Thursday, April 16, 1964 University Daily Kansan
Page 9
Kansas Relays Referee Is Devoted To Track
Sportswriters covering the 1958 Kansas Relays were trying to collect their thoughts after witnessing the fastest sprint medley relay in meet history when the south door of the old pressbox banged open.
"A 1:48.0 for Gail (Hodgson) on that anchor," shouted Bill Carroll, who had just seen his Oklahoma foursome set a new intercollegiate record of 3:19.5. "Whooope," he yelled, slapping startled reporters on the back.
The scribes barely had time to turn around when the door flew open again. This time it was John Morriss of Houston.
"A 3:19.6 and we're second," he roared. "Look at that." And he grabbed the nearest writer, shoving his stopwatch up under his nose. He ran half the press row, jabbing his watch in their faces and shouting loud enough to be heard in the lobby of the Eldridge Hotel.
NOBODY REALLY saw the time on his watch. He was jostling and stabbing so hard you couldn't have read it had it been a grandfather clock.
That was typical of Morriss, who is referee of the 39th Kansas Relays this weekend. He gets as cranked-up at a track meet as a football coach watching his team race the clock in the winning touchdown drive.
Three years ago at the Mason-Dixon games in Louisville, Morris was watching runners settle into their blocks for the 300. Houston's Earl Harlen was on the pole. As the race started Harlen's foot slipped off the track.
Johnny bolted out of his seat into the middle of the track, yelling . . . "Stop the race. Stop the race."
AS THE FIELD stormed toward him, he suddenly realized where he was and dashed off toward the officials to register his protest under safer conditions.
No coach in the land seems more devoted to his profession. Morrisr has been known to mark a track himself ahead of a meet in Houston, pour gasoline and burn it off after a rain, set hurdles, sell tickets and act as clerk of course and referee. Southwest observers say his meets are on schedule and his infiild clear.
Nobody could blame Morriss for his disappointment at Kansas that year. His foursome was two-tenths under the then-pending 3:19.8 intercollegiate mark by California and :03.2 under Oklahoma State's Relays record. Yet didn't win.
As a matter of fact the top three teams in that race were under Cal's mark; the top five below the Relays record. With an anchor leg that matched Hodgson, Don Loadman or Houston; Tom Burch of Oklahoma State; Mike Fleming, Nebraska, and Bob Tague, Kansas, the Cowpokes ran 3:19.7; Nebraska 3:20.0, and Kansas 3:20.4.
OKLAHOMA'S clocking that day still is the third-fastest on the all-
time Big Eight books. The marks by Oklahoma State and Nebraska still stand as school records. KU's time, in fifth place, would have won every other Sprint Medley here since that event was added to the Relays card in 1936.
That scene could be re-enacted this weekend since the field will be spiked by two new entries which did not run at Texas a week ago, Missouri and Texas. The Tigers will mount their formidable anchorman, Robin Lingle, in the cleanup half. Texas will counter either with their top半 mile-miler, Loy Gunter, or mile ace, Richard Romo, both of whom were victimized by Lingle at Austin.
Tennis Squad Shuts Out Washburn Again
The KU tennis team swept all seven matches to shut out the Washburn University team for the second time this season.
The Jayhawks now have a 6-1 win record in tennis competition this year. The lone loss was to a strong Oklahoma team 4-3.
OKLAHOMA IS co-favored, along with Kansas to annex the Big Eight tennis title now held by Oklahoma State.
Prior to the second Washburn match, KU had downed Oklahoma City University, TCU, North Texas State, and wound up their road trip with a 5-2 victory over Oklahoma State.
homa, and there was a high wind during the match," he said.
Denzel Gibbons, coach of the tennis squad, said he is pleased with the playing of the team "We weren't playing our best in our loss to Okla-
"However, the boys are coming along, and they'll do all right."
Steak Dinner
Sunday Nites $1.25
4:30-10:30
DINE-A-MITE
23rd & La.
OREAD JAZZ FESTIVAL SATURDAY, APRIL 25
Featuring
- 12 of the nation's best collegiate jazz groups competing for a trip to play jazz dates in Europe and many other awards
From 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in the Union Five Finalists at 8:00 p.m. in Hoch Auditorium
- Woody Herman in concert with his Swingin' Herd at 10:00 p.m. in Hoch Auditorium
Sign up now for block tickets in your living group.
Tickets will be sold in Information Booth.
$1.50 for the whole day with Student IDs $1.75 General Public.
DURING THE 39th K.U. RELAYS, ENJOY AN EXCELLENT DINNER AND A PLEASANT EVENING DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF THE PETERSON TRIO. A COMPLETE MENU IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
FIREBIRD
THE 2222 Iowa
RESTAURANT
Phone VI 2-2222
THE NEXT MATCH for the tennis team will be against Missouri this Saturday afternoon on the tennis courts west of Allen Field House.
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