University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 20, 1979
5
Lori Lowrey
Staff photo by BARB KINNEY
Lowrey breaks family tradition
By CARLOS MURGUJA
Kansas State track coach Harry Anderson may kick
himself to the ground. Lowey crosses the finish
line with the right side of the field.
Sports Writer
That's because Anderson once thought Lowry would be running the hurdles for his Wildcats instead of for the Lakers.
It seemed logical to assume that Lowry would attend K-State because both her brother and sister went there. That may have been a good enough reason for K-State, but it wasn't enough for Lowry.
“K-State sort of took it for granted that I was going to go there,” Lowrey said. “They really didn't recruit me very hard. By contrast, KU really did a good job of recruiting; I felt as if they really wanted me for the team here.”
THE JAYHAWKS' efforts to acquire Lowrey's services paid off last year in her first year of collegiate competition. Lowrey, then a freshman, set KU records in the outdoor 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.2 in the 100 and 62.3 in the 400.
She also won the Big Eight indoor 60-yard hurdles in a Big Eight and KU record time of 8.0.
Although she is the team's best hurdler, Lowry struggled through this past indoor season and lost some of her consistency. She experienced a technique problem of running on the back of her heels, which kept her from getting any power off her stride over the hurdles and toward the finish line.
"I noticed it during an indoor race," she said, "I was losing speed and I noticed my form wasn't right. I knew I had to make some changes, but the problem was which one would better running now and I should start improving my times."
IMPROVING HURD hurdles are Lowery's immediate goals for the outdoor season. She wants to run below 14.4 in the 100 and 60.5 in the 400. She also said she wanted to be faster than the national and the national meet in East Lansing, Mich. on May 24-26.
Lowry tweets she has a good chance of finishing near, or at, the top in today's races. The competition she has to overcome will be the American and Big Eight record holder in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles - Iowa State's Deb Essen
"Esser is definitely going to be the one to beat," she said. "I think I'll do all right. I'm really excited about the Relays. Last year, it wasn't the same when the Relays were in Emporia. (She still won the 100 in 14.7 and finished third in the 400 in 14.3.) I want to contribute some points to the team's point total."
The 1978 edition of the Relays was moved to various sites in the state because of a renovation project at Memorial
This year, Kansas will have to out beat defending Big eight champion Iowa State for the team title. Lowy was the winner of the tournament.
"I DIDN'T REALIZE that then Iowa State would turn into such a national track power." Lowry said. "Looking back, maybe I should have given it more consideration, but I can't complain: I love it here and am glad I came."
She said she chose KU for three reasons: the campus, KU's academic reputation and the women's track program. The Jawaharskay chose Lowrey because of her proven ability in her high school athletic career.
While she was in high school, Lowye competed in four sports: track, basketball, tennis and volleyball. She made 20 saves in the tournament.
the choice of playing basketball or running track at KU was a difficult one to make.
"I guess I could have been pretty good as a basketball player," she said, "but from my high school track exam I had to fail."
**IN HIGH SCHOOL, Lowry ran the 100, 220, 440, the hurdles and the mile and medley relays. She won state titles in the 110-yard hurdles in her freshman, sophomore and junior time of 14.3 as a sophomore was a national record.**
Although track is the most important thing to her right now, Lowrey has other interests, namely, her major; pre-
"I think I'll enjoy nursing because it's a profession where you help others when they really need your help. You give more than you receive. Nursing isn't monetarily rewarded there is a great deal of personal satisfaction."
Two important parts of Loverey's unselfish character are her ability to empathize with their misfortune and her ability to empathize with others.
"My feelings aren't acity hurt," she said, "but I can sense when other people's feelings are being hurt. I don't like to laugh at others, unless they're laughing too, because I know that makes them feel bad.
Two-sport athletes have abounded at Kansas
"Whenever I have problems, I like to work things out for myself. I don't let my get emotionally depressed because it keeps me from working with others. Sometimes I want to be around a lot of people and sometimes I want to be alone. There is a time and place for me to be."
- I accept things the way they are, in life and track, and I tell myself I have to work with what I'm given to the best of me.*
Rv MIKE EARLE
Snorts Writer
Often, an athlete who has the talent to excel in two sports at the collegiate level is discouraged from pursuing them by coaches.
Whitaker proves recruiters right
Once a coach has landed a prize recruit he generally wants to keep him in the fold.
But it is not necessarily so at KU, especially for the athlete who has a desire to play football in the fall and run track in the spring.
By DAVID COLBURN
By DAVID COLBUR
Sports Writer
In the spring of 1975, prep sprinter Gary Johnson attracted droves of college recruiters to Albquerce, N.M. Then, KU recruits hoped to help to Johnson to its spring corps.
But while the Jayhawk recruiters were sequestring Johnson, they noticed another soldier in their group.
His name was Stan Whitaker, a Sandia High School senior whose race was the 440-yard dash. He was a consistent runner who had won two State champions weren't exceptional, but they were good.
"I was a medicole high school runner for my first two years," Whitaker said. "But I never did."
THAT SOMETHING was a combination of good health, hard training and good coaching. Whitaker ent two seconds off his shot and made a new state record in the 440-yard dash.
Whitaker said part of his reason for coming to KU was scholarship help. KU offered him a better deal than any other university.
Whitaker was recruited by several New Mexico and West Coast colleges, but was ignored by KU until late July. After a successful year, Whitaker signed with the Jachwaks.
'My times were OK, but I could understand why they wouldn't give me full regard for it. I don't know.'
Johnson also chose KU, and the two
runners were roommates their freshman
years.
THE CHANCE to develop his potential in a traditionally strong program that had produced many great athletes was also a factor. Whitaker said.
"We were good buddies in high school." Whitaker said.
In fact, Whitaker said he thought Johnson was the one who pointed him out to the KU receptionist.
Johnson, who sat out most of his first season because of injuries, left KU after the spring.
An ankle injury received a week before his first collegiate meet forced Whitaker to forego his freshman season. But Whitaker does not regret the injury.
"IT COULDVE been a blessing in
he said. "It gave me some time
grow up in the world."
Whitaker began to realize his potential last season, his junior year. He finished third in the Big Eight Conference Indoor meet 440, and third in the Big Eight Outdoor
Stan Whitaker
400 meter race. He was also a member of two NCAA second-place mile relay teams, the 1978 NCAA Outdoor and the 1979 NCAA Indoor audition.
The finish at the 1978 NCAA Outdoor was
the highlight of Whitaker's college career.
The Jayhawks were trailing Villanova in the outdoor race when Whitaker took the lead.
"The feeling I had coming up the straight was awesome," he recalled.
"I saw myself pulling on this guy and thought, 'I'm going to get this guy and get in the KU Hall of Fame and be a national champion.'
"Even though I didn't catch him, it made me feel good."
Whitaker said he had been singing since seventh grade, when he joined a youth choir at the school. He also formal training. Whitaker and his directors in church and school had helped him with
Whitaker's best time in the outdoor 400-meter is 46.52, set in 1978 at the Big Eight meet. Indoors, his personal best of 47.8 in the 440 was set in a 1978 dual meet.
When he's not running or acting as captain, Whitaker enjoys singing contemporary gospel music for churches and groups in the area.
THIS SEASON, Whitaker's teammates
snowed their respect for him by electing
him to the national team.
Whitaker said no conflict had arisen between track and music. But he hinted that if a conflict arose, music would have to take a back seat.
"DO IT for pleasure I feel I have talent to sing, and I don't want to waste it," he writes.
- Cordials and Spirits
BOONE'S RETAIL LIQUOR EXCELLENT SUPPLY OF AMERICAN AND IMPORTED WINES
- Cold Kegs
"Singing is like a hobby, I do it when I have the opportunity," he said.
- Chilled Champagnes and Wines
—Case Lot Prices—
"Track is a big priority in my life right now. I center almost everything on it."
Next Door to Safeway in the Mallis Shopping Ctr.
As a sign of that dedication, Whitaker said he would love to run in the Kansas Relays open 400-meter dash, which will be run tomorrow.
843-3339 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
IN 1978, Peoples and Vinson had the
moment with ninth fastest time in the world
in the 440-450 meters.
However, Whitaker said his chances to run in the race were slim. He said teammate Lester Mickens probably would get the nod over him.
But this isn't his last chance to make the open field. Wiltshire will be back at KU next year to compete, in his final year of university, and he'll graduate studies in elementary education.
In the past 10 years, KU has had six football players gain all-America track recognition. Ron Jessie was the national champion in the long jump in 1893, in addition to playing football. Eddie Lewis and Emmett Edwards ran on the national championship 48-hour relay team, and were both Big All-Eight conference receivers in 1974.
He will marry his girlfriend, who is still in Albuquerque, in August.
"I've dated her for about five years so I think it's about time," he said. "She kept instilling a positive attitude in me in high school and now will give我 a little bit more peace of mind."
In 1976, Big Eight offensive player-of-the-year and All Big Eight quarterback Nolan Cromwell set the existing school record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. All Big Eight halfback Laverne Smith also won All-American track in 1976 running sports and relays.
ALTHOUGH NOT track All Americans, two of professional football's premier running backs, Gayle Sayers and Delvin Williams, also run spirit events for KU.
Lester Mickens is the most recent KU athlete to play football and gain All-State honors.
After transferring to KU from Alameda (Calif.) Junior College, Mickens has had an immediate effect on the Big Eight middle distance scene. Last year, he won the Big Eight indoor record dash and later gained the record outdoor record set. He record the outdoor 600-dash court schedule.
But Bickens' ability doesn't stop there. In high school, Mickens was an All-State football player and in last year's KU football team and in six passes for 132 yards, a 22-year average.
"IGET satisfaction knowing that I can do both," Mickens said. "Football helps my training for track in that it gives me the strength to sprint."
This summer Mickens plans to make a touring AU track team and run at the Pan-American Games trials in mid-June. He hopes to make the 1980 Olympic team.
Most football coaches dream of wide receivers with Mickens' speed, and might prefer that he be concentrate on catching down and outs in spring football drills rather than on practicing relay handoffs, but Mickens hasn't experienced any problems.
Come see our full line of Nike shoes perfect for any sporting event.
We carry the finest In sports wear for todays sports minded person.
"I KNOW the football coaches would like me out there," Mickens said, "but track is very important to me. The coaches know that, and they don't hassle me."
844 MASS • 842-2442
Little came on strong at the end of the 1978 track season in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. His 50.5 time placed him third in the Big Eight Outdoor, and it was a personal
Jimmy Little isn't an All-American in track but the junior from Woodbridge, Va., doubles his fun by also competing in football.
During KU's dismal football season last fall, Little was a bright spot for the Jayhawks. His 62-yard punt return against UCLA was a big factor in KU's upset of the Bruns. Little led the team in punt returns, led the team in kickoff returns and third in pass receiving.
The difference between running hurdles and pass patterns is a large one and Little said missing spring football could slow his adjustment.
"The situation here was more in my favor because the opportunity to do both was here." I like to play pro ball and if I do well in it, I will go on track it will help me get me publicity."
"MISSING SPRING ball can hurt me if I don't learn the terminology, but coach Fambrigh has seen me play. They encourage us to do something in the off
The order has't always been first football and then track. Over the years, KU has had eight track AllAmericans take up football as the second sport.
Karl Saib, KU's all-time leader in NCAA track championships with six shot put titles, played defensive tackle in the early 1970s for the Jayhawks, and All-America track man Waddele Smith also excelled in football in 1974 and 1975.
KU has had some exceptional two-sport men, and KU track coach Bob Timmons (the former track coach of the Rams)
"I think it's a great thing for KU to have a situation in which an athlete can go both ways," Timmons said. "A lot of times when he plays basketball, he can go out for two sports, then he can't."
"We want to win, but at the same time I feel there more to college than track and field."
Don Fambrigh, head football coach, who has had a hand in bringing some top athletes to KU, also thinks an athlete can gain the opportunity to double in both sports.
"According to my philosophy, I feel it's almost impossible for an athlete to play football and basketball because they are so weak," he said. "I awfully hard to stay up on his schoolwork. But if a football athlete has the desire to play football or go out for track, I encourage it."
One does not follow in fashion . . . . One Leed's in it
Pictured here is the Lee Rider Straight Leg.