Jawhawk mentor plans comeback
The long-time Kansas outdoor track dynasty fell last year but coach Bob Timmons thinks KU should regain some lost prestige.
Of course he has an outstanding crop of sophomores moving up to the varsity ranks and traditionally KU has been the top team as former coach Bill Easton won over half of the last 40 league titles.
Last year, however, was an exception as Kansas was far behind the leaders with a fourth-place total of 77.
BUT HOPES have been buoyed this year with the addition of a national-caliber sprinter, hurdler, pole vaulter and the not-to-be-forgotten world record holder Jim Rvun.
Ryun attains varsity status this year and will be expected to double in the mile and 880 in the conference meet. But between now and the middle of May he will participate at a variety of distances for KU's relay squads.
They could vary from a 440 to a mile and possibly an occasional longer distance like two or three miles.
So Ryun continues in a long tradition of famous middle-distance runners to carry the crimson and blue.
Last year there was Bob Hanson, a.9.6 dashman, but he suffered ankle injuries throughout his college days.
BUT KU HAS not had an outstanding spritter who has stayed healthy since the Charlie Tidwell days of 1959 and 60.
Olison should be able to break up the Oklahoma-Nebraska monopoly, paced by NU's 9.3 dasher Charlie Greene, as he shows marks of 9.5, 21.3 and 46.9.
To solve this problem, Timmons imported a top-notch junior college spriter from Bakersfield, Calif. Namely, Ben Olison.
In addition, Olison will boost the mile relay hopes along with seniors Dwight Peck, Steve Ashurst and Gary Ard.
THAT 46.9 440 time is second in the Big Eight only to OU's Bill Calhoun, whom he defeated in this winter's indoor meet.
In 1966, Olison joined another Bakersfield Juco transfer, Lee Adams, as they broke the JC 440- yard relay.
Adams also brings impressive credentials as one of the nation's best hurdlers among two-year college athletes.
HIS 37.7 FOR THE 330-yard intermediates tied him for third in the country and 14.3 in the highs ranked among the top 20.
He showed flashes of readiness during the indoor campaign with a world record 6.6 in the lows and a conference record 7.2 in the highs.
Adding depth will be sophomore barrier runner George Byers who was last year's top freshman in the Big Eight with a 14.4 clocking.
Still another sophomore, and another California immigrant, Bob Steinhoff compares favorably with other 16-foot vaulters in the conference.
STEINHOFF did 16-0 as a senior in high school, only the second prepster to do so $ _{2} $ and improved to $ 16^{-1/2} $ at an indoor meet this winter. An arm injury hindered any further improvement.
He will join last year's fourthplacer Mike Burdick who shows a best of 14-6.
Another Californian, long and triple jumper Gary Ard will provide the Jayhawkers with needed tallies. KU won both events last year and placed in the NCAA long jump.
Possibly the most important area of KU's rebuilding program is how well several middle-dis
BOB TIMMONS KU track coach
tance runners have recovered from leg injuries.
JUNIORS GENE McCALIN and Allen Russell sat out much of the 1966 season after posting mile times of 4:06.4 and 4:04.1, respectively. If they make a successful return to the cinders, the Jayhawker middle distance hopes will be strengthened.
Perhaps the biggest loss on the track was that of John Lawson, who placed second in last year's three-mile and third in the mile. He should be replaced by sophs Mike Petterson and Mike Kearns and junior Mike Hayes.
In the weight events, shot putdiscus throw doubler Gary Tucker may break into the scoring column if he recovers from a sprained middle finger on his throwing hand.
And the Jayhawks chances, of scoring in the javelin were cut in half when Ron Shelley was declared ineligible, but national-ranking Juco transfer from Chanute, Steve Moon, brings a 217 throw to KU.
So chances do look good, as Timmons said, though much depends on how well the highly-regarded sophomore crop performs in their initial varsity season plus the recovery from injuries of a couple runners.
Welcome to Lawrence and The NCAA Tournament
Daily Kansan Friday, March 17, 1967
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