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Tuesday, April 9, 1857 University Daily Kansas
Take the nation's top track and field athletes representing some of the best colleges and universities, about 30 bands, two queens, thousands of spectators and a sunny day in Lawrence and presto . the 32nd annual Kansas Relays.
We can guarantee everything but the sunny day. Ole Sol may decide to stay behind a cloud on April 20 but he'll surely decide against it when he sees the list of returning champions.
By GEORGE ANTHAN (Daily Kansan Assistant Sports Editor)
Kansas will return Kent Floerke in the hop-step-and-jump and Al Oerter in the discus. Bobby Whilden of Texas returns in the 100-yard dash which he won last year in .094. In the high jump Clarence Miller of SMU and Tom Kelly, Baylor are back. KU's Bob Cannon is ineligible.
In the 400-meter hurdles Gene O'Connor of K-State will be trying for his third KU Relays title in that event.
Floerke, who has established himself as one of the nation's best multiple jumpers, set a Relays record of 49 feet $ \frac{1}{2} $ inch as a freshman. Last year he repeated at 48 feet 3 7/8 inches then went 49 feet $ \frac{3}{4} $ inches for second in the NCAA meet but was forced to scratch in the final trial because of a pulled muscle.
Also returning this year is the Chicago Track Club's Phil Coleman in the 300-meter steeplechase.
Oerter and Whilden are probably the two most highly favored to repeat. Oerter, who set an Olympic record at 184 feet $ 10\frac{1}{2} $ inches, will probably break Archie Harris' 16-year-old record of 171 feet $ 6\frac{3}{4} $ inches.
At the Texas Relays Saturday Oerter spun the disc 180 feet $ \frac{9}{2} $ inches, still far from Sim Iness' intercollegiate record of 190 feet $ \frac{7}{8} $ inch set four years ago. Iness was from USC.
Kansas State's O'Conner is undoubtedly one of the finest hurdlers the Relays have ever seen. Last season the Wildcat was the first 400-meter hurdler to win the Texas, Kansas and Drake relays. In last year's Longhorn event he ran his specialty in :53.1, followed with a record :52.3 at KU then won the Drake Relays with an even :53.0.
In the NCAA last season he ran fourth then was eliminated in the final trials for the Olympics.
Kansas' fine distance corps which won the 4-mile and 2-mile relays in Austin Saturday will be favorites to repeat April 20. The current squad ran the distance in 7:44 Saturday compared to 7:41 which stands as the KU Relays record.
In the 4-mile the Jayhawkers turned in a time of 17:19.5 in Texas compared to 17:18.5, the Relays record set by Kansas.
Spring Football Practices Please Coach Mather
Weather permitting, the Kansas Jayhawkers will hold spring football practice every day this week, with the climax coming Saturday when the squad will tangle in a full-game scrimmage at 2 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.
Mather said the biggest problem has been to assure getting the maximum number of workouts the Big Seven conference will allow a team to practice during the spring. All workouts must be completed by April 27. The Jayhawkers have 12 more practices scheduled before that date.
Coach Chuck Mather said he was well pleased with the workouts thus far.
"We feel that we're improving in about all positions," Mather said, "and with the added experience should improve in all phases by next year."
The climax of the soring season will come on April 27 when the varsity will battle the alumni.
"We expect a real stiff battle." Mather said. "The alumni are really getting ready for us this year, as shown by some members of their team who came out to work out some of their kinks Monday. I have never seen this happen before in any varsity-alumni battle."
So far the Jayhawkers have been stressing defensive fundamentals. As the spring practices draw to a close Mather plans to emphasize offense more. Monday the Jayhawkers started some offensive workouts, stressing passing.
The first team in Monday's practice was: ends, H. C. Palmer and Jim Letcavits; tackles, Ron Claiborne and Ed Prelock; guards, Bob Kraus and Bill Blasi; center, Chester Vanatta; quarterback, Wally Strauch; halfbacks, Bob Hoesing and Homer Floyd; and fullback, Larry Carrier.
Mather's alternate unit was: ends, Tom Horner and John Peppercorn; tackles, Frank Gibson and Jim Hull; guards, Bob Lewis and Paul Swoboda; center Bill McBurnion; quarterback, Larry McKown; halfbacks, John Francisco and Bobby Robinson; and fullback, Jerry Baker.
Outdoor Prospects Good, Easton Says
The Kansas Jayhawker track team, after taking four first places in the Texas Relays, is busily preparing for its next meet with Oklahoma A&M at Stillwater Saturday.
"It will all depend on the conditions, and how the boys look when we come up to the meet." he added.
Of the Jayhawker weekend performance, coach Bill Easton said, "I think the team did a very fine job with no more work than we have had out of doors; the weather conditions haven't been very good lately.
"We ran a new record in the distance medley, but I believe that we can do better times in the four-mile and two-mile relays. We're in hopes that our field men can come through."
Oerter Favored In All Meets
The Kansas distance medley relay team, composed of Mike Cummins, Lowell Janzen, Hal Long, and Jerry McNeal, won the event for the seventh time in nine years and erased Oklahoma A&M's two-year-old record with a time of 9:56.
The team is blessed with a fine crop of distance runners this year, but the secret to success may lie in the weight men and the jumpers.
Easton said that he wasn't sure whether or not he would stick with the same relay teams during the remainder of the season.
Al Oerter, Olympic gold medal winner and first place finisher in the Texas Relays, will be a favorite in the discus event throughout the season. Oerter also won second place in the shotput at the Texas Relays.
"Our best javelin thrower this year is Terry Becher, a sophomore."
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The Jayhawkers will be strengthened in this event with the return of senior letterman John Parker to the team.
on the Campus, Lawrence
Easton said. Beucher did not compete in the Texas Relays and will have his first taste of competition against A&M.
"We need Parker with his experience and ability to complete our javelin group," Easton said.
Blaine Hollinger, Big Seven indoor broad jump champion, has returned to the team at the end of the basketball season. Hollinger is a great competitor and will help the team quite a lot. He started practicing Monday.
Wilt Chamberlain will be out for a high jump job. He can jump 6-5, which should be good enough to win the Big Seven.
As for Oklahoma A&M, coach
All managers will meet at 4 p.m.
Friday in 202 Robinson Gym.
Easton: Track Team Needs More Recruits
Track coach Bill Easton appealed yesterday for more students to try out for the track team.
The deadline date for all entries for intramural spring sports is Friday, according to Walter Mikols, intramural director.
"We're looking for shotputters discus, and javelin men. There are many students on the campus with track experience, and we can use them." Easton said.
He added that "Today was the first day of sunshine we've had, and we need the work before we take on A&M."
Spring Sport Entries Deadline Is Friday
Easton said, "It should be a very close meet because they have better personnel in the sprints and hurdles. It should be a close one all the way."
The Henry Schulte Award, given to the outstanding performer in Big Seven Conference outdoor track, was won the last two years by KU's Bill Nieder.
If you want to get your ticket to the
Rock Chalk Revue
All seats are reserved and almost all sold.
Main Floor Balcony
Friday $1.00 75c
Saturday $1.25 $1.00
Hoch Auditorium
Friday, April 12 Saturday, April 13
8 P.M.
Tickets on Sale at Union Ticket Center and Information Booth