Thursday, April 18, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7
Hammer throw is new Relays event
Photo by Bruce Patterson "EVERYBODY DUCK"
Bill Penny, Emporia freshman and one of KU's two hammer throwers, is shown here practicing. The event has been added to the KU Relays schedule for the first time this year.
A new event, the hammer throw, has been added to the schedule for the 43rd annual KU Relays.
The hammer throw, which involves throwing a 16-pound metal sphere with a flexible handle for distance, is an Olympic event and an NCAA championship event that counts toward the national team title.
"We have been trying for a long time to get the Big Eight to go along with the NCAA and make this a part of conference meets," KU track coach Bob Timmons said.
The coaches have been campaigning for the addition of this event along with the 3,000-meter steeplechase and six-mile run to the Big Eight outdoor meet. They are also in favor of a six rather than three-mile cross country championship and the addition of the 35-pound weight throw, distance medley and two-mile relay to the conference indoor meet.
Having tried unsuccessfully to get the event on the Big Eight schedule, Timmons decided to schedule it in the KU Relays.
Kansas is trying to develop two men, Bill Penny, Emporia freshman, and Steve Wilhelm, Los Altos, Calif., freshman, into national competitors.
The world record for the hammer throw is 241 feet, 11 inches, set by Gyula Zsiwotsky of Hungary in 1965. The American record, held by Edward Burke of the Southern California Striders, is 235-11 set last summer.
A throw of 197-1/2 won the NCAA title last year and the last
scoring place was just over 170 feet. KU's hammer men are not throwing in this class yet but they have had the chance to compete.
The KU Relays event will be an open event, all classes of athletes are eligible to compete, and will be staged at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
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