8
Thursday, September 18, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Strategy needed in cross country
By KEN STONE
Sports Writ
Cross country isn't exactly a chess game on grass, but there are enough strategic twists and tactical turns to give the sport the appearance of one.
Like a Bobby Fischer preparing his plan of attack, Bock Timmons, University of Kansas cross country coach, always scrutinizes the place of competition.
Wichita trip on tap
"Every cross country course is
"Timmons said. "And you don't
The cross country team opens its season tomorrow at the Wichita State Gold Classic. Jayhawks entered are Kent McDonald, John Rosecus and Drew Thomas. George Mason and Joel Campbell. The KU's women's team will compete in the women's division of the same meet.
even know for sure what the weather conditions will be like, the terrain of the field, or the soil.
ONCE HE HAS CONSIDERED all the variables, Timmons and his athletes plan their own strategy. Will the team send out a rabbit to tie the opposition, or work as a group, trying to finish as close together as possible?
For this year's team, Timmons has selected the latter option.
"The last time we won the conference",
he recalled, "the lead guy was eight. All
the different schools had someone in front of
us but we had five or six guys in the top 18."
In cross country, the squad with the fastest runners isn't necessarily the favorite. Cross country is a team sport, and the teamwork involved makes racing for individual honors a secondary goal, Timmons said.
In cross country, five runners score out of the seven that represent a team. Their place of finish, not their final time, determines the score.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF A TEAM places its
fourth, fifth, sixth, fourth, fifth,
and sixth—a perfect team.
Staff Photo by DAVID CRENSHAW
Tom Kopnes
team is awarded 15 points, the sum of the placing in the first five runners. The low
The last two runners, while not counted in the scoring, are important because they serve as "pushers," runners who offset the scoring potential of other teams.
Timmons said the extra two runners also act as a form of security, in case one of the five runners has a bad day, steps in on them. If they don't stop out in the first meet last year, gets spiked.
"Our whole thrust here is that we're going to have seven strong runners." he said.
With the decision on team tactics out of
the way, the cross country runner then turns his attention to various psychological challenges.
ONE TEAM MEMBER, John Rosace,
gave me few examples of possible ways to
manage the project.
"It's all psychological," he said. "As you pass a runner try to stay casual and say, 'Nice day for running,' or sprint by him for 20 or 30 yards.
"He'll say, 'Oh, man! That guy's too strong for me.' and 'he'd out drop,'
If four or five runners in a pack make the same move—passing an opponent runner at the same time—the effect is multiplied, Roscoe said.
Tobin said a hill was a good place to make up yards on an opponent.
"It's a lot easier if you run in a group," he said. "If you run alone, you're going to run slower. When you run with someone, it's a race." He pauses for a pace, passes somebody and compete."
“IF YOU SPRINT PAST somebody spiring up a hill, you can almost knot
your hand.”
But if that hill is at the elevation of 5,000 feet—which happens to be the case with the site of the Big Eight championships at Boulder, Colo.—a team from a lower elevation must overcome a certain barrier: altitude.
Timmons said it could and would be done by KU's runners. In fact, he said, the last time the meet was at the University of Kansas, he said, he was similar to that of Kansas, was the victor.
"The conference meet is going to be a tight one, and a tough meet," he said, pointing to defending champion Iowa State; Kansas State, Missouri and Oklahoma State—along with KU—as the main contenders.
NOW FORMING Jayhawk Canoe Club
There will be an organizational meeting for the Jayhawk
Cancer Club on Saturday, September 14 at 7:30 in the Region-
Center of the Kangaroo Valley.
Kayaking Training and Trip Planning
Long Term Expeditions Canoe Camping
Crewing Racing Whitewatering
are encouraged to attend.
September 17,18,19,20
United Ministries Building
9:00 am-9:00 pm
1204 Oread
(across from Rag-Tag)
Sponsored by Delta Delta Delta
and Gamma Phi Beta Sororities
University of Kansas
The KU Soccer Club will open its season Sunday with a match against the University of Nebraska. The match will begin at 2 p.m. in Memorial Stadium. No admission will be charged. The club's final scrimmage will be at 4 p.m. today on the fields at 32rd and Iowa streets.
Welcome KU Students to JACK'S GOAL POST
1904 Mass.
Open at 12 Noon
Pool Tournament
Pitcher Night—Thursdays / KU Game Day Specials
Foosball, Pool and Pinball
SUA Quarterback Club Sunday, Sept. 21, 7-9 p.m.
Big 8 Room in Kansas Union. Kentucky Game Film presented.
-FREE-
2 Big Mac sandwiches for $1.29 (plus tax) with this coupon
Please present coupon when ordering Offer expires: Sept. 22, 1975
Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Go at all participating McDonald's* restaurants in Greater Kansas City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Warrensburg, and St. Joseph.
ALDIS ENTERPRISES LTD. PRESENTS:
SAT SEPT20
4 ADV.
S AT THE DOOR
Doors Open at 8:00 Show at 9:00
Tickets Available at
Kief's
Club members should purchase reduced tickets at the Free State Club, 842-9594
Better Days
Entertainment by Akdis Enterprises 842-6930
Club memberships now available at the Free State Club.