Oregon daily emerald., June 29, 1976, Page 7, Image 7

Surprises, disappointment mark 1976 Trials
By JEFF NIELSON
Of the Emerald
Dr. Leroy Walker, head coach of
America s 1976 men’s track and field
Olympic team, stood in the press interview
circle as the late Sunday afternoon sun
shine beat down on the last day of the
Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.
It had been a long eight days for Walker,
but the tension of the Trials hadn't dam
pened his optimism about the United
State’s chances at Montreal.
"We re really pleased about the athletes
who have selected themselves for the
team,” said the coach. "It's an impressive
squad that we are taking to Montreal. There
was a lot of talk about those that didn't make
it, but those that made the team did so on
strong performances."
Such strong performances were in evi
dence all throughout the week. Some of the
most impressive efforts included:
•A new world record of 18-8V4 in the pole
vault, as Florida Track Club member Dave
Roberts overcame the trauma of having a
pole break under him on his first attempt at
the world record to set the new mark on his
thrid try with a borrowed pole *
•Another world mark in the decathlon
competition, (hand-timed) as Bruce Jenner,
third in the 1972 i rials, whipped through tne
two day event with a total of 8,538, breaking
his own record of 8,524
•Madeline Manning Jackson's time of
1:59 81 in the women's 800 meter final. A
new Amen can record, it marked ihe first
time an American woman had gone under
two minutes for that distance.
•A new Amencan record in the women’s
mile, as Cyndy Poor outkicked rivals Jan
Merrill and Francie Larrieu Lutz to take the
winning spot in 4:07 32.
But the 1976 Olympic Trials will be re
membered for much more than the out
standing athletic efforts of those who made
the squad.
There was determination, as Oreqon s
own Craig Brigham fought the effects of a
May mononucleosis attack to compete in
the decathlon—but the weeks of missed
training took it's toll as Brigham missed an
Olympic berth
There was disappointment, as the
number one-ranked sprinter in the world.
Steve Williams, tore a muscle in his
quarter-final 100 meter heat on the first day
of competition — sidelming a man who was
America s favorite to win both the 100 and
200 gold medals at Montreal.
And there was a supreme effort in the
10,000 final, as Garry Bjorkland ran nearly
three miles with one shoe missing to finish
third and sew up a berth on the team behind
winner Frank Shorter and a second-place
Craig Virgin.
Bjorkland was elated about his finish—
and even more so because he missed the
1972 Trials with an injury to his left foot —
the same one that was barefoot this time
around
"I got worried after the snoe came on.
said Bjorkland "Of course I felt it. but it
didn't bother me all that much. I've waited
for so long for this chance, losing a shoe
wasn't going to keep me from continuing.
And while the rest of the nation's athletes
were winning berths, current and former
University athletes were right up there with
the leaders.
Mac Williams and Lynne Winbigler, two
graduates of Oregon, dominated the discus
throw. Wilkins, the current world record
holder at 232-6, tossed a 224-2 mark on his
first throw to win while Winbigler uncorked a
heave of 166-2 to win the women’s competi
tion.
Paul Geis, the sometimes-outspoken
ex-Duck, silenced most of his former critics
Sunday by finishing third in the 5,000 met
ers in 13.38.46 to gain a long-awaited
Olympic berth.
Pete Shmock, a former college track all
American who still holds the freshman re
cord at Oregon in the shot put, made a
happy return to Hayward Field by hanging
on for a third-place finish by heaving the
shot 68-9V4 behind eventual winner and
Munich veteran Al Feurbach, who won with
a toss of 69-3V2.
And Oregon junior Matt Centrowitz,
buoyed by three weeks rest in Eugene,
sped to a second-place 3:36.70 in the 1,500
final Sunday.
Three of America's best women miters - Cyndy Poor (54), Francie Larrieu Lutz (middle) and Cindy Bremser
(42). Poor won the 1500 final in 4:07.32, a new American record.
It was Centrowitz's fastest time this
year— and one reason was Wohlhuter
"I wasn't gonna slow down and let Rick
take over," said the 6-0, 170 pound Cen
trowitz. “I’d sort of lost confidence before
this race because I hadn't run it in three
weeks, but once the gun went off I felt en
tirely different—ready to run.”
From the way the 1,500 began, it looked
to be a duplicate of the 800 meter final. Ohio
State senior Tom Byers, in a beginning
flash of speed, led the pack through a 53.6
first lap, then added a second lap of
almost-equal speed for halfway mark of
1:51.3.
Byers, seemingly exhausted after the
first 880, ended up in last place
Although things went fairly smoothly dur
ing the meet, not counting several foul-ups
in the electronic timing, controversy flared
over the selection process used for the Tri
als.
The United States is the only country in
the world that selects Olympic athletes
solely from the results of head-to-head
competition, and several stars—including
Williams, amateur world record shot put
holder Terry Albritton, distance great Marty
Liquori and steeplechaser Mike
Manley—all failed to qualify for Montreal.
But, in the end, Dr. Walker said it best
about those who did make it.
"Sure, the Trials are rough," he said, “but
we can t afford to slack here. Montreal will
be much rougher, and we can't take a
chance on any uncertainty."
—a—^—
Somedreams do come true-especially for Paul Geis, who gained an Olympic berth with
a third place finish in the 5,000 meter run.
n