Johnson out to break own mark
Hawk vaulter aims for second Relays title
By DAVID SCHWARTZ Kansas Sports Writer
On the bulletin board in Jan Johnson's room is his slogan, "Don't compete—attack, dammit!" As the KU pole vaulter prepares for this weekend's KU Relays that is exactly what he plans to do.
Johnson, a sophomore from Chicago Heights, Ill., is the defending champion in the pole vault and he doesn't expect to be dethroned. He expects to win. His best effort is a school record $16-6\frac{1}{2}$ in the Big Eight Indoor, and he wants to do better than that in the relays.
The biggest thrill in Jan's track career was winning the relays last year as a freshman. "I was really surprised," he commented, "because I had been vaulting poorly. It was a real thrill not only to win the relays but also
because it was the first time I had cleared 16 feet." Jan's winning hoist was 16-4.
He expects his stiffest competition from Mike Wedman of Colorado. In the two times they have faced each other each has won one. While they are arch rivals they are also good friends. Jan also expects KU teammate Bill Hatcher to be tough to beat.
"I like to have fun in track. I like pole vaulting but I work hard. I enjoy the competition and the satisfaction of winning. I'm very serious and competitive in meets, but I have fun vaulting everyday," said the 5-10, 165 pounder.
"A pole vaulter must have every athletic quality," Johnson pointed out, "he has to be an all-around athlete." The necessary attributes include speed, coordination, strength, stamina, timing rhythm and most importantly, courage."
To overcome fear he tries to change pre-meet nervousness into fury, to direct extra nervous energy into vaulting. "I'm not scared of anything," he proclaims, "I'm holding my pole higher now than anyone in the world. No one else holds it that high because they're scared. I'm not scared."
Jan's pole vaulting has been consistent this year. He has been 16 feet or over in every meet this year. He credits this to getting psyched up. Like he says, he doesn't compete—he attacks.
His goal is always to win.
"Winning means much more to me than records. I would rather win every meet than win one meet and set a record." He cites assistant coach Harvey Greer for helping him keep a winning attitude.
At 5-10, 165 pounds Jan isn't large for an athlete. He feels size is important to an extent, but he feels that he can overcome his lack of size.
Jan defeated former world-record holder Bob Seagren in the Oklahoma City Invitational on January 31. He did it by going 16-6$\frac{1}{4}$, then a KU school record which he later broke at 16-6$\frac{1}{2}$. That night he didn't miss 17 feet by much, barely missing it twice. "I was over," he explained, "but I hit the bar on my way down." Johnson's three long-range goals in track are to go to the 1972 Olympics, to win the KU relays, four years in a row, and to pole vault 18 feet. This year's goal is 17-4, one foot better than last year's best effort. The current world's record is 17-10 by John Pennel, and someday he hopes to top that.
How about a 17 foot vault on Saturday? "If Wedman of Colorado pushes me I might get 17—it's just around the corner," he says. "Seventeen feet is a combination of everything—good weather, tough competition, and
campus. He wants to do well for many reasons. It might be a good idea to keep your eye on the pole vault Saturday afternoon—Jan Johnson might surprise you.
psyched up, if he can transfer his nervous energy into an excellent vault, he might do just that. The relays will be the first time his parents have been to the KU
maybe a little bit of luck."
Jan Johnson is confident of his abilities. He not only wants to successfully defend his crown but he wants 17 feet. If he gets
Graduate of Haskell Institute and San Francisco Bay Area Chairman of Indian Affairs will speak on
"Causative Factors In The Repossession of Alcatraz" Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. Kansas Union Ballroom Sponsored by SUA Minority Opinions Forum
Adam Nordwall
14 KANSAN Apr. 16 1970
The group is composed of Jeff Bennett (7,551), the NAIA champion from Oklahoma Christian College; Norm Johnston (7,438), former Iowa State ace who tied Bennett for the Drake Relays
Decathlon draws top class entries
Four others in the field have scored over 7,200 points and could be threats to Mulkey's record.
Hodge, who competes for the Los Angeles Striders, is a former UCLA star. He set the decathlon record in 1966 with 8,230 points. Bill Toomey now holds the world standard of 8,417.
The decathlon is scheduled Friday and Saturday mornings in conjunction with the 45th Kansas Relays. First decathlon event begins at 9 a.m.
Russ Hodge, former world record-holder from Los Angeles heads an 11-man field lined up for the Kansas Relays decathlon that is returning to the Jayhawk carnival this weekend after an absence of four years.
The last time the 10-event test was staged at the Relays was in 1966 when Phil Mulkey won the taxing competition for his eighth title at the KU meet. He set the record with 7,480 points in 1962.
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Decathlon events on the Friday program are the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters. On the agenda for Saturday's final five tests are the 110-meter high hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1,500 meters.
title last spring; Rory Kenward (7,299), Colorado sophomore who finished third at Drake a year ago, and Sam Goldberg (7,276), Kansas, recent champion and record-setter at the Kentucky Relays.
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Best of Luck
to the entire KU track squad and to Coaches Timmons and Greer in the annual KU Relays!
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