Controversy erupts
around 1500 meters
By ART BUSIINK1X
Of (he Kmerald
The controversy and turmoil
(hat has simmered under the
surface of U S. athletics since the
protests at the 1968 Olympics
bubbled to the top in the 1972
Olympic Trials Friday.
The subject of disagreement
was the redrawing of heats in the
1500 meter race earlier in the
day a pair of redrawings which
allowed the pre-race favorites in
that contest to face rather easy
opposition on their way to the
finals instead of eliminating each
other in head-to-head com
petition.
By the end of the day many of
the Black athletes competing in
the Trials had planned a meeting
to discuss the issue. They ob
jected to the special treatment
give., White runners in the longer
race, [minting out that favored
Black runners in the shorter
dashes have been forced to run
against each other early and in
some cases forced out of com
petition before the Finals.
Andrews
At the center of the controversy
was Cal State-Hayward coach
Mai Andrews, who spent the day
telling anyone that would listen—
and some that didn't want to
hear that the 1500 was a "racist
race."
At one point in the afternoon,
Andrews was escorted from the
stadium by a Eugene police of
ficer after making an obscene
gesture at the crowd in the east
grandstands.
Once outside, he and about 20
other persons debated with two
policemen for several minutes.
Although one of the officers said
it was his understanding that
Andrews had been removed from
Hayward Field for the day, the
California coach was back inside
discussing the issue later in the
afternoon. (See story page 12.)
The 1500 semi-finals won the
dubious distinction of being the
most controversial of the many
events held in Eugene It wasn't
just the redrawings that became
controversial, but also two
disqualifications.
The first disqualification came
in the first heats Thursday, but
became an item of discussion
Friday when Oregon graduate
Jere Van Dyk, the disqualified
runner, was reinstated in the late
afternoon before the semifinals.
The second disqualification to
throw the 1500 into turmoil was
that of semi-final heat winner
Howell Michael, who was ac
cused of cutting in on North
Carolina's Reginald McAfee.
Michael s disqualification, which
allowed West to enter the finals
as the third man from the third
heat, brought criticism from a
Manner of fans still remaining in
the stadium wher the decision
was reached (after officials
viewed films of the race).
Former decathlete Bill Toomey
was one of those outraged by the
decision to eliminate Michaels,
one of the favorites for a berth in
Munich.
"What are you trying to do,
ruin the Olympic team?" he
asked one meet official. "Do we
want to send the best team to
Munich or not?" (See story on
disqualifications page 10.)
While controversy in the three
and one-half lap race stole the
spotlight, white-capped Dave
Wottle and steady, kicking' Jirn
Kyun won the day’s other two
1500 semifinal heats and headed
the list of entrants advancing to
the finals tonight (See story
page 9.)
The day’s other running events
went a little easier than the 1500
But like the longer race they held
the promise of outstanding
contests in this week-end’s finals.
In fact, competitors in the 110
high hurdles, the 200 and the 400
were talking "world record" as
they discussed their prospects for
making the Olympic team.
While many people were
talking about hurdler Rod
Milburn in terms of breaking the
110 meter record (including
Milburn. who had said he could
do so here), Arkansas State’s
Tom Bill equalled the world
mark in the event—streaking out
a wind-aided 13.2 second timing.
(See story page 16.)
Strong fields also emerged in
the 200 and 400 meters. The
shorter distance saw speedsters
Larry Black (20.4), Harrington
Jackson (20.8), Larry Burton
(20.5) and Ben Vaughn (20 8) win
their second round heats and lead
a strong field into the finals.
Advancing to Saturday's finals
in the 400 meters were Fred
Newhouse (44.2), Vince Mat
thews (44 8), John Smith (45.2)
and Maurice Peoples (45.3) from
the first semifinal and Wayne
Collett (44.8), Lee Evans (45.0),
Tommie Turner <45.2) and Cv. tis
Mills (45.2) from the second heat.
Times were a full second lower
Friday than they had been the
preceding day and many of the
contestants were talking about
going down another second
Sunday. (See stories pages 14
and 15.)
Perhaps the most surprising
event was the long jump, where
Bouncy Moore (unable to come
back from an injury), NCAA
second-place finisher A1 I-anier,
Phil Shinnick (with the fourth
best legal jump in the nation this
year, 26-5 44), Jerry Proctor
(fifth best in the U.S. at 26-3 ‘s),
Jeff Bolin (eighth best jump in
the U.S., 26-2 1,) and 26-footer
Stan Royster all failed to qualify
by either the top twelve or
jumping more than 25-7.
Added surprises in that event
had come before competition got
under way when three-time
Olympic medal winner Ralph
Boston and 26-footer Tom Chilton
(26-2) scratched from com
petition without even taking a
jump. (See story page 8.)
Biggest surprise in the shot put
was the failure of UTEP’s Fred
OeBernardi to qualify for the
finals DeBemardi came into the
competition with the fourth best
throw by an American this year
(68-7 :l.i), but couldn't even make
a qualifying 62-4. (See story page
7.)
The most unsurprising event of
the day was the hammer throw,
where big A1 Schoterman led with
229-8 and George Frenn and
veterans A1 Hall and Hal Con
nolly all qualified with ease. (See
story page 13.)
Tom Hill raced to a wind-aided tie of the
world’s record in the 110 meter high
hurdles (above), while controversy
engulfed the 1500 meter race and Cal
Photo by Matt McCormick
State-Hayward coach Mai Andrews was
removed from the field by a police of
ficer.
P'’Oto by Phil Waktstem