Texas Relays to begin KU's outdoor season
Powerful Jayhawks, NCAA Indoor champion, will open their 1969 outdoor season Friday and Saturday as they lead a field of Big Eight and Southwest Conference powers into the 42nd annual Texas Relays.
Although competition is expected to be fierce, record-breaking performances may be at a premium. Only a handful of records appear in danger because of the high quality standards set in preceding years on the cinders at the University of Texas Memorial Stadium.
The Jayhawks, built around world distance ace Jim Ryun, a core of 60-foot shot putters, and a pair of 25-foot long jumpers, are expected to draw the most attention, but rival Kansas State and such Southwest Conference talents as host Texas, Rice, Texas A&M, and Baylor must figure.
It was Ryun who anchored KU to a still-standing world spring medley record of 3:15.2 two years ago at Memorial Stadium, and is ticketed to that same role again in the feature
6 KANSAN Apr. 10
1969
event of Friday night's 18-event program.
The premiere miler is expected to skip the mile run, and limit his efforts to two events—the spring medley and anchor man on the two-mile relay team which makes its bid Saturday afternoon.
KU, however, plans to enter all seven relays and 10 of the 11 individual events in the two-day track carnival.
KANSAN Sports
Among the slender set of records which appear to be in jeopardy are the 440 and the mile events. Five teams look to be capable of lowering the 440 mark of 40.2 held by Abilene Christian since 1957, while Texas and Rice have both been flirting with the 3:07 standard Texas set in the mile relay last year.
Richmond Flowers,
Tennessee's only entry, could be
a big threat in the 120-yard high hurdles, while Harding College's Jim Crawford might better the University's college division mile record of 4:03.6.
In the field events the record-breaking charge may be more potent as a number of records appear to be standing on shakey ground. Texas of El Paso's Scott English has cleared 7-1, an inch better than the current mark, while teammate pole vaulter Paul Hagler has been inching toward the relays mark of 16-9½.
Jayhawk field contenders who are listed as top contenders in individual events are weight men Karl Salb and Doug Knop, and long jumpers Ron Jessie, and Stan Whitley.
Knop, like Salb, will double in the discus and shot put. Last year he won the discus event with a heave of 176-1. Salb the NCAA Indoor shot put champion will enter the competition fresh from a double victory at the Southwestern Relays in Lafayette, La., with tosses of 62-8 and 179-1 in the shot put and the discus.
A week after the Texas carnival the Jayhawks will return home to host the 44th Kansas Relays.
Jayhawk entries
440- George Byers, Julio Meade,
Stan Whitley, Mickey Mathews.
Relays
880- Stan Whitley, Julio Meade,
Jim Hatcher, Mickey Mathews.
Mile-Bob Bornkessel, Jim Hatcher, Randy Julian, Julio Mende.
Two-mile-Roger Kathol, Paul Matthei
Nathieh Neijhouw Jr. Jim Ryan
Four-mile-Thorn Bigley, Glen Cunningham, Mike Soloman, Doug Smith.
Sprint medley Jim Hatcher,
Mickey Mathews, Julio Meade, Jim
Ryun.
Distance Medlay—Jim Neihouse, Randy Julian, Thorn Bigley, Doug Smith.
Individual Events
Individual Events 100-Mickey Mathews.
Mile Glenn Cunningham.
Three-mile-Rick Elliott, Jay Mason
120-yard highs—George Byers, Ron Jessie.
440-yard intermediates-Bob Bormkessel.
Pole vault—Bob Steinhoff.
Long jump-Ron Jessie, Stan Whitley.
Shot  put-Karl  Salb,  Steve
Wilhelm, Doug Knoop.
Discus-Karl Salb, Steve Wilhelm,
Doug Knop.
Javelin-Bill Stiegemeier.
REED BENSON
NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY
OLDEST SON OF EZRIA TAFT BENSON, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
TOPIC
THE JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY LOOKS AT THE NEW LEFT AND REVOLUTION IN AMERICA.
TIME: 7:30pm
THURS.,APRIL 10,1969
KANSAS UNION
SPONSORED BY SUA MINORITY OPINIONS FORUM
Ace Johnson, man in charge at The Stables, comes out of chute #1 on a death-defying practice ride aboard a brahma bull weighing over 2,000 pounds of solid muscle. Riding these creatures is the most dangerous, and profitable event on the rodeo circuit.
Ace will be putting on a very interesting (to put it mildly) display of riding technique this weekend when he attempts to outlast one of these bulls for 8 seconds. To warm up for this conquest, he will attempt to stay on a bucking bronco for 10 seconds.
Admission $1.00
Oops!! Ace bites the dust after trying to show off by riding with no hands. Just barely out of the picture is Ace's life insurance man, who is trying to explain how his company frowns heavily on such extra curricular activities by its policy holders. Needless to say his screams were ignored by all present.
Our hero!!! A little muddy, but the feeling of success conquers everything. Las Vegas is giving the Kansas City Royals better odds on being world champions than Ace staying aboard any unruly piece of rodeo livestock after injuring his wrist on a later practice ride. (He was just released from surgery at Watkins Hospital earlier today. Latest reports indicate that Johnson will be ready for Saturday's happenings. Hooray for Ace!!!)
Admission $1.00
THE 3RD ANNUAL KURODEO
★ Friday-8:00 p.m. ★ Saturday-2:00 p.m. ★ Sunday-2:00 p.m.
For an added incentive to Spring Fever, run, ride, walk, hitch hike, take a train or hi-jack a plane and get on out to the Douglas County Fairgrounds to watch and enjoy the Third Annual KU Rodeo. See over 200 entries from seven states pit their skills against fellow competitors and outstanding rodeo stock of varying sizes, shapes and dispositions. All proceeds go to the KU Rodeo Club to establish scholarships for its members.
General Admission—$1.00