Vol. 2 No. 56 April , 1962

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APRIL 1962 Records are raised and lowered. John Uelses raises the pole vault world record to 16-0¾ and Dyrol Burleson lowers the American record in the 2 mile to 8:42.5. Burleson and Bowerman possibly taken after the mile run in the Stanford dual meet against Ernie Cunliffe (U of Oregon Library) On March 31 Uelses uses the Easter Relays in Santa Barbara to match his indoor record and become the first over 16' outdoors. A week later, April 7, Burleson, running on his home track in Eugene, uses a 54.7 last lap to take 1.3 seconds off Bill Dellinger's national record. Canadian Vic Reeve set the pace on laps 4-7, towing Burley along until the final explosion. Reeve was rewarded with a PR, exactly ten seconds behind his teammate. Before we get too far into the outdoor season, there is still an indoor meet to be reported. March 24 finds us in Manhattan, Kansas where Kansas and Oklahoma State take last shots at American records. Each hits the bulls eye twice. Kansas, already the 2 mile relay record holder at 7:30.8, overcomes a disappointing 1:54.7 lead off leg by Kirk Hagen, who, ill from the flu, stepped up and took one, okay, gave one for the team. Tonnie Coan and Bill Thorton each run 1:52.2 and Bill Dotson brings it home in 1:50.1 for the new record, 7:29.2. The echoes of “Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk” have barely stopped resonating in the rafters before the boys are back at it in the distance medley. Again, the record belonged to Kansas, not these Kansans, but those of 1954 who had run 9:51.4. Time to wipe the old guys out of the record books. Bill Stoddart's 48.9 is followed by Thornton's 1:53.4. Ted Riesinger keeps the record a possibility with his 3:02.6. Once again anchor duties fall upon the broad shoulders of Bill Dotson and once again, he does not disappoint. His 4:03.9 produces a final 9:48.8 and the record. If you include the sprint medley, Kansas beats three AR's this evening. The previous record is 3:25.2 set by Colorado. The Jayhawks run 3:24.6 but have the bad timing to do it in a race where Oklahoma State clocks 3:24.0. Charles Strong leads off with 48.6. Gary Krause and Darrell Davis each contributes 22.0 before Bill Stone anchors in 1:51.4. The final race of the evening is the mile relay in which the Grand Street Boys Club hold the 3:14.4 record set in the dark ages of 1953. The first three Cowboys give Strong a 6-7 yard lead on the anchor. Normally that should be enough to hold off the competition, but this time that margin doesn't provide much comfort because the guy in the rear view mirror is Colorado's Ted Woods. Details of the last leg are not provided, only the times. Woods lives up to his world class reputation with a 46.5 split, but Strong's 47.2 is just strong enough to give the boys from Stillwater the win, 3:13.8 to 3:13.9. This issue reports the news by event rather than meet, so we shall as well. 100: Both Harry Jerome and Robert (Don't call me Bob) Hayes have run 9.3, but a 9.4 is more noteworthy because it is run by Forest Beaty of Glendale Hoover HIgh and ties Jesse Owens' high school record. 220: This event is transitioning from straight to curve and at this point there seems to be no set pattern. On the straight Hubie Watson of Arizona State has run 20.4. Among several who have run 20.6, is this kid, Beaty. The top guy on the curve is Oxy's Steve Haas who has run within a tenth of the world record at 20.7. A tick back are Homer Jones of Texas Southern and Watson's ASU teammate, freshman Henry Carr. A Brief Digression on Henry Carr Henry Carr grew up on the streets of Del Ray in southwest Detroit. He went first to Detroit Southwestern High School, then switched to Northwestern. Henry Carr hung around with baseball stars Willie Horton and Alex Johnson. Carr ran track and played football and basketball. He hung with Willie Horton and Alex Johnson who would become major-league baseball stars. But young Henry was a rising track and field star. When Willie Horton hit his first major-league home run into the upper left-center bleachers for the Tigers at Tiger Stadium in September of 1963, Carr was running track on a scholarship at Arizona State. Track and field was an amateur sport back then, and the athletes who participated did it for the love of the sport. He traveled the world, Australia, Africa, Japan, Poland and the Soviet Union. Carr won two gold medals in the 200 meter and 1600-meter relay at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. "We got pressure from the president, the governor, school presidents, family members, "bring back the Gold, don't let us down", Carr said. "Then we had these black organizations that wanted you to boycott the Olympics. I felt it was unfair to put that pressure on us." When he returned from the Olympics he started a series of jobs that included playing pro football, working with inner-city kids, operating a deli, painting and landscaping, working as a janitor, real estate and preaching the gospel door-to-door. He fondly remembers his running mate, Bob Hayes, when they were the world's fastest humans and took their speed into the National Football League. Henry signed to play defensive back with the New York Giants, Hayes signed as a wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys. Their teams were rivals, and they were rivals. "He never scored a touchdown on me" Carr recalled. In 1997, 33 years after winning two golds in Tokyo, Carr was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. From The Detroit News: http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=148#ixzz1z5xAJBZL 440: It is a three man show. Ulis Williams, still another great sprinter from Arizona State, has run 46.0 twice. Adolph Plummer of New Mexico also has a 46.0 in a race where he edged Olympic gold medalist Earl Young of Abilene Christian who ran 46.1. No one else has bettered 46.7. 880: It appears that a two mile record may be in Oregon's future. Ted Abram has run 1:50.1 this season....and he would be the slow leg. Teammates Burleson, Sig Ohlemann and Archie San Romani have the 1st, 3rd and 4th fastest times in the country, 1:48.2, 1:49.3 and 1:49.6. Only John Bork's 1:49.3 keeps the Ducks from a trifecta. Mile: As good as the Quacks are at two laps, they may be better at four. Burleson and Harry Tucker of San Jose State have run 4:03.6. San Romani has run 4:03.8. Then comes Bill Dotson at 4:04.3. The third and fourth Oregon guys, Reeve and Keith Forman are listed as 5th and 8th at 4:05.5 and 4:07.3. (U. of Oregon Library)                   Keith Foreman, George Larson, Dyrol Burleson, Vic Reeve 2 Mile: Not to belabor a point, but Oregon is pretty damn good. The top two times are those of Burleson and Reeve reported earlier. Forman's 8:56.5 is the fourth best mark behind the 8:55.9 of Oregon State's Dale Story. To recap: the University of Oregon has the 1-3-4 times in the 880, the 1-3-5-8 marks in the mile and the 1-2-4 clockings in the two mile. It appears that someone is doing something right. Wonder if track will catch on in Eugene. 120 Highs: Oregon's Jerry Tarr and Fran Washington of Santa Clara Valley Youth Village have both run 13.7. Don Styron (NE La) is a tick back. 220 Lows: As with the 220, this race is being run on the straight and on the curve, giving us separate categories. Dee Andrews of Long Beach State and Terry Long of Florida State are the straight leaders at 22.6. Fran Fran Washington has a wind-aided 22.2. Jerry Tarr and C.K. Yang lead the turn runners at 23.5. 440 Intermediates: This is virgin ground so far this season. Texas Tech's Bob Swafford leads at 52.6. Broad Jump: Ralph Boston and Anthony Watson have been competing, but they are not the leaders. These guys have 27' and 26' resumes, but the leader is unheralded Bob Ritchie at 25-2¾. The only other 25 foot jumper is Wellesley Clayton of Compton JC and the West Indies. The big boys should take over soon. Triple Jump: Virtually nothing of note here. Winston Cooper of St. Johns leads at 49-10¾. High Jump: As with the broad jump, the top guys are taking their time rounding into shape. Colin Ridgeway an Australian at Lamar Tech has joined the seven foot club (7-0½), but no one else is over 6-11. Pole Vault: Unlike the previously mentioned field events, the vault has seen lively competition and solid marks. Uelses of course is the leader, but in the meet in which Uelses sets the record, Marine lieutenant Dave Tork is second at 15-8¼ and recently has had a near miss at 16-1. Shot Put: The season is starting slowly but should pick up steam when Dallas Long and Gary Gubner meet. Long's 63-4 tops the list, but Gubner, who has thrown only once outdoors, is second at 62-6. Dave Davis' 60-3¾ marks the first time he has thrown 60' in two years. Parry O'Brien is out of retirement, but sits far back in the rankings at 58-7. Javelin: Jan Skikorsky of USC tops the list at 250-5½. Larry Stuart of Santa Ana JC is a close second at 249-4½. Jerry Dyes is a familiar name in this issue. His 248-6 is the fourth best throw this year, but he is also ranked in the broad jump and the trip jump. Check out the day he had under “Late News”. Discus: The big guys are throwing well early in the season. Could this be the year of the 200' throw? Rink Babka leads at 194-0½, but he has to be hearing the footsteps of world record holder Jay Silvester, 193-1½, and two time Olympic champion Al Oerter, 191-0. Surprising Glenn Passey, Utah State's NCAA champion is in the mix with his recent 190-9½ collegiate record. Hammer: How many ways can you say Hal Connolly? The world record holder has thrown 219-0½ this year, over 30 feet beyond the next American. LATE NEWS On April 19 Mt. SAC's Joe Faust takes over the national lead in the high jump when he PR's at 7-1¼. April 21 is a pretty good day for track and field. The Kansas Relays kick off the relay season. Texas Southern will give the big boys trouble in the open meets. The Tigers win all six college division relays topped by a national record of 3:19.8 in the sprint medley. In the university division Missouri lowers the national record in the 2 mile relay to 7:24.2. No details are given. McMurray State's Bill Miller takes the national lead in the long jump with his 25-6, but the real story is ACC's Jerry Dyes who places second at 25-3½. Yes, this is the same guy who is only two feet out of the national lead in the javelin at 248-6. Today he wins that event at only 237-4, but he can be forgiven as, in addition to long jumping, he has been kept busy with the triple jump where he places a close second at 49-11¾, only 3½ inches behind Kent Floerke. That would be 237-4, 25-3½ and 49-11¾ in the same afternoon. After the meet he helps put the hurdles away, drives the team bus home, cleans up the locker room and washes the uniforms. All in a day's work. In a dual meet at UCLA Cal's Gene Johnson becomes the fifth American to clear seven feet. The Cal – UCLA isn't the only dual meet in Los Angeles this day. In fact it is hardly a blip on the radar compared to what is going on at the Coliseum. Oregon has come to town to take on the Trojans of USC, make that the Trojans of USC who haven't lost a dual meet since 1945 - 104 consecutive meets without a loss! (Okay, there was that irritating tie with Michigan State in 1949.) The boys from Eugene leave nothing to chance. Dyrol Burleson, Jerry Tarr and Harry Jerome are double winners and Les Tipton throws 238-4 to upset SC's national leader, Jan Skikorsky as the Ducks roll, 75-56. The columns provide one intriguing tidbit. Colin Ridgeway, Lamar Tech's seven foot jumper, grew up playing Australian rules football. He can kick an American football 70 yards. He might be doubling as Tech's punter if he could get his kick off fast enough.            A little ahead of time but the only picture of a young Forrest Beaty that I could find.            This is his 1964 Cal NCAA Mile Relay team of Beaty, Al Courchesne, Dave Fishback and                                                             Dave Archibald                                                      Forrest Beaty today on the left This photo is listed on the U. of Oregon Library website as Bill Bowerman with an unidentified runner at a 1961 indoor meet.  But we all know better don't we? (U. of Oregon Library) The aforementioned Forrest Beaty is having a hell of a season as a high school senior. He has run 9.4, 20.6 and 47.3, but there are a couple juniors who show a glimmer of promise. Pampa High (TX) has a kid named Matson who is closing in on the junior class records in the shot and discus. He has thrown 62-8 and 186-6. Lemore High in California as a tall skinny kid who has run 47.5. That name would be Smith, as in Tommy Smith. Speaking of underclassmen, Southern California a couple pretty good sophomore broad jumpers. Long Beach Poly's Marvin Motley leads the country at 24-6¼. Seventh on the list at 23-8 is LA Freemont's Willie Crawford. Word is the kid dabbles in baseball as well.

     

Vol. 2 No. 55 Meeting John Bork

Below is a series of emails exchanged between John Bork, George Brose, and Jerry McFadden.


Dear George:

Ernie Cunliffe, who I had the pleasure of rooming with during our January 1962 trip to New Zealand, turned me on to your web site!

That picture of me on your web site at Franklin Field-Philadelphia which the caption underneath saying " Penn Relays" is actually the finish of the 1961 NCAA 880Yd. Championship. My time was 1:48.3. At that time was a  new stadium record.

                                                                        CORRECTION

             John Bork Winning 1961  NCAA Meet in Franklin Field Philadelphia

My mistake calling it Penn Relays earlier

 

                           

John,

Wow, what a surprise to get an email from one of my boyhood heros.   We never shared a starting line but growing up in southwest Ohio I did get to see you run in the MAC championships in 60  when they were at Bowling Green.  Western Michigan was really a powerhouse in those days with you and Jared Ashmore, Dick  Pond, and a few others I can't remember.  I occasionally see a guy named Barry Binkley who ran at Bowling Green and pr'd in that meet in the mile.  He may have gotten second.  But to whom I don't recall.  I'm pretty sure you took the 880 that day.  I graduated from HS in 1961, so I was a bit behind you.  I went to Oklahoma and ran 4:09 and 1:51 but never went to any big meets other than the relays.   Did you ever run that AAU meet that was held annually in Ft. Wayne, Indiana?  That meet used to draw a lot of the big names in the Midwest, and I think a number of your teammates and perhaps you may have been there.

 My good friend Steve Price (coached the Kettering Striders and then the women's coach at Bowling Green) I think knew you .

George Brose

 Dear George:

Boy do we have some paths crossing along the way.

I grew up in Monroe, Michigan.    Monroe is just 17 miles from Toledo and about 40 miles from Detroit.

What town did you grow up in?

I met Steve Price at Miami of Ohio in 1962 when I started my graduate work there.

I was Steve's freshman cross country and track coach as assistant to Bob Epskamp
Steve interested me to Blues music. We went to a local college hangout together that featured 

a great rythym and blues band "Maurice and the Rockets. (CORRECTION from Steve,  It was Maurice and the Mystics)   Bob Epskamp had first been myHigh school Coach at Monroe H.S. and then our assistant coach at Western Michigan to George Dales.  So, I followed him down to Miami of Ohio. I had the honor of coaching Jack Bacheler, Andy Schramm, Dave Bartell when they were freshman at Miami. in 1963.

I ran cross country for four years at WMU so I was in races with Barry Binkley. At that time we had tremendous depth at WMU and Bowling Green did not so, I think we kind of overwhelmed Barry. He was quite talented

At the1961  MAC Meet which you witnessed  at Bowling Green we swept the 880 Rich Mach 3rd. Dick Greene 2nd. My winning time of 1:50.8 was a MAC and Track record at the time. A couple of weeks later at the Central Collegiate Conference meet I ran under 1:50 for the first time with a1:49.0. Bob Teague had graduated from Kansas but, his teammate Kirk Hagan was 2nd in the race. Charlie Durant of Drake was 3rd.

Yes, I ran in the Ft. Wayne Invitational/AAU Meet in 1961. I won the 880 in about 1:50.0, nipping George Kerr of Jamaica/U of Ill. and Jim Dupree.. I was third to Jim Dupree later that  year at the Nat. AAU Championships,  1:48.5 to 1:48.8 Jerry Siebert nipped me at the tape to keep me off the USA Team.  Coming down the home straight, Geroge Kerr ran me out into the 3rd. lane and hammered me with three big elbows which really  took the sting out of my kick. After I finally got around him I set out after Dupree and was rgaining ground but about 10 yards from the tape, Jerry Siebert blew by me and I had no time to respond. Kerr was fourth and our friend Ernie Cunliffe was fifth. Good Company.

But, I must tell you how Mt. SAC JC Champion and 880 record holder, Ray VanAsten, helped me make the finals. I was tired at the AAU meet on Randalls Island NY after running 3  races at the NCAA Meet. But, luckily the heats were slower at the AAU than at the NCAA's.

In the semi's as we neared the 440 mark I was in the middle of the pack with Wayne Farlow of USC on my inside and Ray Van Asten outside me. Suddenly Farlow decided to make a move, cutting directly in front

on both me and VanAsten. In order to keep from tripping over Farlow, I pushed him forward with both hands

which also pushed me backwards, tired and disheartened I was about to step off the track. But, as Farlow cut in front of Ray VanAsten, Ray, yelled "Farlow, you Fucker!". This caused a ripple of laughter in the crowd and cracked me up too, so, I gained back my desire and finished about fourth to make the final.

2 nights ago, I made contact with Ray Van Asten and told him the story and, thanked him for helping me make the final. Ray was a little taken back by my telling of the words he blurted out. He remembered the incident but not his actual words. That was the only time that Ray and I were in a race together. He went on to U of Oregon after Mt. SAC but, told me his career ended in 1964 with a back injury sustained the season before.

So, finding Ray Van Asten after these 51 years to thank him; gave me courage to try and locate

my New Zealand teammate, Ernie Cunliffe and....... then Ernie introduced me to your web site.

Cool!

More later.

John Bork

John,

That's a great story about Wayne Farlow.  I'll include it in the blog maybe as an 'expletive deleted' if Van Asten doesn't mind.   (Like hell, I will.)

  

George  

George:

PS, I see that I goofed... Wayne and Warrren Farlow were twins. I slipped

It was in the semi final race with Warren Farlow, not Wayne., oops.

I don't think I ever ran against Wayne. I'm not sure if he was there at NY but, in another heat.

My. brother Dave coached Track and Cross Country at Monroe High School for many years 

70's thru 90's and was Mid West XC National Coach of the year back when.

His most notable runner was Olympian Todd Williams. Dave had about 9 state champions

and one of his team set a state record for the lowest score ever in the Class A XC Championships

of about 19 points, with Todd the winner, Tim Pitcher (Later of U. Tenn.) and Dave's Son Derek

in the top 10. Derek went on to Stanford and now is a corporate Attorney in Cleveland, Ohio.

It is interesting that you ask if I've written a book. which is funny because last week, my friend Tom Trumpler here in Camarillo commented in an em-mail; that I should write my "obituary" or a book. I told Tom yesterday that I'm not sure, I will because only 4 people would probably read it.  I may do it for my kids. Tom is an ardent track nut, who was meet director for the Camarillo H.S. Relay Meet which featured Jordan Hasay as a high schooler.

Back in the day when Max Truex, Bob Schul; and Ernie Cunliffe were stationed at the Oxnard AFB

they used to come over to Camarillo and use the  old. track.

I had a son and twin daughters who ran on the Camarilo H.S. track teams. Kevin was County 100M and 200M Champion one year. 10.88, 22.1 and 48.5 

Got to go.

John Bork

George,

This is the photo of John Bork I was talking about. The front runner is Dale Story of Oregon State, followed by Bork, then myself, during the 4x1 mile relay at Drake in April, 1961.

Western Michigan came into the event totally unheralded, with Oregon State, Missouri, and Iowa considered the favorites. Jerry Bashaw led off for WMU with a 4:19.8, followed by Jerry Ashmore in 4:10, then Bork blew us all away with a 4:07, with Dick Pond anchoring in 4:13.6 - for an American record of 16:50.4. The previous American record was set in 16:52.4 by an American "All Star' team in London in 1952.

Oregon State took 2nd in 17:04.4 with Missouri in 3rd at 17:08.0.  Sorry the photo is a bit overexposed.

Jerry McFadden

John,   just got this from Jerry McFadden,  the third guy in the picture.

George Brose

                                                        Drake Relays April , 1961
                                                          3rd Leg  4x 1 mile  relay
                    Dale Story (Oregon St.), John Bork (Western Michigan)  Jerry McFadden (Missouri)

Dear Jerry and George:

What a wonderful birthday gift you guys have sent me. And, on my actual birthday.  I had no idea that this photo existed..... for over 51 years.   Did a teammate take this photo, Jerry? Or, is it a press photo?

Thanks so much!

John Bork

John,

It was taken by a teammate. We were hoping that that we were going to have a good day as we had ran 17:05 the previous week at the Kansas Relays and thought we could handle the other teams (only Houston had ran faster at that point) but you guys ruined our party! But it has been fun to say we were there when you guys took the American record.    Glad you enjoyed the photo and that it arrived on your birthday. Nicely done, George.

Jerry  McFadden

Thanks Jerry,   that gives it a unique flavor.   Didn't you tell me Rawson (your roommate) got killed in Viet Nam.  I remember Pelster had a had a strange toes out stride but it didn't seem to slow him down at all.  There's a good picture of Rawson in the Drake Relays archive.  I'll see if I can locate it.

Bill Rawson

George

George,

You have a great memory. Bill was killed in Vietnam as a Marine 2nd Lt. a few months after he graduated from MU. His name is on the Wall in D.C. 

Jerry

It's nice to be remembered some 51 years later.

Just when I was groveling in the realization that I had become an  * askerisk to track and field lore just as

the " Paavo Nurmi's of another day" were to us back in the 1950's and 1960's. - 

So, thanks for making me feel "remembered"..

John Bork

Vol. 2 No. 54 Reggie Pearman R.I.P.

Reggie Pearman (1923-2012)

Reggie Pearman, one of the US’s premier middle distance runners in the post WWII era, passed away June 15, 2012 in New York City at the age of 89. 

Born of Ethiopian immigrant parents in New York City, Mr. Pearman attended NYU and was a prominent member of the Violets track team.  He ran in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, suffering a severe spike wound tohis Achilles tendon in 1948, and it was thought he would only walk with difficulty after that injury.  He was back running at a high level within the year.  He  finished 7^th in the 800 meter final saying, “I ran a lousy race.  Those guys didn’t sit around and wait for me.  They had their own races and raced them. 

In 1957 he won the national AAU 440 championship  at Dayton, Ohio.  In 1976 he was inducted into NYU’s hall of fame.

Mr. Pearman was a close friend of Charlie Jenkins, the 400 meter champ at Melbourne.  Jenkins recruited Reggie into the US Peace Corps where he worked as an administrator in Venezuela.    Prior to that he had been teaching social studies and health education in a junior high school in Queens.  He continued his education at U. Mass receiving a doctorate in education, then taught graduate and doctoral students in education at Cornell, California State (PA) and other schools.

His first race was in a school intramural meet in 1941.  "I think I ran the 440", but the following year he won the New York City high school cross country championship as a freshman.  He also ran for the New York Pioneer Club, one of the first racially integrated track and field organizations.

Having no guidance on seeking scholarships, he was a walk on at NYU.  “My parents came from Ethiopia.  They didn’t understand what a scholarship was.”  As a member of NYU’s team, he helped the school win a number of national relay titles which included a WR 3:22.7 sprint medley in 1950.  His name was put on the Penn Relays Wall of Fame in 1994.

Mr. Pearman served in the army in the Philippines in WWII and re-entered to serve in Korea as well. 

Vol. 2 No. 53 A Scientist's Comments on Lolo Jones

From Bill Blewett

George,

On the subject of Lolo Jones: I saw the piece about her on the NBC Nightly News, and was awed by the magnitude of high-tech support she has received to prevent a repeat of 2008, i.e., hitting the ninth hurdle.  To me it seems simple, fatigue takes hold even in a race of only 100 meters, causing the stride to shorten late in the race.  The 10 cameras and real-time computer modeling is merely technology in search of an application, with the only real benefit being to market her sponsors' products.  She's on the team because of her talent, resolve, and assiduous training, not  because of high-tech gadgets.

Vol. 2 No. 52 Brits' Interesting Concept for Their Olympic Trials

I just noticed in the London Telegraph online site that the British are currently having their Olympic trials, as are the Americans.  However, the Brits allow international runners such as the Ethiopians participate in their trials.  This must spice up the races and give the selectors a chance to observe their athletes in high level competition.  It was stated that the first two British placers at these trials, who also had achieved the famous or infamous  'A Standard' , would get a uniform and a place on the team.  I suppose that leaves the selectors some leeway in choosing number 3 individual in each event from performances in the trials or elsewhere.

Vol. 2 No. 51 You Wanted Those Kenyan OT Results?

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Rudisha runs 1:42.12 at altitude – Kenyan Olympic Trials

David Rudisha at the Kenyan Olympics Trials (Muthoni Njuki (Capital FM))

Nairobi, Kenya - The might of the World 800m record holder, David Rudisha, fittingly crowned the final Kenyan Trials for London 2012 in Nairobi as three reigning Olympic champions survived furious onslaughts to earn Olympic selection on Saturday (23).

In front of an adoring public of about 15,000 in Nairobi’s National Stadium, Rudisha’s powerful strides opened up on the homestretch to stop the clock at an astonishing high altitude record of 1:42.12 to seal his place in his first Olympic Games after a tendon injury buried his hopes four years ago.

The breathtaking performance on the last event of programme appropriately wrapped up an enthralling day of track action as the final pieces of the Kenyan London 2012 jigsaw fell into place.

Nancy Jebet Langat, the women 1500m titleholder from Beijing, will not defend her title after a knee injury ruled her out of the start. However, fellow Olympic gold winners, Pamela Jelimo, Asbel Kiprop and Brimin Kipruto as well as Athens 2004 champion Ezekiel Kemboi booked their places for the London showpiece in contrasting fashion.

World 5000m and 10,000m champion, Vivian Cheruiyot, successfully kept her two-pronged London assault on track by winning the 5000m Trial having taken the 10,000m race a week earlier.

Isaiah Kiplangat Koech, blessed the Nyayo tartan with a new 5000m soil record of 13:09.80 in the other signature performance of the meet to lead a crop of upcoming runners who upset the established order during the selection meet.

'King David’ reigns

Organisers slotted in the men's 800m Trial as the last race of the programme with the main act David Rudisha sending supporters into orbit with another devastating display of front running masterly that will surely send shockwaves across the world.

The anticipation was palpable since the World champion and record holder had laid down the gauntlet when he cruised to a 1:44.0 victory during Thursday’s heats and from the gun Rudisha had an unobstructed view as he pounded the track to smash his own 1:42.84 record at altitude when winning his second African title in 2010 in the same stadium.

Fans led by Kenya’s vice-president, Kalonzo Musyoka, rose to acclaim the runner known as 'King David’ in his homeland as he took his lap of honour, complete in Masai Moran traditional regalia, amid wild cheers.

"I’m very happy since Kenyans love sport and they love athletics and they give us support. Even today, they cheered as the start list was being announced and that is why I always want to deliver something for them," said Rudisha.

"If I wanted to run a slow race and win nice and comfortable, I would have done that but for those who are not able to come and watch us run in Europe, I try to do my best to show them how we perform there live. It’s such an honour," the world season leader - 1:41.74 achieved in New York - explained.

"I’m feeling in better shape than in 2010 and my Olympics dream has come true and what remains is to keep the shape since I want this gold so much because it is the only medal missing from my table," he added ominously to his rivals.

Behind him the 'other’ race saw Commonwealth Youth winner, Timothy Kitum beat double Africa junior silver medallist, Anthony Chemut in a flying finish that returned 1:43.94 against 1:43.96 to earn the youngsters the remaining Olympic slots.

Rudisha was thereafter, named in the men 4x400m relay team as expected, giving him the chance to double and emulate his father, Daniel Rudisha.

"I’m happy they have announced it today. 4x400m will come after my event and I hope we will work as a team to perform well in the event my father ran in 1968," he added alluding to his elder’s silver success at the Mexico Olympics.

Cheruiyot at the double

Spurred by the scorching desire to emulate Ethiopian rival and double Beijing champion, Tirunesh Dibaba, Daegu 5000m and 10,000m winner, Vivian Cheruiyot, declared the best was yet to come from her as she outclassed a rich field in the 12 and a half-lap race in 16:08.08.

"I’m happy because this time, we are going to race with Dibaba. It’s been a long time since I raced Dibaba. I know you will see the best in the big race," said Cheruiyot.

Once again, she was not pushed to her limits as she managed to detach from the challengers at the bell as Daegu silver medallist, Sally Kipyego, who was third in the 10,000m Trial followed her across the line in 16:09.29, beating the resurgent Beijing 1500m finalist, Viola Kibiwott (16:09.45) to complete the London line-up.

Kiplangat sizzles

With World Cross junior champion, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor (DNF) setting a blistering pace, Isaiah Kiplangat Koech, edged a thrilling three-way sprint for the finish in 13:09.08, the fastest ever ran on Kenyan soil.

Beijing bronze winner and African champion Edwin Soi ensured a second successive Olympics appearance when he led the challengers home in 13:11.11 after coming from behind to edge out Daegu sixth finisher, Thomas Longosiwa (13:11.28).

"This time, I want to finish higher than Beijing. These Trials are tougher than the Olympics itself," Soi quipped.

Kiprop on the knife edge

Only a late lunge in the homestretch saved the title defence of Beijing titleholder, Asbel Kiprop from being the headline failure of the Trials, as Worlds silver medallist Silas Kiplagat won his second successive selection race.

In a tactically absorbing race, the top-three in the world season list, Kiplagat, Kiprop and Nixon Chepseba faced a minefield line-up and their quality prevailed in the end as the Commonwealth champion won in 3:37.60.

"Winning here is good but last year, I won and went to silver and this time, I want to make sure I get my calculations right since just like last year, I was in good shape. I foresee a situation where we can win all the medals for our country and I will work with my teammates for that," the winner said.

Chepseba, who missed outside selection to Daegu, last year, came home in second (3:38.00) and could not hide his delight gushing, "this time, no one can deny me, I have lost to wildcards for so long and my dream has come true."

Kiprop was seventh on the final bend as his bid for a second Olympics gold looked set to collapse only for his lanky legs to propel him to third in 3:38.30, just shading World junior titleholder, Caleb Mwangangi (3:38.80).

"The young runners blocked the inside," said Kiprop, who employed a risky strategy of hanging behind. "It’s a good thing that I did not win the Trials since the pressure that comes with it is too much. I won the Trials for Osaka and Berlin World Championships and returned home without a medal."

"Having the top three runners competing for Kenya is a bonus for the country but my aim remains winning the Olympic gold on the track."

World Indoor champion, Helen Obiri, took the women’s 1500m Trial in 4:06.10 to set her on the path of collecting the Olympics title as Daegu 800m finalist, Eunice Sum (4:07.19) and World Youth champion, Faith Chepng’etich (4:08.53) joined her for the Games.

Chepng’etich will also compete for her nation at the World Juniors in Barcelona before her Olympics bow.

Jelimo on song

Another of the crowds’ darlings, Pamela Jelimo was vociferously cheered when she laid down the hammer in the second lap after they went through 400m in 61sec to charge away to a dominant 1:58.48 victory.

"I’m working on my speed since winning the Olympics will not be easy. Making the team brings so much joy and unlike 2008, I know I have to work harder to win," she told.

A career best performance of 2:00.33 rewarded 2007 World Youth champion, Winnie Chebet with the second London slot as Beijing silver winner, Janeth Jepkosgei (2:00.47) finished third to join the party.

"I had a hamstring injury that saw me not train for two weeks but now, I have another chance to go there and do my best to finish in the podium," said the 2007 Osaka Worlds titleholder who is credited with 14 medals for her nation in her decorated career.

Brimin with confidence

Olympics 3000m Steeplechase gold medallist, Brimin Kipruto, won his second Trial on the trot but the acclaim belonged to double World champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, the Athens champion who re-enacted his famous jig from Daegu to throw the stadium into frenzy.

Kemboi (8:12.82) appeared to motion to Kipruto (8:11.73) to go ahead and claim victory after he pulled level with him with 50m to go as Abel Mutai (8:13.47) claimed a surprise Olympics slot by trailing the pair in third.

"The first part was to qualify in a very tough race and that is finished. Now I can concentrate on doing everything to defend my title," Kipruto expressed.

"Today, I just wanted to make the team and go to London where I will give everyone a good race. Part one of the objective is done now we move to part two in London," the showman who is Kemboi said after completing a repertoire of post race antics that included more jigs and a lap of honour.

Commonwealth champion and twice Worlds bronze winner, Milcah Chemos, did justice to her top billing as the 2012 leader and clinched the win in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase in 9:32.75 ahead of her Delhi bridesmaid, Mercy Njoroge (9:33.32) as African bronze winner, Lydia Rotich (9:40.41) returned third to book her London ticket.

Down and out

Staying true to established tradition, the London 2012 Trials claimed their share of big names that saw Olympics dreams snuffed out in unforgiving fashion.

Olympics bronze medallist and 2007 World champion, Alfred Kirwa (6th, 1:45.19) and Commonwealth Games silver winner Richard Kiplagat (7th, 1:45.79) were the high profile victims of the Rudisha 800m blur.

Olympics silver medallist, Eliud Kipchoge’s history making third successive appearance at the Games dissipated when he was forced to seventh (13:10.86) in the men's 5000m having missed selection in the 10,000m selection event at the Prefontaine Classic.

Commonwealth, Continental Cup and African Steeplechase champion, Richard Mateelong, who won bronze in Beijing had his prized scalp claimed in the men 3000m steeple as he slumped to fifth in 8:14.00.

Beijing silver winner in the women steeple, Eunice Jepkorir, returned 10:13.28 for the wooden spoon as world leader in the corresponding race, while Paul Kipsiele Koech again succumbed to his chronic high altitude sickness in the men's race.

"I know I can perform if given the chance to run in Europe but despite feeling good for most part of the race, running in altitude cost me again," he lamented.

Beijing fourth finisher and Berlin World champion in 10,000m, Linet Masai was in the frame for selection in the 5000m until metres before the bell after dropping out of the longer race with stomach cramps last week but eventually faded to seventh in 16:23.75.

"My race is the 10,000m but today, I did not have the speed and I wish the girls all the best in London. I will work hard to ensure I will be around for the next one," a distraught Daegu bronze winner rued.

The team reports to camp on Sunday.

Mutwiri Mutuota (Capital FM) for the IAAF

SELECTED RESULTS

MEN

800m
David Rudisha 1:42.12
Job Kinyor 1:43.94
Timothy Kitum 1:43.96
Alfred Kirwa 1:44.61
Abraham Rotich 1:44.79

1500m
Silas Kiplagat 3:37.60
Nixon Chepseba 3:38.00
Asbel Kiprop 3:38.30
Caleb Mwangangi 3:38.80
Bethwell Birgen 3:39.00

5000m
Isaiah Kiplangat 13:09.80
Edwin Soi 13:11.11
Thomas Longosiwa 13:11.28
Vincent Kiprop 13:19.47
Emmanuel Bett 13:21.55

3000m Steeplechase
Brimin Kipruto 8:11.73
Ezekiel Kemboi 8:12.82
Abel Mutai 8:13.47
Jairus Birech 8:14.05
Richard Mateelong 8:34.00


WOMEN

800m
Pamela Jelimo 1:58.48
Winnie Chebet 2:00.33
Janeth Jepkosgei 2:00.47
Lydia Wafula 2:00.74
Jane Jelagat 2:01.65

1500m
Hellen Obiri 4:06.10
Eunice Sum 4:07.19
Faith Chepngetich 4:08.53
Margaret Wangari 4:11.84
Mary Kuria 4:16.68

3000m Steeplechase
Milcah Chemos 9:32.75
Mercy Njoroge 9:33.32
Lydia Rotich 9:40.41
Phanencer Chemion 9:48.63
Hyvin Kiyeng 9:51.07

5000m
Vivian Cheruiyot 16:08.08
Sally Kipyego 16:09.29
Viola Kibiwot 16:09.45
Sylvia Kibet 16:10.81
Janeth Kisa 16:18.71

Vol. 2 No. 50 Olympic Trials 2012

This is a blog devoted to 1950's and 1960's Track and Field, but current events are hard to ignore.  I was able to watch the Olympic Trials on Saturday and Sunday.

  A few comments concerning said event: 

1. Production:    They are doing a bit better with less blathering by the announcers (exception being Bruce Jenner  interview)  I'd much rather have heard something from Milt Campbell who was also  there.  Milt's post Olympic career and life tell a much better story of America. He got less than a full second of camera time.

2. The woman interviewing Jenner and Dan O'Brien was completely out of her element.  A Katie 'Queen of Fluff' Couric wannabee.       I don't even want to speculate on how she scored this gig.   Dwight Stones should retire, as field events barely received any attention. 

3. Ashton Eaton's performance put this observer on the edge of  credulity, especially coming through in a 1500 pr to break the world record.  It appeared that the two leaders Joe Detmer and Curtis Beach  in the1500 let up to encourage Eaton.  I'm wondering if Detmer sacrificed his third place position overall  to help out.  Eaton was easily the most articulate and gracious interview of any of the winners on Saturday.  It is difficult to imagine how anyone could expect to get an intelligible word out of someone who has just made a lifetime dream come to fruition.  A few thanked their maker and extolled that he has a plan for them.  It makes one wonder what the plan is for the ones who didn't make the team.

4.  One of my regular sources (Ernie Cunliffe)  explained that Joe Dettmer who slowed and encouraged Eaton at the finish of the 1500 probably didn't have the 'A standard' (8200 points)  to represent the US at London, but he still might have placed third instead of fourth as he was only 23 points out of 3rd.  Ernie informed me that you get about 4 points for each 0.5 second improvement in the 1500,  therefore if Dettmer had managed a 4:11.36 instead of his 4:14.77  he might have been third, but still not good enough for an A level performance.   Still this was a nice gesture.  I don't know that he could have done a 4:11.36 but it's nice to believe it was possible.  After all Eaton did the near impossible.  He also would have made the US team in the long jump with his 27'  (8.23 meter) effort.    Now, what has this kind of goings on meant in the past?  Dennis Kavanagh shared a bit of history. 


"At the 1951 Pan American Games, Browning Ross placed 1st in the 1500 meter run, shared 1st in the 3000m steeplechase, and finished 4th in the 5000m run.  A controversy occurred in the 3000m steeplechase, where two Americans, Curtis Stone and Ross had pulled away from the field.  Stone slowed down on the last straightaway and held Ross's hand as they crossed the line together.  Argentine officials debated for two hours whether their actions violated rules requiring athletes to make an effort to win before finally allowing the results to stand.

I am not sure and haven't researched it, but I have the feeling that Stone won the AAU cross-country championships one year.  I am not sure I have anything that summarizes the winners, or whatever, of the old championships.  Well, let's interrupt this for a commerical;"  DK

5. The  public relations folks are probably breathing a sigh of relief that Lolo Jones managed to qualify in the hurdles.  They covered her more before and after the race than Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells  who beat her rather soundly.  Obviously a lot of ad agency money is riding on her being at London to promote whatever products they can tout using her smile and looks.  Maybe they had a reality show planned if she didn't make it.  Sort of a fall from grace thing.  Glad to see she made it through.  We'll be bombarded in the coming weeks with any conceivable product.  I can just imagine the meetings this Monday morning at her ad agency.  This too would make another reality series.   "America's Fastest Next Best Model".  Any other suggestions?   Post on 'Comments' below.

From Bill Blewett - "George,  On the subject of Lolo Jones:  I saw the piece about her on the NBC Nightly News, and was awed by the magnitude of high-tech support she has received to prevent a repeat of 2008, i.e., hitting the ninth hurdle.  To me it seems simple, fatgue takes hold even in a race of only 100 meteres, causing the stride to shorten late in the race.  The 10 cameras and real-time computer modeling is merely technology in search of an application, withthe only real benefit being to market her sponsors '  products.  She's on the team, because of her talent, resolve, and assiduous training, not because of high-tech gadgets."

 

6.  The 800 semis weeded the 1:43 potential guys from the 1:46 guys.  The top three on Monday will have a shot at the silver behind David Rudisha of Kenya unless some unforeseen circumstance occurs.

7. Is the US the only place that has this type of selection process, or am I missing some olympic trials elsewhere?   The Answer:  Kenya had one.  I'm told that Kenya had a great trials this weekend as well.  Have to look it up.

8. David Rudisha (800 meter record holder )  is the son of Daniel Rudisha, a silver medalist on Kenya's 4x400 way back when (1968 Mexico City) .  Interestingly this family name 'Rudisha' is Masai, not one of the more prominent running tribes of the Nandi and Kalenjin.    David apparently ran a 1:42.12 and some change with approximate 50, 51 splits.   Led from wire to wire.  Bring on the world.  Keep taking your malaria pills, and stay on that high protein diet, David.

Vol. 2 No. 49 A Conversation with Peter Snell

A Brief Conversation With Peter Snell

We’ve recently reported on the racing in New Zealand when Peter Snell set records in the mile, 880, 800,  and then went to Los Angeles and set the indoor 1000 yards record and 880 yards as well during that race.  Ernie Cunliffe put us in touch with Peter, and I sent him a few questions about the race at Wanganui, and he graciously responded. 

My questions centered around the effort of running on a short (less than quarter mile ) track, grass surface, what his expectations were going into the race, and what Arthur Lydiard’s role was in that week when the races occurred.  I also asked Peter about getting into his chosen profession of exercise physiology.   I enquired if he knew one of my former colleagues in the field,  John Ivy, who also works in Texas.  Below are the replies that Peter Snell sent.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

George,

Ernie forwarded the piece on Wanganui written by Roy (Mason)  and quite frankly he has it all in a nutshell.  I’m not sure there is much I can add except my thought processes leading up to and during the race.  For example based on the New Years Day run mentioned by Roy, which was done 3 weeks after racing a marathon and during volume intervals in conjunction with long runs, I felt that 3.57 was conservatively realistic – in keeping with my preference for not raising expectations too high publicly. 

Perhaps you can give me some guidance. 

Regards,

Peter

George,

The above draft was written last week and I lost a large chunk of the text when my application crashed.  I was too bummed to try and do it over again.

I had seen very little of Arthur that summer so all he had to go on were race performances, including the marathon, leading up to the Wanganui event.  He may have been aware of my New Year’s day race and put 2 & 2 together, as did I.  He was present at Wanganui but I did not see him until after the race when news people found him and brought him over for a photo attached if I can find it)  His contribution was to publicly predict I would do 3:55 thus adding unwelcome pressure but it certainly filled the stadium.  The non-standard track was not a problem as many of the club tracks on which I did my training were 5 laps to the mile grass.

I preferred firm closely mowed well-rolled grass to loose cinders such as at Tokyo and Rome.  Californian clay tracks were the best and I hated the bitumen track at San Diego.  Too bad today’s rubberized tracks weren’t developed. 

Yes I know John Ivy very well.  My path to becoming an exercise physiologist started in 1974 when I enrolled as a freshman at UC Davis to educate myself out of an unsatisfying Sports PR job with a tobacco company.  Thanks to an invitation to Superstars late 1976, I made enough money to stay on after graduating in 1977 and spend 4 years at Washington State to with Dave Costill’s colleague Phil Gollnick. 

Thanks for the Jazy photo.  I notice Michael Bernard in the photo.  Jazy must have thought the 5000 was the easier race to win.

Regards,

Peter

Wednesday June 6, 2012

George I just saw your photo of Ron Delany and find it interesting to see how well the 1960’s runners are aging.  With this in mind I’m attaching a photo of me, Jim Bailey (1^st sub-4 on American soil, 1956) and Dave Wottle.  Also a pic of some good 800 guys at reunion organized by the late Bud Greenspan.

Regards,

Peter  

Peter Snell   Jim Bailey   Dave Wottle

800 Meters Olympic Champions

Peter Snell (1960   1964)

Tom Courtney  (1956)

John Woodruff (1936)

Dave Wottle (1972)

Vol. 2 No. 48 Anthony Whiteman 40 years old sub 4 minute mile

Anthony Whiteman out of Cleesthorpe , UK set a new outdoor record for the Masters mile on the Vanderbilt track in Nashville this week. His time of 3:58.79 surpassed the previous outdoor record of 4:01.62 held by Vyacheslav Shavunin. Only Eammon Coghlan's indoor Master's time of 3:58.13 has been faster over that distance. the race can be seen at the following site. ///// http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/249408-2012-Music-City-Distance-Carnival/video/639431-M-mile-Invite-Anthony-Whiteman-Masters-WR-2012-Music-City-Distance-Carnival ///// I realize we focus more on 1950's and 60's track and field events, but the achievment by Anthony Whiteman is certainly worth noting. Congratulations for an outstanding performance. Anthony Whiteman finishing the race.

Vol. 2 No. 47 March , 1962 and Introducing A Brief History of Track Shoes

Once again for the 137th posting on this blog, Roy Mason, our track historian does his customary and expected great job of bringing us a review of our sport's history. Some pictures of the Los Angeles Track Club are from 1963, a year out of sequence, but I thought some of you West Coasters would get a little teary eyed looking at them. In addition we will be introducing a section of track and field shoe history from our friend Phil Scott of Clayton, Ohio who among his many talents has a hobby of collecting old track shoes. Phil is one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable track nuts around as well as being a former National Junior College decathlon champion and bike racer and specialist in bicycle restoration. He is also the proud father of Jason Scott who is currently threatening to clear 18 feet in the pole vault and qualify for the Olympic Trials. Phil has shared some of his vast collection displaying it at Endurance Sports in Bellbrook, OH. Joe Sargent, entrepreneur of Endurance Sports allowed me into his establishment to photograph some of the shoes, without requiring me to actually make a purchase. Joe, always a gentleman.


And so we begin with Roy's review of March 1962 taken from the pages of Track and Field News and his encyclopedic memory.

MARCH 1962

      Snell on the Turf

Let's get this straight right off. In the world of track and field in 1962 there are two divisions. One is Peter Snell. The other is everybody else. After throwing down five world records in three weeks, you would think the man would take a break. Nope, the week after adding the indoor records at 880 and 1000 yards in the LA Times meet, he returns to New Zealand and takes a shot at his own WR in the mile. The fact that he fails is beside the point. His 3:56.8 on February 22 is the sixth fastest ever run and his second best. If this is failure, we'll take a second helping, please. His splits are more even than in his record run three weeks earlier: 59.1, 59.4 (1:58.5), 60.3 (2:58.8) and 58.0. Except when Gary Philpott moved ahead briefly on the second lap, Snell led the entire way.

Four weeks later in Tokyo on March 18, he became the first man to run sub 1:50 in the indoor 880 with a 1:49.9 breaking his own 1:50.2 record. Six world records so far this year; one can only wonder what is yet to come.

As with last month's issue, this one covers indoor action more by events than meets. Frank Budd ties the world record in the 60 with two 6.0's in the ICAAAA meet. Hayes Jones gets his long awaited 6.9 WR in the highs in the Chicago Daily News meet. Also in the Daily News meet Kansas takes down Manhattan's WR in the 2MR by two seconds. Kirk Hagan blows the race open on the first leg with a 1:52.2. Tonnie Coane and Bill Thorton do their parts with 1:54.4 and 1:53.1 before Bill Dotson anchors in 1:51.1 for a 7:30.8. Two weeks later at the Kansas State Relays, the Jayhawks lower this mark to 7:29.2. None of those annoying details or splits are given. 

Dave Mills tops the indoor 440 list at 47.8. Scanning further we find that this Toomey kid who resembled a Timex watch at Colorado (“Takes a licking, but keeps on ticking.”), is running for the Santa Clara Youth Village and may have found an event. He is ranked seventh at 49.1. Jack Yerman has the fastest 600 time, 1:10.1, a tenth of second ahead of old rival George Kerr. Jim Beatty likes newspaper sponsored meets. He set the indoor record in the mile of 3:58.5 in the Times meet (documented in last month's report) and now adds the only other sub 4:00 clocking with a 3:59.7 at the Daily News meet. In news somewhat akin to

God having an off day, Ralph Boston loses for the second time this season when he comes up half a foot short of Michigan's Dave Raimey's 24-3¾ in the Daily News meet. Dave Raimey, from my home town of Dayton, OH, had a good football career at Michigan and was a Hall of Famer in the Canadian Football League. ed. Boston does have the longest effort of the season, 25-2. A couple of Big Ten football players have displayed their long jump wares. Ohio State's Paul Warfield has the second best mark of 24-11½, but tastes defeat in the Big Ten meet at the hands of Michigan State's Sherm Lewis who leaps 24-6. Warfield as some will remember was an NFL pro bowler at Cleveland. ed. John Thomas is the only seven foot high jumper at that exact mark. John Uelses' 16-0¾, reported last month, provides him a nearly half foot cushion over the next vaulter. The outdoor season is in an embryonic state, with a few promising marks, but nothing to write home about and so we shan’t. If you are a top athlete who has used up his college eligibility and you are not in the service, you have probably moved to Southern California. The

Southern California Striders have a long history of dominating national championships, but now two more teams have formed. The Los Angeles Track Club, coached by Mihaly Igloi, seems to have cornered the market on middle distance and distance runners. Wearing the LATC singlet are Bob Seaman, Lazlo Tabori, Jim Grelle, Max Truex, Jim Beatty, Willie Atterberry, Bob Schul and Nick Kitt.

 LA Track Club withTom Rodda (Kansas St.) and Jim Grelle (Oregon) leading Paul Ebert (Oklahoma) in 1963 Southern Pacific AAU Cross Country Meet (contributed by Paul Ebert)

 

LATC Team Photo. Ebert Top Row second from Left. Igloi on the right. Front, Peter Mundle (Oregon) Rodda, Grelle Ray Hughes (Arizona), Meryle McGee Can anyone ID the other runners?

 If you are a top notch weight-man, your affiliation is with Joe Mangan's Pasadena Olympians, at least Parry O'Brien, Rink Babka, Hal Connolly, Tony Conkle and Bob Humphries seem to think so. The following is gleaned from the writings of Bert Nelson in his Of People and Things column. You probably want to resist the urge to invest in a company producing metal vaulting poles. Eleven of the top twelve vaulters this indoor season use fiberglass, J.D. Martin being the exception.(In those days J.D was told by the manufacturers that a fiberglass pole strong enough to hold him would have weighed more than 50 pounds ed.)......................Thinking of setting a world record in a race longer than 220 on a track that is oversized or the event is not run as a complete oval? You'll be wasting your time, Bucky. The IAAF has decreed that records that are produced on less than an oval (one turn 440 or three turn 880) shall not be recognized for record purposes. But how are the rules makers handling that sticky 220 on the straight vs. 220 on the curve thing? Minds wiser than yours or mine have produced the only possible result: there will be separate (but equal) records for each type of race. Any race involving a curve run on a track exceeding 440 yards will not be considered for record purposes......Get your big meet tickets early. The NCAA will be in Eugene June 16-17, the AAU at Mt. SAC June 22-23 and the USSR-USA meet at Stanford July 21-22. Who is the best all around hurdler (highs, lows and intermediates) as determined by the Portuguese Scoring Tables? Rex Cawley is fifth (13.9m, 22.5ys, 49.9m) with 3013 points. Fourth goes to Glenn Davis (14.3y, 22.5mt, 49.2m) with 3019. Surprising Fran Washington takes third (13.6y, 22.3ys, 51.5y) with 3020. But these guys aren't close to the top two. Second goes to Germany's Martin Lauer (13.2m, 22.5mt, 51.2m) at 3073.. And the winner is …......Don Styron (13.7y, 21.9ys, 50.1y) with 3084. Make special note of this as it could be on the midterm.

Page 17 has an ad for Elmer's Weights (Big Spring, Texas) which sells hand, leg and vest weights. You can get Olympic Style (“Used by Olympic Champions”) or, if you can't clear your calendar for Tokyo in '64, you can just get the Regular Style. Elmer also sells Bobby Morrow's Kick Gauge (to measure your starting block position). You can also buy a Track Leveler and if you have to ask what that is, you don't need to know. An ad for Archie's Little Black Book takes up all of page 20. I'm thinking Archie is having some trouble getting endorsements. Aside from a high school coach who during the time he has been giving the books as prizes every school record has been broken, the only other endorsement is from Charles (Chick) Evans, “one of America's greatest all-time amateur golfers”. Charles (call me Chick) says, “I put the book down with the thought that one should persevere no matter what the odds may be”. On page 17 there is an ad for Minerva Watches which has a photo of a ten second face split timer. This caused your reporter to clutch his chest an emit a cry best described as unmanly. I had one of those. I loved it more than life itself. Wonder where it is now? Just to assure equilibrium in your life, let me report that, yes, Cliff Severn Sporting Goods is still selling Adidas on the back page and the cost of a subscription continues to be only $3 a year.

 The pictures seen below are all of the same pair of shoes which are thought to be from the 19th century, approx. 1879. Phil purchased this pair in Lancaster, PA from a gentleman who had run a sporting goods store in the 1920's when the shoes were only 50 years old. Through searching old Sears and Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogues, Phil found advertisements from the 1880's for shoes much resembling this pair. The old gentleman told Phil that sometimes these shoes which all originated in England would be marketed under the local store's name. Top grade shoes were made of kangaroo leather, which is what Adidas and Puma and Dresske advertised in the 1950's and 60's as well. Eventually A.J. Spaulding began having shoes made in Massachusetts. J.W. Foster and Sons founded 1895 in England (later to become Reebok in 1958) was an early manufacturer. I personally held these shoes and found them to be very light and supple despite their age and rather thick sole in which spikes, quite long, were pounded into the sole. In these days the spikes were not interchangeable and started out rather long. Many were eventually made with a hardened steel and did not wear out. Believe me, getting spiked in those days meant some serious damage. Phil and I both remember wearing long spikes on good cinder tracks and the incredible grip you sometimes felt that you had and the sense of the shoe pushing you forward. We also remembered eating a lot of cinders being thrown up by these long spikes, and on wet tracks a lot of wet, mucky cinders covering those who ran back in the pack. Only the leader stayed clean, and even he usually kicked up a lot of dirt onto the back of his uniform. Also the inevitable cinders working their way into your shoes during a race and irritating your feet or causing blisters or abrasions was a common part of the sport. If you have any thoughts and memories of long permanent spikes and want to share them, click on the word "comments" at the end of this article. A box will then appear box below in which you can make a comment. We'll publish them as we continue our blog.< Smelly Feet