at the Mount Oread Olympics since he was referee in 1940. Frank Anderson of Texas A & M was 1956 referee.
Under Kelly, the United States won 15 goal medals at Melbourne last fall. Previously, he guided the Gophers of the University of Minnesota to the 1948 NCAA title and the 1949 Big Ten crown.
His most famous pupils are Bob Fitch, former world discus record holder, and Fortune Gordien, who holds the present discus record of 194-6. Gordien was a place-winner in the last three Olympics.
Kelly graduated from the University of South Dakota and began his coaching career in his home town at Fonda, Iowa High School. From Fonda he moved to Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, and then to De Paul University in Chicago, where he was coach in track, football, and basketball for 10 years. He went to the University of Minnesota in 1937.
He is past president of the National Collegiate Track Coaches' Assn., a member of the NCAA rules committee, and the AAU rules committee. He served as vice chairman of the United States' track and field committee for the 1952 Olympic Games and was head coach for the United States' Pan-American team in 1531.
Winning the shotput, discus, broad jump and 120-high hurdles in the Missouri Valley Conference meet in 1922. KU's Everette Bradley became the only Jayhawker ever to win four events in a conference track meet.
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Extends A Hearty And Cordial Welcome To Every High School, Junior College. College And University Competitor Who Will Visit Our Campus This Weekend
To the 32nd KU Relays
ARTHUR C. "DUTCH" LONBORG UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Director of Athletics