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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1978)
sports Mac misses his mark By MARK STEWART Of the Emerald Oregon alumnus Mac Wilkins, the world s best discus thrower, wanted to set a new world record at the Prefontaine Classic Wednesday evening, but had to settle for a new Hayward Field mark instead. Wilkins, the current discus world record holder and now competing for the Eugene-based Athletics West dub. set the field mark on his fourth attempt, with a throw of 231-3, besting the old mark of 224-2, which he set in 1976. When asked if he thought he could have set a new world record, Wilkins said. “I sure did. I thought especially the last throw would do it. It was the best, it just didn’t have enough juice on it. That's the best I've thrown all year," Wil kins sad about his six throws, only one of which was under 220 feet. I just couldn't throw a few more inches for the people here." Wilkins' senes of 217-4. 222-1, 226-5, 231-3. 227-8 and 231-0 was his best of the year, and he said the crowd had had some thing to do with it. It (the crowd) helped my concentration, surprisingly." he noted. "My throws im proved as the series progressed." Wilkins said he wasn't disappointed that AJ Oerter did not show up for him to com pete against "When things are going well I know I can throw well." Wlkins' Athletics West teammate, Al Feuerbach, won the shot with a put of 66-6v«, and was pleased with his winning effort. “I’m pleased for myself with the back strain,” Feuerbach said. “I found it easy to throw 66 with no hip drive. I’m trying to protect my back. I felt good about the six throws. But I had to protect my back for the AAU meet (next weekend) and Europe tfiis summer. To have thrown hard now and hurt it would be foolish. At least I haven’t tost the ability to throw we*." The highjumpers never did get far off the ground, and winner Dwight Stones said he knows why. "The weather was a joke," he said after jumping just 7-3. "There are two reasons (for not jumping we*), the pollen and the wind." Stones cbdn't seem to like anything about the conditions, even the newly designed runway. “I don't like the area. It’s thin in places. I broke six spikes, two while warm ing up and four dunng the competition. "But the wind made it brutal. With no wind I could have gone 7-6. Tom (Woods) only went 7-0 and Rory (Kotenik) went 6-10. That's an indication there’s something wrong.’’ Marti Uquon won the 5,000, after sprint ing past Athletics West’s Craig Virgin with one lap to go after the two left the rest of the runners at the mile-and-a-half mark. “tt wasn’t a hard pace all the way," Li quori said after running the event for the first time this season. “I'm pretty sick, I don’t know if it's the pollen or a cold." Liquori. who will run against Henry Rono later this summer in Stockholm, said he's amazed at the Kenyan who runs for Washington State. He’s changed my plan. 13:13 isn’t easy, but I thought it would be a good time. But he ran a 1308. It tells guys like myself that we better have second thoughts about our races.” jawafn — 1. Rod Ewalks Club Worthiest 257-10. 2. Sam Sncttand Club Northwest. 2*3-* Women's high jtsnp — 1. Shem Febon, CNW, 5-10.2. Magge Gamson CNW. 58 3. JuSe Crosgrwe. CNW. and Timmy Coleman Oregon Track Club. 5-#. Hammer Mow — 1, Rfch Pertdns, OTC. 215-0. 2, Eric Hohn, OTC 142-1 Men’s shot put — 1, Ai Feuerbach. AMeecs We*. 85-6%. 2. Pete Schmot*. Tobias Stidars. 63-9% 3. Rues Vmcert, CNW, 62-7% High SdKXS spmt medey relay — 1. Distid 4 (Jerry Etkeartls, Brian Jvdan. Dan Hamnett Fred Spraul) 3 30.23 2. Disthcl 8. 3:33 53 3. OWnci 5. 3.33.7 (hand timed). Women's 3,000 — 1, Oabbm Quartiar. FNoon Track ChA 933.8. 2 Eryn Forbes Portend Track Ckjb, 945 99 3. Irens GriMh. unatt. 951.09 Steapiediase — 1. Doug Broom, Athletes West. 636.7. 2, Mke Roche. Attelc At*c. 8392. 3, Don Timm, ANetes in Acton, 846.5 Women's Discus — 1. Lome Grttn, FTC. 180-3. 2. Lynn Wn bigier. OTC. 173-3 3. Jute Hansen. FTC. 172-10 H^i school mile — 1, Chris Lattg. Portend. 4:17.19. 2. Tom Rottenbarger. Portland. 4:18.04. 3. mi Brock. San Frandeco. 4:18.30 1.800 — 1. Bob MapleaSone. CNW. 343.42 2. Phil Kane, /MNetcs Waal. 343.44 3. Paul Cunmings. Pac*c Coast CMt. 344.55 400 — 1. Adrian Rogers Tobias Satderv 45.82. 2. Matos Parks. AIA, 48-23 3. Ron Thomas. Canaei Arizona CoS age. 48 76 Woman's 803 — 1. Francis Lantsu. Pac«c Coast Club, and Lae Bafengar. Urryorerty of Colorado. 2103.7. 3. Debtee Camp baf. BC IreamatonaL 204 7 Pola vault — 1. Earl Bat. PCC. 18-0 2. Ja8 Taylor, CNW, 180. 3. Dan ftplay. PCC. 17-8 Triple (imp — 1. Pad Jordan, unat 53-9%. 2. Gary Lacy. Urtversay d Oregon. 50-4 3. Brent Fognar. Vanoower Oympie CMb. 50-4% Mac Wilkins uncorked a 231-3 effort in the discus, the third best ever. imsrmadiate hurdtes — 1. Tom Andrews. Tobias Stnders, SO 32.2. Sam Turner. Cal StairnLong Beach. 51.55.3. Phil MBs. New Zealand. 5147. Women's shot pul — 1. Maren Seider. San Jose Stars. 56-2.2. Carly Van Pad. CNW, 49-5V*. Marcia Mactdenbury, FTC. 47-OVi. Men s dtecus — 1, Mac WHWns, Athletes West. 231 3 2, Ray Burton. OTC. 193-10. 3. Howard Banich. OTC, 191-9. Man's 800 — Heat 1 — 1. t*ke Boit Tobias Striders, 147.31. 2. Rick Brown, Tobias Striders. 1 46 66 3. Greg Walton. 148.70. Heal 2 — 1, R Qinggrtch Rica. 148.46. 2. Rich Musgrsve, Colorado Track Club. 148.73.. 3. Carl Shaw. OTC 1 49 40 200 — 1. Adrian Rogers. Tobias Ssnders 20.4.2. Don Manic k. Honda Track Club. 20.5 3. Chris Brwti—«« OTC. 20.7 (al Dmes wind aided) High jump — 1. Dwight Stores Osaart One Track Club. 7-3%. 2. Tom Wooda, 7-0 3. Rory KoMrSk. PCC 6-10 5.000 — 1. Mart Uquori. AtUetc Attc. 1337 7 2. Craig Virgin. Athletics West. 1340 7. 3. Jeh Wats. AMabcs West 1335.5 Commentary Mike Marino Trying to shake spring luck Maybe it’s just typically rotten spring luck, but even when there's blue sky not everything is sunny. If you re like me and have been popping allergy pills like jellybeans, then you probably can relate. But for those who're connected with the NCAA track meet here, namely the Oregon athlete depart ment. there’s a new headache. One that Alterest won't cure. The University s new scoreboard at Hayward Field was supposed to be unveiled at last night's Prefontame Classic, but spring fate didn’t cooperate, unfortunately. Rather a few engineers were trying to break human endurance records to get the thing ready Crews from Texas spent until 3 a.m. Wednesday morning trying to ready the scoreboard for the Pre meet. It was to have been a grand sight, with the mammoth structure beaming out messages for all to see. But now, it seems, another technician win have to be flown in from Dallas to figure the machine out. Oh well, at least the track rtseif is ready. Decked out with fancy markings and "OREGON” on both straighta ways, Stevenson Track, as it’s formally called, looks beautiful under the bright sky. But don't forget spring luck. Even though most peo ple were pretty pleased with the new surface, there was dissent. In this case, the "pollen'' was Dwight Stones, the loquacious high jumper. After winning his event with a mediocre (for him) leap of 7-3Vi, Stones had his own thoughts of the revamped Hayward Field jumping area. It was a perfect day for every event except the high lump," Stones whined. " Right when you come off your sjm, the wind hits you right in the face. And I broke six pikes today on that surface. I don't like it —it s very thin in some places, like jumping off cement. "There's two things that I don't like about having the Pace 4 Section A Olympic Trials at this place — the wind and the pollen. And I'm going to be here for five days with ABC. I can just see me getting in front of a camera with my eyes water ing." Fortunately for the fans Wednesday evening, there were more important things than gripes and camera appearance. Instead, the 6.008 people who were there had their minds on the field — and discus thrower Mac Wilkins. The world record holder and Oregon grad was primed for this meet, admittedly in the best shape of his life. Out in the infield. 232 feet, six inches away, was a blue flag signifying Wilkins' work! mark, the one he hoped to break. And the fans knew it. From the moment he stepped into the ring, the stomping and clapping began in the old East Grand stand. As Wtkins throws progressed, the beat spread to the West stands, and soon the whole place wanted Wilkins to do it for them. It was a funny crowd then. Probably the only crowd in the country that could sigh at a toss of 227-8. But on his farthest throw, a 231 -3 job that ranked as the world's third farthest ever (Wilkins also holds the second farth est). they exploded. And when the big guy closed with a 231 even, a throw he admitted afterwards was "my best of the night,’ they cheered again. There were no complaints from Wilkins. Actually. it caught me by surprise the first time up,” he said. “But it helped me keep my concentration and focused my attention.’* It also helped Wilkins toss a pretty fine series — 217-4. 222-1. 226-5, 231-3. 227-8 and the 231 at the end. “ft's my best ail year," he said. “I’m just disap pointed that I couldnl throw it a few more inches for the people here. “If you’re an Oregon track man, about the best thing would be to get a world record in Eugene.” No doubt Wilkins will settle for the Hayward Field record — for the moment. Until he can get a shot to break that mark, he’ll be on the tour with Athletics West, a Eugene-based club. The road leads to next week's AAU nationals at UCLA (one of Wilkins’ other favorite places to throw) and then it's on to Europe. But unlike the past two years, when Wilkins “jetted around everywhere,” things will be a bit more relaxed this time. ‘There's no way you can perform at top level that way,” said Wilkins of his wanderlust past. “Athletics West allows me to plan my competition around May training. I can compete when I feel like it, and I’m ready to compete now." But unlike the past two years, when Wilkins "jetted around everywhere," things will be a bit more relaxed this time. “There's no way you can perform at top level that way,” said Wilkins of his wanderlust past. “Athletics West allows me to plan my competition around my train ing. I can compete when I feel like it, and I'm ready to compete now." Which brings us to the NCAAs today, tomorrow and Saturday. No doubt the umpteen-hundred athletes who made the trek here are ready to compete. Henry Rono for instance, Washington State's distance star, is en tered in three events. Whether he'll run in aH of them is another question, but he's a guy that could win an un precedented triple in one NCAA meet. It would be a feast for track addicts, who'll have gotten a pretty good fix of the sport after this weekend. The athletes are ready, the fans are ready, the track is ready. Now please, spring, let the damn scoreboard work, too. .I,
