Timmons' first Relays is a success
By Ron Hanson
By Ron Hanson
If it had not been for a superb organization effort in last weekend's 41st annual Kansas Relays, a month of preparation could have been dashed to the sound of rain patterning on a cinder track.
The one item that Relays director and KU track coach, Bob Timmons, could not control was the weather. Everything else from inviting all persons participating in the meet to guaranteeing the shot-puts were not overweight,
he had under control from as far back as March.
WHEN THE rain started Friday afternoon and continued throughout the day, Timmons, directing his first Kansas Relays, was presented with a real problem. The meet could not feasibly be postponed until a later date as athletes, officials, and coaches all had future plans.
The only realistic way to handle the situation was to get the track back into shape for Saturday's events and pray that it would stop raining.
HEAVY WORK began about 6 a.m. Saturday, on the track and continued until about 9:30. The racing lanes were first disced and then showered with a flame thrower. When this work stopped, rollers made their way around the track doing a job of mashing the cinders that continued until the late afternoon.
DU's off to fast start in intramural softball
When the track was finally packed hard after the continual rolling, the late afternoon events began. Fortunately it did not rain Saturday, and the track was in good enough shape to allow records like Jim Ryun's 3:55.8 in the Glenn Cunningham mile to be established.
The intramural softball season is under way in the Fast Pitch league, and it already appears as if Delta Upsilon will be the team to stop in Division I of the Fraternities.
By David Finch
The busy man who was responsible for keeping the meet going was Timmons, even though he is the first to admit that his part in the Relays was only a portion of a massive effort overall.
The DU's hold a 2-0 record, with a 6-0 win over Delta Chi and 14-0 over Pi Kappa Alpha. Bob Lockwood, director of intramurals, said yesterday that the DU pitcher, Carlos Frey, a graduate student from Liberal, is the outstanding pitcher in the competition. So far he has hurled two one-hitters.
helped that it is impossible to thank them all in print," Timmons said.
LOCKWOOD also said that the DU's probably have the best hitting team, but he wouldn't commit himself on this as he hasn't seen all the teams play.
water-logged
Dressed in an outfit looking much like that of a grounds crewman, Timmons roamed Memorial Stadium continually during the Relays making sure that everything was going smoothly. He had hardly any time at all to coach the Jayhawk trackmen, but he said his first responsibility as Relays director was to the meet and his second to his team.
Because of the work being done on the track, Timmons halted the Saturday morning running program somewhat and transferred four of the events to Haskell stadium. He also moved one field event, the long jump, to Allen Field House.
The Phi Gamma Delta team may provide stiff opposition for the DU's. They too have a 2-0 record, with a 14-12 win over Pi Kappa Alpha and a 16-5 victory
Lockwood said this year's number of teams has increased over last year, in the former "B" league, from 63 to 66. The number of players has also increased, from just over a thousand to nearly 1,200.
over Sigma Nu. The Phi Gam sluggers are obviously in top form.
circuit
TIMMONS said, "We could control everything except the rain; everybody concerned had to make adjustments to keep the meet running."
Playing activity will be increased by the end of this week with the Fraternity Slow Pitch teams starting their season. This league has three divisions and a total of 19 teams.
Division I of the Independent Fast Pitch league also has two teams with 2-0 records. The Green Berets have beaten the Hawaiians 7-5 and FUS 7-0, while the Law team won by a forfeit over FUS and then defeated the McCollum Warriors 11-1.
Lockwood said it is too soon to notice any marked improvement in play in the Fast Pitch league over last year.
About next year's Kansas Relays, Timmons said he is looking forward to it and quipped, "It can't be any harder next year."
A LARGE portion of KU's physical education department worked on preparing the Relays. Persons such as Wade Stinson, KU athletic director; A. C. Lonborg, former athletic director, and John Mitchell, assistant track coach, lent Timmons their advice and assistance.
"There are so many people who
It would be interesting to note how Timmons would handle the meet under a sunny sky.
8
Daily Kansan Wednesday, April 27, 1966
SUA Hyde Park Forum...
Every THURSDAY from 3:00-5:00 in the TRAIL ROOM of the KANSAS UNION
JUNIORS! DON'T MISS THE FIRST JUNIOR CLASS PARTY
Saturday, April 30 8:00-Midnight
Dance to the Music of the Red Dogs at the National Guard Armory.
Beer and Admission FREE With Junior Class ID's. (Get Your ID at the Alumni Office, Strong Hall.)
Dates Only.