Ftiotos by Beth Van Deusen and Warren Morgan
“I don’t know where I am”
Flopping Delamere just
a normal guy until...
By GREG CLARK
Of the Emerald
It made sense, in a zany sort of way.
Considering the context, John Delamere’s long
jump style was hardly shocking to Hayward Field
pro-track fans Sunday. Novel at best.
Delamere, who spans the better portion of the
long-jump pits upside down, is hardly a unique attrac
tion in the wild world of professional track — where
giant shavers serve as pole-vault standards, runners
are plastered with Post, Personna and 3M insignias
and warm-up suits look like a house painter’s drop
cloth.
Even the events have been given new callings
— the Personnavault, Post cereal's mile and the Pro
Keds two-mile.
Delamere competes in the 3M long jump.
He finished third in Eugene with a somersault of
24-4V2, more than a foot less than winner Henry
Hines. His best mark ever with the style is 25-91/2
(outdoors), a yard shy of Bob Beamon's world record
mark of 29-21/2.
which isn t exactly overly impressive.
Nevertheless, Delamere has his sights set on
the 27-foot mark for next year. If he gets it, he’ll be
sure to turn a few heads in the direction of the long
jump pit.
He feels once he hits the 27-foot distance the
“flip” method will attract recruits. Ex-Oregon State
high jumper Dick Fosbury did it with his “flop” before
the 1968 Olympics, and Delamere is banking on a
rerun in the long-jump pit.
The native New Zealander picked up the the
style while at Washington State last year after read
ing about its advantages in maintaining speed and a
lower center of gravity.
The unveiling came during the Pac-8 meet last
year, where he tied Southern California's Randy Wil
liams, the 1972 Olympic champion. After the debut,
Delamere laid off nearly a year until last January and
the start of the pro tour.
The absence hurt.
“My timing’s really bad right now,” he said after
scratching his final two jumps Sunday. “I’ve been
very weak getting off the board this year.”
And landing is still another problem — possibly
the greatest.
‘The main thing is I just don’t know where I am,”
he said. “If I could land right, I could improve a lot, but
I have been landing poorly. Out there, I wasn’t com
ing around enough and was falling backwards.”
While somersaulting over a bed of sand seems
to be a feat reserved for “The Daring Wing Dings” in
the nearest carnival, Delamere has had no experi
ence in tumbling or gymnastics.
“I really wish I had some (gymnastic training) —
it would have really helped, I think,” Delamere exp
lained. “This summer I am going to practice my tech
nique and talk to some people who know about gym
nastics.”
Delamere has hopes that the International
Amateur Athletic Federation will change its mind
about his jumping style-it is now outlawed for
amateur competition. The ban was the primary
reason for his turning pro this year.
But it’s obvious he still has a deep love for
amateur competition — due perhaps from his up
bringing in New Zealand where healthy competition
— rather than money or prize — is the thrust behind
sports.
“Amateur competition is different,” he recalled.
“Just like in the Commonwealth Games last
year—walking through the gates at the beginning of
the ceremonies was like nothing else. It’s really a
thrill to compete in front of your own country.” The
Games were held in Christchurch.
Now that he has turned professional, he must
squeeze practice and competition around his full
time coaching duties at West Point Army Academy.
And a family.
Fitting in both during the track season is not an
easy order.
'The tour is really tough on you,” he admitted.
“You have to leave for the meets really late — at the
last minute. I usually train with the cadets while I’m
coaching, although it’s hard because you are con
stantly interrupted.”
Interaction with other tour members is limited —
“they all live in Los Angeles, I live in New York, so I
don’t see them except during the meets.”
While the long jumpers occasionally help each
other with remarks on style, none is ready to convert
to the Delamere flip.
“They wouldn’t do it,” he said with a slight smile.
“I don’t know, I guess they are afraid they’ll break
their necks.”
That thought apparently hasn’t entered
Delamere’s mind...
McNally, Reynolds, Smith AII-Pac-8
Oregon outfielder Don
Reynolds, first baseman Pat Mc
Nally, and shortstop Ray Smith
were selected to the Northern Di
vision All-Star Team, it was an
nounced last Thursday.
Reynolds, who holds five career
records and was the Ducks' sec
ond leading hitter with a .321 av
erage, made the team for third
straight year. Reynolds was
joined in the outfield by Ramon
Gonzalez of Oregon State, and
Washington State’s Wes Graham
and Doug Simon.
McNally led the team in hitting
and finished fourth in the Pacific-8
batting race with a .372 average.
Smith, a junior, led the team in
home runs with 10 and 38 runs
batted in.
Other members of the team
were: catcher-Pete Rowe,
Oregon State; pitchers-Tracy Har
ris, Washington State and Gale
Meier, Oregon State; second
base-Roger Dirkes, Washington
State; third base-Terry Agnew,
Washington; designated hitter
Phil Westendorf, Washington
State; utility-Tom Simas, Oregon
State.
IM Notices
All softball managers of league
winning or league tie teams are to
meet in room 105 PE at 3:30
today.
In addition, the intramural i
swimming and diving champion- J
ships will be held Thursday at ;
Leighton Pool beginning at 8 p.m. !
All-campus baseball is played i
at Howe Field every day at 5 p.m. :
]
:
11
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►
AFRICAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
POINT OF ORDER!!
This is to remind all African Students that it is time for the
election of new officials to run the Association for the 1975/76
academic year.
At present, kll offices held have been declared null and void.
However, a Committee has been appointed to conduct the election.
The Committee members are:
1. LAM IN SEISAY
h
»• 2. UYOATA EKANDEM
£ 3. SIMON EMUDIA
£ 4 OBI AFULEZI
^ 5. ABDI SHERIFF
£ 6. LENNY MURAYA
686-6455
343-9661
343-5807
342-6889
686-6646
CHAIRMAN
MEMBER
MEMBER
MEMBER
*
X
X
XI
XI
XI
XI
XI
XI
n
XI
XI
MEMBER
MEMBER
*
f
*
*•
+
f
The Committee would like to announce a meeting scheduled for jj
Saturday, May 24th at 2:00 p.m. Room to be posted in the E.M.U. *
It would be great if all of us show up so that we could straighten X
out and put things in proper perspective.
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!! j
Thanks *
1 5NUW .
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