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,