Needed; $200,000 for renovation
KU Relays doomed by poor track?
By JUDY JARRELL and
MARTHA MANGELS DOREF
Kansan Sports Special
The KU Relays are in trouble as one of our future athletic events.
Wade R. Stinson, athletic director, affirmed this yesterday, saying that the major problem is KU's inability to finance an eight-lane, permanent all-weather track.
Stinson estimated $200,000 would more than pay for desired new track facilities in Memorial Stadium. But the finances are not available, although $400,000 is being spent to facelift athletic administrative offices in Allen Field House.
Meanwhile interest in the meet wanes.
Only three years ago, 26 university teams ran in the KU Relays. Last year the number dropped nearly half with 14 teams entering.
Again, the major problem was the inadequate track—vulnerable to unpredictable Kansas rains—that the athletes traveled hundreds of miles to run on.
Peacocks nip Tulsa
NEW YORK (UPI) — Elnardo Webster, returning to the game with nine minutes left to play, scored 16 of St. Peter's final 21 points to give the Peacocks a dramatic 75-71 victory over Tulsa in the opening round of the 32nd annual National Invitation Tournament last night. Temple advanced to the quarterfinals with an 82-66 triumph over Florida.
Webster, who was forced to the bench after picking up his fourth personal with only 2:42 gone in the second half, sank two foul shots with 7:12 left to put the Peacocks in front for the first time, 60-59. Webster snapped a 69-69 tie with 1:24 left when he stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a basket.
St. Peter's leading scorer during the regular season with a 24.6 average, Webster then sank two foul shots with 34 seconds left to raise St. Peter's margin to 73-69 before Al Cueto scored Tulsan's final two points with a field goal.
Webster finished with 22 points while Tom Schwester added 14 for the Peacocks.
Tulsa, sporting a big height advantage and led by Rob Washington with 23 points and Bobby Smith with 22, completely dominated the boards in the first half, outrebounding St. Peter's 35-18, to take a 39-36 halftime lead.
The Golden Hurricane led by as much as six points after intermission, but the Peacocks never gave up and their patience was rewarded when Webster came off the bench to lead them to their 21st victory of the year against six losses. Tulsa finished with a 19-8 mark.
Temple, with each of its starting five scoring in double figures, began finding the range in the second half to down the Gators.
Temple will now meet St. Peter's in one of Monday night's quarter final games.
Prep results
at Allen Field House (quarter finals)
CLASS 5-A STATE TOURNAMENT
Wichita North 75, Shawnee Mission West 57
Wyandotte 58, Wichita East 25
Wichita Southeast 70, Shawnee
Mission North 57
Topeka 64, Hutchinson 54
14 KANSAN Mar. 14
1969
team competes this weekend in the NCAA Indoor meet, Coach Bob Timmons described the KU facilities as "the remains of an old cinder track." He added, "It is the worst track of all I have seen in my last four years' travels with the team."
Rainy day woes
Rains the past two years have necessitated the use of disc plow, rakes, steam rollers, and a butane-burning flame thrower pulled by a tractor to rehabilitate the muck.
By the time the 20,000 fans arrive at 1 p.m. on Saturdays of the Relays, Timmons said, the track looks fine. But should it rain on Saturday, the meet would be called off, he added.
"It seems ridiculous to spend several thousand dollars getting the track ready only to have it ruined in a half hour," the coach said.
Timmons said improvements would include an additional two lanes, a new drainage system, covering and curbing for a Tartan track. Stinson's $200,000 estimate also included moving back the scoreboard to allow for a new shot and discus area.
"It's hard to get good athletes to come to a school with a track like ours." Timmons said.
He suggested the poor track facilities were reason for the decline in the number of university track teams entering the Relays
In addition to affecting the Relays, poor track facilities hurt the recruiting program.
"Any good athlete visiting here wants to see the track, and he knows the track is inferior," Timmons explained.
Twists of irony
It is further ironic that the KU Relays, which earlier broke even, have in the past three years netted $45,000 profit—and yet not a
Troubled by quagmires
In the past KU has been the home of such great runners as Glenn Cunningham, Wes Santee, Billy Mills, and now Ryut. However, there is some irony in the poor track the University has provided them.
cent has been salvaged for badly needed track improvements!
The athletic department has borrowed "up to the hilt," Stinson said. "It is in debt about $1 million."
Stinson later explained that the athletic corporation is a separate entity which must live off the revenue it generates.
Stinson said $170,000 had been borrowed for the west expansion to Memorial Stadium; $500,000 for the east end student bleachers, and $400,000 for the previously-mentioned office facilities in Allen Field House.
But the No. 1 project on Stinson's mind, to be accomplished when the $1 million debt is reduced, is the renovation of the track.
Outside monetary resources have been exhausted, Stinson said. To request money from alumni would be pinching the same resources the Chancellor depends upon.
But W. W. Keeeler, Alumni Association president from Bartlesville, Okla., said he was unaware of the need for track improvements.
"We supported the addition to the stadium, and I'm sure we could help this situation," he said.
The alumni president added, "The Relays are a tremendous tradition, and I would hate to see them go."
Competition tough
The KU Relays are also plagued by stiff competition from other meets.
"The public hasn't noticed the decline because they come to watch Jim Ryun," Timmons said. "But Ryan won't run forever."
The Texas Relays, in favorably dry weather, are scheduled just before the KU Relays, and the Drake Relays boasting a new all-weather track, are just after.
Timmons said with academics so pressing and travel expenses rising, the teams just can't be gone every weekend for a track meet.
To compound the problem, this year the Tennessee Dogwood Relays and the Louisiana South Pelican Relays are scheduled for the same weekend as the KU Relays. Tennessee has one of the best Tartan track facilities in the world.
TULSA, Okla. (UPI) - The fifth and sixth grade girls at Jackson Elementary School got an unintentionally speeded up sex education course recently.
School officials said Principal A. R. Tarpley and a school nurse accidentally issued sex education books intended for high school students.
"The Reiays will exist no more if we don't get a better track in the next few years." Timmons speculated.
Stinson said despite schedule conflicts, it would be impossible to change the time of the Relays.
Sex and younger girls
Officials said the girls would be asked to return the books.
come in this weekend 100% PURE BEEF-
9th & Iowa St.
LET'S ALL GO TO_BURGER CHEF