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EMU wins 6 events in own relays: YPSILANTI—Eastern Michigan dominated its own first annual relays Saturday by winning six of the meet's 23 events. The program held at Olds-Marshall Field had five relay events. Thermond Kirkland, a junior from Ann Arbor, led the way for Coach Bob Parks' EMU squad by long jumping 24 feet, 2 1/4 inches. Teammate Clifford Larkins, a senior from Highland Park, took the triple jump at 48 feet, 8 1/4 inches. Eastern Michigan's other individual winner was Fred LaPlante, a junior from Toledo, who was clocked in 1:53.9 in the 880-yard run. The host team "also won three relay events, with Eugene Thomas, a junior from Akron, contributing to each of the victories. EMU's 880 unit set a field record of 1:28.1. The foursome was composed of Thomas, Keith Swanston, Steve Montgomery and Gene Chavis. Thomas anchored EMU's mile relay victory on a time of 3:12.1. His running mates were leadoff Ian Hall, Jim Grant and Gary Collins. The other EMU triumph came in the distance medley relay on a clocking of 10:08.5. The foursome included Bob Sampson, Thomas, Cleveland Yarde and Gordon Minty. Two other strong individual efforts saw Central Michigan junior Ron Costello win the one-mile in 4:11.6 and Mike Bowers, a Michigan State product, high jump 7 feet, 1 1/2 inches. Bowers was an Ann Arbor Track Club entry. |
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7 marks fall 2 Drake records are set by EMU DESMOINES—Western Michigan's Jerome Liebenberg and Eastern Michigan's distance medley relay team turned in record-setting performances as records toppled in seven of 21 events in the finale of the 62nd annual Drake Relays Saturday. Before a sellout crowd of 18,000 in 62-degree weather. Frank Shorter, of the Florida track club, became the meet's only double winner with a 27:24.4 in the six-mile run, fastest world time in the event this year. Liebenberg, defending champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, won in 8:43.6, slower than the collegiate record of 8:32.2 he set a week ago. He said he was "about four or five seconds slow because of problems with the barriers." But he easily outdistanced the field. Wayne Seller, Jim Grant, Floyd Wells and Gordon Minty were clocked in a record [9:34.4] 9:43.4 in the distance medley relay. The Eastern Michigan foursome outdistanced second place North Dakota State by more than 60 yards and eight seconds. EMU runners also finished fifth in the sprint medley relay and the mile relay. The Eastern performance was hampered by the loss of one ace sprinter Gene Thomas, who had to withdraw because of a pulled muscle. Thomas' loss scratched Eastern's 440-yard relay team and eliminated his 48-second quarter mile speed from the mile relay. EMU's John Smiley finished sixth in the hammer throw with a toss of 170 feet, five inches and teammate Cliff Larkins was fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 50 feet, 1 1⁄2 inches. Shorter, who set a record Friday in the three-mile run, was hard pressed by Minnesota's Gary Bjorklund in the six-mile run Saturday and won by only two-tenths of a second. Bruce Mortenson, of the Twin Cities Track Club, broke his own Drake record in capturing the marathon for the second straight year. This time he was timed in two hours, 27 minutes 23.7 seconds. Other records went to Rod Milburn, of Southern University, with a 13.5 in the 120-yard high hurdles, and Pat Matzdorf, of Wisconsin, with a high jump of seven feet 1 3⁄4 inches. Both Dave Roberts, of Rice, and Tom Craig, of Oklahoma, pole vaulted 17 feet for a record, with Roberts winning the championship on fewer misses. Karl Salb, of Kansas, won the shot put for the third straight year with a toss of 65 feet 4 ¼ inches, completing a triple as he took the same title in both the Kansas and Texas relays. Mel Gray, of Missouri, captured the 100-yard dash for the second straight year. But his wind-aided 9.2 clocking was not eligible for a record. |
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EMU Breaks Drake Mark, (Special to The News (Ann Arbor, News)) DES MOINES — The exhilaration of a record-breaking performance in the Drake Relays by the distance medley relay team from Eastern Michigan was lessened by a serious injury to one of the Hurons. Dave Campbell fell into a solid barrier during the running of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He was knocked unconscious, bruised his right shoulder and suffered a deep cut on his lip. The 5-9, 135-pound junior from Melbourne, Australia, was carried off the field on a stretcher after he suffered a convulsion while under treatment at trackside. He gained consciousness in the training room and was taken to a local hospital for further treatment. The exact nature of his injuries couldn't be determined at press time. However, it appeared that Campbell had suffered a concussion and that he would remain in the hospital at least overnight. This naturally cast a pall over the record-breaking performance of the distance medley team which zipped around the oval for a 9:43.4 clocking. This was a record for the Drake Relays as well as a new standard for the Hurons and in Michigan collegiate annals. Wayne Seiler led off the three-quarters with a 2:58.8 clocking and was followed by a quick 440 from Jim Grant at :47.3. Floyd Wells got the baton and ran a 1:51.7 in the half-mile. Gordon Minty anchored with a mile in 4:05.6. With top sprinter Eugene Thomas out with an injury, the mile relay had to settle for fifth place. Marvin Lynch, Ian Hall, Gary Collins and Grant had a 3:12.1 clocking. Another varsity record went into the EMU books when Cliff Larkins placed fourth in the triple jump at 50 feet 1 1⁄2 inches. Texas Southern and Abilene Christian wound up with multiple relay victories in the two-day track and field carnival. Rice's Dave Roberts won the pole vault on fewer misses at 17 feet but Oklahoma's Tom Craig also cleared 17-0. Roberts, going 17 feet or over for the fourth time this spring, shattered the old Drake record of 16-6 ¾ established a year ago by Altii Alarotu of Brigham Young. Frank Shorter of the Florida Track Club clipped more than five seconds off the six-mile standard in the morning with a time of 27:24.4 and became the meet's only double individual winner. He won the three-mile Friday in a record 13.7. The other final-day records before a capacity crowd of 18,000 were in the marathon, the 120-yard high hurdles, the 3,000 meter steeplechase, the college distance medley relay and the high jump. Kansas shot-putter Karl Salb and Mel Gray of Missouri in the 100-yard dash collected, their third straight Drake titles. Salb completed a Texas-Kansas-Drake sweep with a 65-4 ¼ victory. Gray won in a wind-aided :09. Snorter's six-mile triumph denied teammate Jack 'Bachelor a third consecutive title. Shorter's time was the third fastest 'ever by an American. Bachelor was third in 27:36.8. The six-mile also produced a national collegiate record when Minnesota sophomore Garry Bjorklund was second in 27:24.6, topping his pending 27:30.8 run last year. The first five finishers in the six-mile now rank third through seventh on the all-time American list, behind co-record holders Billy Mills and Gerry Lindgren's 27:11.6. Jerome Liebenberg of Western Michigan reduced his own Drake record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by 11 seconds with an 8:46.3 victory. Michigan State's 480-yard shuttle hurdle relay team matched the national collegiate and Drake record of :56.7 in the preliminaries—-but was one of two teams disqualified in the finals. Texas A&M won in :58.7—and was the only team to officially finish in a field of four. Illinois failed to cross the finish line and Notre Dame was disqualified along with MSU for leaving its lane too soon. |
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Hurons crush meet mark; (The Ypsilanti Press) DES MOINES, Iowa — it seemed almost ironic, the way that foursome of Eastern Michigan thinclads went out and crushed a long-standing Drake Relays record Saturday. For it came during the same weekend when Coach Bob Parks spent goodly time watching in terror as his usually potent forces were decimated by a pair of injuries. "We really ran real well out there in spite of everything. Even the times we finished fifth," Parks enthused. But how enthusiastic he could be is debatable, owing to the "in spite of everything." First star sprinter Gene Thomas was lost to the wars Friday night when he pulled up — and fell down — with a pulled muscle. That wiped out three EMU relay teams. Then, Saturday, premiere distance runner Dave Campbell crashed into a barrier on the first lap of the steeplechase and was knocked unconscious. He suffered a concussion and required stitches to close a cut on the lips. Already on the shelf were Bill Tipton, with stretched knee ligaments that'll keep the hurdler out of action indefinitely, and long distance man Dave Ellis, with a rib injury sustained in an auto accident two weeks ago. So it was within a rather dismal framework that the Hurons' crack distance medley quartet sawed six seconds off the meet record with a 9:43.4 clocking. Wayne Seiler had a 2:58.8 in the three-quarter mile lead off segment, followed by Jim Grant with a 47.3 quarter. Floyd Wells with a 1:51.7 half and Gordon Minty with a fine, 4:05.6 mile "cleanup." They were 60 yards ahead of runner-up North Dakota State (9:51.2) at the finish, and an even six seconds ahead of the old mark. Also highlighting EMU'S effort was a 50 feet 1 1⁄2 inches triple jump by Cliff Larkins. The jump, fourth-best in the meet, set a Huron varsity record. John Smiley was sixth in the hammer at 170'5"; the mile relay quartet of Marv Lynch, Ian Hall, Gary Collins and Grant was fifth in 3:12.1; and the sprint medley foursome of Hall, Grant, Collins and Seiler was fifth in 3:22.7. |
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Eastern thrashes Irish May 3, 1971 What had been a dandy track meet in the past suddenly turned into a rout Saturday at Olds-Marshall Field. Eastern Michigan stormed past Notre Dame, 102 1/2 - 42 1/2 What a departure from the recent past. Like last year, when the Hurons won by a relatively narrow, 81-73. Or the year before, when Notre Dame barely won. Saturday, Coach Bob Parks' forces won 16 of 18 events, including four by sweeps. Final score: Eastern Michigan 102 1/2, Notre Dame 42 1/2. Steeplechase: 1. G. M i n t y (EM). 9:31.9; 2. A. Ruffner (EM). 9:48.9; 3. A. Wares (EM), 10:02.2. 440-yard relay: 1. Eastern Michigan (Grant, Chavis, Hall, Swanston), 43.1 seconds. One-mile run: 1. F. Wells (EM), 4:22.9; 2. F. LaPlante (EM), 4:22.9; 3. M. Lynch (EM), 4:25.7. 120-yard high hurdles: 1. T. McMannon (ND), 14.5 seconds; 3. Downing (EM), 15.2 seconds. Long jump: 1. T. Kirkland (EM), 23-11 1/2. Javelin: 1. R. DeVries (EM), 185-0. High jump: 1. DeVries (EM), 6-6; 3. (tie) Steve Keller (EM), 6-2. 440-yard dash: 1. G. Collins (EM), 49.6 seconds; 2. N. Ossman (EM). 51.1 seconds; 3. D. Smity (EM), 51.3 seconds. 100-yard dash: 1. I. Hall (EM), 10.0 seconds. 880-yard run: 1. W. Seiler (EM), 1:58. 440-yard intermediate hurdles: 1. J. Grant (EM), 54.6 seconds: 2. W. Cartwright (EM), 54.7 seconds. Pole vault: 1. Dan Ellis (EM), 12-6; 2. T. Rodzik (EM). 12-0. 220-yard dash: 1. Hall (EM). 22.4 seconds; 3. Chavis (EM), 22.9 seconds. Triple Jump: 1. C. Larkins (EM), 48-1/2; 3. Kirkland (EM), 45-11. Two-mile run: 1. D. Ellis (EM), 9:23.7; 2. S. Hubbard (EM), 9:39.3. Discuss: 1. E. Polselli (ND), 167-9 1/2; 2. R. Duncan (EM), 141-11; 3. M. Yanyanm (EM), 140-0. One-mile relay: 1. Eastern Michign (Ossman, Hall, Collins, Grant). 3:36.7. Hammer: 1. J. Smiley (EM), 169-4; 2. J. Gravson (EM), 148-10: 3. C. Doherty (EM), 129-2. |
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DeVries has field day in EMU Open By TOM RICHARDS Saturday's Eastern Michigan University Open Track Meet was sprinkled with some strong performances but the top effort of the weekend started on Friday. Six foot two inch Ron DeVries shattered his varsity record in the decathlon by 151 points with a steady 6613 total. DeVries took first place over Tim Buckwalter of Goshen College who finished at 6097. DeVries bettered the 12 man decathlon field by winning three of the ten individual events. His winning marks came in the shot put and high jump (6' 6 1/2") on Friday and in the javelin (176' 6") on Saturday. He finished second in the discus, and counted thirds in the 110 meter high hurdles, 1500 meter run and tied for third in the 100 meter dash. Mattie Kilpelainen and Bill Barrett both of the Ann Arbor Track-Club (AATC) finished third and fourth in the standings. University hammer throwers John Grayson, John Smiley and Craig Doherty swept the event as both Grayson and Doherty hit personal bests of 170' 11" and 161' respectively. Grayson's effort topped both the meet and field record. Smiley, holder the varsity record at 173' 7" was not far off his form at 164'3". Junior Dave Campbell pulled away from the steeplechase field at the mile mark and finished in a season's best time of 9:13. Another season's best was turned in by six foot two inch Junior Gary Collins in the 880 yards. Collins finished behind Notre Dame's NCAA All-America Rich Wohlhuter 1:49.8 to 1:51.4. Floyd Wells of the University nipped Dave Romain (AATC) in one of the best races of the day. Wohlhuter's time was a meet record. The 880 yards was followed by another exciting race as Bob Steele (AATC) won over a talented field in the 440 yard intermediate hurdles in the fine time of 51.3. The effort broke Steele's own Olds-Marshall track record of 51.9 set in 1970. Huron captain Jim Grant edged out teammate Bill Cartwright as both were timed in 51.6. Grant, who represented his native Jamaica in the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in the event missed his varsity mark of 51.2. Ralph Baker University of Chicago Track Club (UCTC) finished fourth at 52.6 followed by Corey Bouyer Detroit Central Track Club (DCTC) formerly of Ferris State in 53.5. Bouyer had earlier captured the 120 yard high hurdles at 14.1. Meet record holder Bill Tipton finished third for the University in 14.2. Three runners smashed the meet and field records in the six mile run as Tom Hoffman (UCTC) finished in 29:35.2 and first place. Huron Jim Billsborrow followed at 30:07.8 and Kevin Keogh (UCTC) third at 30:13.7. Senior Cliff Larkins accounted for meet and field records in the triple jump as he sailed 49'. Miler Wayne Seiler sprinted past Paul Lightfot (AATC) with 3 00 yards remaining in the race and won in meet record time of 4:11.7. Meet and field records were smashed by Elio Polselli of Notre Dame as he flung the discus 182' bettering the mark by over eleven feet. Other winning performances were: High Jump-Mike Bowers (AATC) 6' 10" Long Jump-Thermond Kirkland (EMU) 24' Javelin—Dennis Leone (Falcon TC) 205' 9" Shot Put-Brian Oldfield (UCTC) 55' 101/2" 400 yard relay-Detroit Central Track Club 41. 440 yards-Ian Hall (EMU) 48.8 100 yards-Ray (DCTC) 9.6 Pole Vault-J. Ely (Ferris) 14' 220 yards-Ray (DCTC) 21.2 3 Mile-Bob Carpenter (CMU) 14:33.7 Mile Relay-(AATC) 3:17.6 |