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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, March 7, 1962
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Jack Stevens Surpasses Goal In Leading KU to Indoor Title
By Steve Clark
When Jack Stevens left his home state of Iowa to enter the University of Kansas he never thought that someday he would pole vault over 14-feet. Saturday night in the Big Eight indoor meet at Kansas City, he broke his own school record, vaulting 14-10 for first place.
"Every jump over 14-feet is a surprise for me," the Ames, Iowa, senior said. "When I graduated from high school, Hal Mollissen was pole vaulting for Iowa State and his best was 14-feet. Mollissen was one of the best vaulters in the conference and I could never envision myself doing better than him."
Easton sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and replied with a grin. "I know he can do it."
STEVEN'S VAULT occurred at a most opportune time. The mile relay, which normally closes a track meet, had been completed and Kanas trailed Nebraska by six-and-one-fourth points.
The pole vault had not been completed and whether Kansas was to repeat as Big Eight indoor champion rested on Stevens' shoulders. His vaulting mate Roger Schmanke had placed third and Stevens needed a first for KU to win.
Some 8,600 persons waited an extra 20 minutes to see the completion of the pole vault. They knew if Stevens won, Kansas won, and if Stevens lost, Kansas lost. The Jayhawkers' track team, assembled on one side of the auditorium, also knew it. So did Stevens.
KU'S KIRK HAGAN, who earlier in the evening won the 1000-yard run, turned to Coach Bill Easton and said, "Do you think he can do it, Coach?"
Stevens started down the runway About 15 feet from the pit Schmanke, standing next to the runway, said "OK Jack, throw your pole now." Stevens placed his pole in the vaulting box, and vaulted himself over the bar and his team to an 11/12 of a point margin for its second consecutive conference indoor title.
"I DIDN'T realize I had made it until I reached the pit," Stevens said. "When I was going over the bar, everything went black."
His teammates charged across the auditorium after the vault and mobbed him with pats on the back and words of congratulations. "I kept telling those guys it wasn't over yet," said Stevens. "The Missouri guy had one more vault.
"I thought I would have to vault another time. I thought I would have to go 15-feet to win, and I was relieved when Missouri's vaulter missed on his third try."
STEVENS was determined before his final vault not to let the pressure bother him. "I knew the meet counted on my vault," he said. "The coach didn't think I knew, but I heard the public address announcement.
"My first thought was to relax. This has bothered me all year. I
knew I couldn't press myself, so I just thought about getting a smooth run down the runway.
"I got my smooth run and planted my pole. Once you get into the air you don't worry, you just lay back and work. As soon as I got on my back I started to pull."
STEVENS credits Schmanke and his coaches Easton and Bob Lawson with a big role in his successful vault.
"Roger and I work together," Stevens said. "He helps me, and I help him. There is one thing you can't tell yourself and that's what you are doing wrong. This is where Roger helps me."
Stevens almost did not make the 14-foot level. He missed twice at 13-6 and 13-10. "My timing was off all evening," he said. "Schmanke noticed that the pole vault standards were too far away, so before the winning vault we moved them two inches forward.
"EVERYTHING went perfectly," Stevens said. "It took me seven vaults to get my timing, but I finally got it when I needed it most.
"Much credit must go to my coaches," he said. "They have spent many hours working with me, especially with my pole plant."
Stevens tried 15-feet twice after his meet-winning vault, but missed at both attempts. "It was an anticlimax for me," Stevens said. "I was very happy with my 14-10 vault."
DURING THE second jump, Stevens dislocated his shoulder which is liable to put him out of action for several weeks.
"My first jump wasn't a good one, yet it wasn't a bad one. On the second jump I was over, but I didn't have the standards placed right, and my hand hit the bar. While I was coming down I dropped my arm to catch myself, and I landed on my elbow, shoving my shoulder out of place."
Stevens said he had been preparing himself to withstand pressure for several weeks. "In the earlier meets this year I would press myself so I could get used to pressure. I never expected pressure to such a degree however.
"THIS TO ME is the first time I've felt I've given something to KU as far as my ability is concerned," Stevens said. "I told the coach this after the meet.
"The Kansas atmosphere is tremendous," Stevens said. "They don't accept anything half-way here. The only thing that will stop you is your own ambition.
STAR VAULTER-Jack Stevens, Ames, Iowa, senior, came through for KU under pressure and vaulted 14 feet 10 inches at the Big Eight Indoor meet to win the event and give the Jayhawkers an 11/12 margin of victory.
Although Stevens has yet to clear 15-feet, he has set 15-4 as his goal. "As far as I'm concerned and as far as the coaches are concerned I have reached 15-feet. I was over at the Big Eight meet, but I nicked the bar coming down."
Southern Methodist and Texas Tech finished in a tie for first place in the Southwest Conference last night and will meet at Fort Worth Friday night for one of the four remaining berths in the NCAA championship.
Other schools competing in the tourney were Arkansas, Wichita, and Oklahoma State's "B" team.
The playoffs before the playoffs are making things interesting for those teams seeking the last tickets to the NCAA basketball tournament.
Another berth will go either to St. Joseph's or Temple, which clash in a Middle Atlantic Conference playoff at Philadelphia Friday night. The loser of this game won't wind up in the cold, for officials of the National Invitation Tournament are saving a bid to their show for the conference runner-up.
"Coach Easton teaches you hard work and discipline and that's what you need to win."
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STEWARDESS INTERVIEWS
In men's bowling action, Bill Miller, Prairie Village freshman, led the KU squat at an Oklahoma State meet with a 184-162-164 — 510 score. The Jayhawk squad placed second in the six-tteam meet behind the University of Oklahoma
Betty Jo Hember Qualifies For Bowling Tournament
SMU, Texas Tech Tied in Southwest
Fearing, bowling coach, learned yesterday. Miss Mullinix totaled 1445 points in the qualifying meet with a 160 average and series totals of 443, 540 and 462.
UNITED AIR LINES
Betty Jo Hember, Shawnee Mission freshman, will participate in the women's national intercollegiate bowling tournament April 28, 29 and 30 at Phoenix, Ariz.
March 20
You may qualify if you . . . . .
MISS HEMBER qualified as the top woman bowler in team, doubles and singles events in competition Feb. 17 at the University of Nebraska and Feb. 19 here at the Jav Bowl.
★ are 5' 2" to 5' 8"
★ are 20 - 26
★ single
Miss Member, a member of KU's varsity women's bowling team, is one of two bowlers from the National Student Union Association's Region Eight.
Contact Placements Office for March 20 interviews
★ weight proportioned to height
Miss Member had series totals in the qualifying events of 491, doubles; 5508, singles; and 532 in team play for a 170 average.
Nancy Mullinix, Kansas City freshman, will be a Region Eight alternate at the meet, Bacom
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