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Vol. 5, No. 13, Feb . 11, 1959 Semi-Monthly $6 yearly by first class mail
NE\, S INDOORS DORTMUND, Germany: Jan . 24: 55m (60y5½") Delecour, France, 6. 1; Radford, GB, 6. 3; Stumpen,G, G. 3; 55mHGcrbig 7. 7; 400m-Radusch 50. 4; 800m-Schmidt 1:54. 3, Smith,GB, 1:55. 4; Caraftis, US, 1:55 , 6. l000m-Flomm 2:2:>. 5. 1500m-Schwarte 3:50. 7-; Blagrovc, GB, 3:51.4; Jochman, Poland, 3:56.6 . 3000m-Muller 8:1~; Chromik, Poland, 8:13 .6; Cl2rk, GB, 8: 22, 6. 1600mRelay-OSV 3: 21. 8. HJ-Pettersson, Sweden, 6'6f' . PY-Krzesinski, Poland, 14'1¼". Shot-Meconi, Italy, 58'9~"; Rowc,GB, 56'7,i"; Wegmann 54'11~"; Bantum, US, 53'9". KIEL, Jan . 25 : \'!acrn, Swed1.m, 1000m in 2:3•1; Dohrow 2:34. 2; Lawrenz 3:35; Brenner . i
BULLETIN BOARD Next Newsletters: Feb . 25; Mar. 11, 25; Apr 15, 29; May 13; June 3, 17: July 1, 15, 29. Relay all-time list continues with extra page devoted to classic one mile marks. Please send any and all additions , corrections, first names, lap times, etc . Greatest Sprinters is brought up to V1IND SPRINTS Steve von Devan ranks women athletes for 1!)58 on basis of 10 points for first down to 1 for 10th comes up with: Russia 375 points; Germany 69; Australia GG; USA 38; England 28; New Zealand 22; East Germany 22; Czech . 17; Poland 17; Holland 12; Rumania 10; Italy 7; Red China 7; Hungary 4; South Africa 3; France !.l, ••• rating European countries on their best 10 men in each event, witb IAAF scoring table points, von Devan gets: USSR 211,377; Poland 187,528; Germany 187,226; England 181,654; Hungary 174,215; Italy 169,882; Yugoslavia 166, 396; Norway 163,997; Rumania lGl, 848; Switzerland 153,533 ; Greece 149, 386; Belgium 148, 565; Holland 148. 290 ••• . After Delany 's Millrose victory he saicl he was not in top sh~c • •• Rickard Dahl is 6'4", 161 pounds, uses only one shoe, is married, and is in the purchasing dept. of a truck factory • • • Parry O'Brien will seek his seventh straight indoor AAU title . He has 13 straight wins indoors • •• Gene Venzke, top miler o! the 30s, runs a restaurant and driving range in Reading, Pa • • • Japan will enter at least thre\3 men in the Boston Marathon ••• Ed Flanagan, Boston U. coach speclcing: "Thomas is very relaxed, very modest. Amazing, really. We never t.llk about track going to a meet. V,e talk about llllything clse--politics, music, books, stock market, movie s. No arguments, just discussions . It helps keep the pressure off . Thomas regularly practices off the cinders at Tufts College . Everyone knows it's easier to go from dirt to boards than the other way . " Thomas speaking: "I don't know how high I cnn go. I'll just keep trying and see what happens. Every time 1 jwnp I try to figure out how I can improve on my mistakes . 'What does it feel like to mo.kc seven feet? When I felt I made it, I said to myself 'I'm over '. " Thomas almost quit ttack in high school, discouraged because he couldn 't make six feet. He's a growing l ad, having shot up l¾"since l ast August ••• He takes 7 strides from a 37 degree angle from the left . His Hrst four steps arc easy. The next three arc longer with the last step 8½'long • • • Coach Ed Flanagan calls the Thomas style a "stroodlc roll" ••. 1958 SURVEY (continued from page .:four.) Hammer: Yi'orld Ranki~ Connolly, Rut, Hall, Krivonosov, Cicply Improved: Connolly (0'1); Hall (7'4"); Tkachev (7'6 i); Iludenkov (8'1 0); Samotsvetov (9' 8); Rut (10½''); Lawlor (11'10½"); Dobricheiev (15'5") ; Zsivotski (5' 7l") Stationary: Kri vonosov, Nik.'1.Jline, Nyaneshev, Bcz;al: , Racic, Chibalov Declined: Ellis, Rascanescu, Csermak, Niklas Comparison: 1956: 206'½" (10th) 1957: 207'6!" 1958: 211'11" 1056: 198'3½" (20th) 1957: 203' H)58: 207' 1" 1956: 190'1½" (50th) 19G7: 193 '8½" 1958: 196'1 0·!" THE GREATEST SPR I NTERS-- :MANFRED GER MAR (Germany) 115 Points Undefeated in either the 100 or 200 meters in 1957 , unbeaten in the 200 meters in 1958 and European champion, Manfred Germar is still in the process of compiling a record that promises to place him high on a pedestal as the fin es t sprinter ever developed on the European continent . He is in the very front rank of non-American sprinters at either distance or in combination of the two . Germar was a potential finalist in the Olympic 200 meters after having pl aced fifth in the 100 meters at Melbourne, but he was injured in the first heat and withdrew . A few months after this he was winning both dashes in the 1957 World University Games in Paris . His speed occomplishments inc lude 9. 5 for 100 yards, 10. 2 for 100 meters and 20. 6 for 200 meters around a turn . , Achievement Points ; 110 4 Mooe German Olympic 100 meters team, 1956 4 Made German Olympic 200 meters tean1, 1956 2 Made German Olympic relay team, 1956 8 Ran 100 meters in 10. 3v. Swiss, Aug. 8, 1956 5 Reached Olympic 100 meters final, 1956 4 Won German national championship 100 meters, 1956 4 Won German national championship 200 meters, 1956 4 Won German national championship 100 meters, 1957 4 Won German national championship 200 meters , 1957 9 Ran 100 meters in 10. 2 at Cologne, July 31, 1957 9 Ran 100 meters in 10. 2 at Budapest, Oct . 12, 1957 4 Won World University Games 100 me ters in Paris , 1957 4 Won Wor ld University Games 200 meters in Paris, 1957 8 Ran 100 yards in !>. 5 at Koblenz, Aug. 10, 19G7 8 Ran 200 metei's in 20. 6 on turn vs. Hung.:u.-y, Oct. 13, 1957 9 Ran 100 meters in 10. 2 at Hanover, July 20, 1958 4 Won German national championship in 100 meters, 1958 4 \,\on German national championship in 200 meters, 1958 4 Won European 200 meters championship at Stockholm, 1958 8 Ran 200 meters on turn in 20. 6 at \'.1uppertru., Oct. 1, H)58 Victory Points: 28 Defe at Pencl ties : 23 7 Heinz Futterer 5 Heinz Putterer 2 Rod Richard 1 Rod Richard 4 Wrike Agostini 3 Mike Agos tini 5 Armin Hary 3 Armin Hary 1 Ira Murc hison 1 Ir a Murchison 1 Dave Sime 1 Hee Hogan 4 .Ed Collymore 2 Th::me Baker 3 Willie White 1 Bobby Morrow 1 Peter Rad.ford (2) Ruddy (2) ~teinbnch (2) 2nd v. CSR, Oct . 16, 1956 SCORE: 110 AP 28 VP 13 8 -23 DP 115 NOTED \\' ITH INT ERBST SURVEY OF 1958 SEASON concludes, with mauy thanks to Robert Pariente and Gerard Edelstein of the great French sports daily, "L 'Equipc", Long Jump: \'/orld Ranking: Bell, Shc~y, T e~-Ovanesyan, ~ac~on, Grabowski European Ran~ Ter-Ovanesyan, Grabowslci, Krop1ulowsld., Bravi, Diak , Brakchi Im roved: Ter- anesyan (improved 1½" over 1957); Jackson (13"); Herman 17¼"); Cben(7g); Bravi (4 "); Diak (17"), ::>tationary: Bell, Shelby, Grabowski, Brakchi, Kropidlowski, Molzbergcr Declined: Valkarna, Bennett, Rnngc, Visser, Hamilton. Comparison: 1956: 25'4~" (10th) 1957: 25'2R" 1958; 25'3t" 1956: 25' (20th) 1957: 24'11¼" 1958: 25'¾" 1956: 24'4½" {50th) 1957: 24'5¾" 1058: 24'6½" Pole Vault: \\o:du Ranking: Gutowski, H.oubrutis, Morris, Landstrom, Preussger, Bulatov. European Ranking: Roubanis, Landstrom, Preussger, Bulatov, Wazny . Improved: Roubonis( 2"); Laudstrom(2¾"); Bulotov (2ti"); Preussger (1½"); Schwarz (9"); Brodt (7"); Dooley (13"); Hoyle (9"); Paquin (12~"); V:D.Zny (4¾"). Stationary: Morris, Brewer, C hernobay, M.:tttos. Declined: Gutowski, Bragg, Rose, Welbourn Comparison: 1956: 14'8 ~" (10th) 1957: 14'9f' 1058: 14'10i" 1956; 14 ' 6" (20th) Hl57: 14 ' 5i" 19::i8: 14'14'7¼ 1956: 14'1" (50th) 1057: 14'll" 1958: 14'3j" Ho -Step- um : World Ranking: Schmidt, Ryakovski, Krcer, Einarsson,Chen 1 Improved: RyD..kovoki(11 '); Krcer (17 '); Schmidt (2'8t''); Tsigankov (6"); tvlikhailov (3'7i"} S tatlonary: Do. Silva, Einarsson, Battista, Rohkamo, Malcherczyk, Chen Declined : Yefrcmov, Tycrkel, Kogakc, Rehak, Shc.rpe. Comparison: 1956: 52'1¼" (10th) 1957: 52'2" 1950: 52'4i" 1956: 51 '2b" (20th) 1957: 51 '4½" 1958: 51 '&l" 1956: SO'i" (50th} 1V57: ~9'11f' 1958: 50'7¼'' Shot Put: V,'orlci Ranking: O'Brien, Long, Devis, Nicdcr,Rowc European Rmiking: Rowe, Skobla, Meconi, Lipsnis, Ovsepirui Improved: Long ~first time); Davis (2'7½"); Rowe (3'4"); Ovscpian (3'3"); Meconi (I 'Si"); Varanauskas (4'6 4 "); Llpsnis (5'4½"); Lotchilov (12"); H~ni-y (11£"); Humphreys (3'5i") Artarski (1'4"); Wegmann (4'9½"). Station~: O'Brien, Lingnau, Sosgornik, Pliho.l. Declin :Nieder, Skobla, Bantum, Owen, Rci c ~, Vick, Berman Comparison: 1956; 57 ' !" (10th) 10J7: 57'1~" 1958: 58' ll" 1956: 55'2¼" (20th) 1957: 55'5¾" 1958: 56'10¼" 1956: 53'7¾" (50th) 1957: 53'11¼" 1958: 54'8¾" Discus: World RankinHJ Bc.bko, Ocrtcr, Piatowski, Szccscnyi, Ellis European Ranking: Piatkowski, zeczcnyi, Trusscnicv, Bukhantsev, Consolini Improved: Ocrtcr (2'~"); Babka (1'5¾"); Grigalka (6'3½"); Piutkowski (6'11"); Szccscnyi(5'1) Trusseniev (5'2¾"); Bo.ltusnikas (5'9); Duplessis (9'G); Egan (10'2), Station£: O'Dricn, Consolini, Klics, Bukho.ntscv, Kompnn~icts, Merta, Carr, Artarski Decline : Ellis, Bru1tum, Arvidsson, Cihak, Gordicn, Koch Comparisop; 1956: 179'11½" (10th) 1957: 179'1~" 1958: 183'6i" 1056: 17•1'7" (20th) 1957: 174'11" 1!>58: 178'10½" 1956: 167' ,.::½" (50th) 1957: 168'9" 1958: 170'2¾" Javelin: \'.'orld Ranking: Sidlo, Danielsen, l\lacquct, Kuznctsov, Licvore, Frcdrik. Improved: Fredcriksson (19'6); Lievorc(30'5); Vo.lman(23 '1 0);Gus cff(18'8};Schcnk(29'8¼") Stationary: Kuznetsov, Danielsen, Sidlo, Macquct, Ahvcnicmmi Declined: Tsibulcnko, Held, Frost, \Hll, Ko.uhacncn, Kopyto, Koschcl, Radziwonowicz, v: cilcza.k, Nikkincn, Hyytio.ncn, Sjoest:rocm Comparison: 1956: 258'4 -~" (10th) 1!>57: 259'¼" 1D58: 257 '¾" 1056: 250'3" (20th) 1~57: 2·~8'11 !" 1056; 250'11" 195G: 236'61" (50th) 1:>57: 2•,.0'2a" 1!>53: 2·10'1" ONE ' MILE RELAY Time Team Meet Pl ace Date 3: 07. 3 United ~"ates Pre-Olympic Los Angeles 11. 1. 56 (Charley Jenkins 47. 8, Lon Spurrier 46 . 5, Tom Courtney 46 . 4, Lou Jones 4G. 6) 3:08. ln United States Pre-Olympic Los Angeles 11. 1. 56 (Arnie Sowell 47 . 0, Josh Culbreath •16. 6, Glenn Davis 16. 6, Ed Souther n 47. 0) 3: 08.1 South Africa British Empire Games Card iff 7. 26. 58 (Gordon Day , Gerald Evans , Gt!rhar 3:11. 3n South er n California, University of Compton Invitational Compton,Cal. 6. 6, 58 (Bruce Kitchen 49, Bob Shankland '10. 2, ,.Jed Smlth 47, Ramon Lopez 47.1) 3:ll. 4n UCLA CaliforniaRelays Modesto 5.26 . 56 {Stan King ,;8 . 9, Bob Carne 48. 7, Bob Sc3Inan 47. 0, Russ Ellis 46. 5) 3: 11. 4 Southern California Striders Cclilornia Relays Modesto 5. 25 . 57 {Bob Hutcherson 50. 3, Lang Stanley •~7. 0, Howard Smith 117 .1 , Mike Larrabee 47) · - &11.-1 · Stanford University v. Fresno- - Stanford, Cal. ,1;-12. 58 (Dick L ..\Ssen 48 . 9 , Ernie Cunliffe 118, Norm Lloyd 1',,7. 3, Don Chesarek 47. 2) 3:11. 5 Grand Street Boys Compton Invit~tionru. Compton,Cal. 6. 5. 53 (Morri e Curotta 4 8. 6, Mal Whitfield •~O. 9, Andy Stanfield ,-:,7. 3, H. McKenley 46. 7) 3:11.5 UCLA \\cs tCoastRelays Frcsno,Cal . 5.12.56 (Stan King 18. 9,. J3ob Seaman ,J:a. 0, Rclcr Johnson ,;7 . 1, Russ Ellis 47. 2) 3:11. 5 Abilene ChristianC 'ollege v. No. Tex, &Texas Tech Abilene, Tex. 4.19. 58 Gack Shropshire 49 . 1, Jarr ell Edwards 4.9, Jam es Segrest 46. 8, B. Morrow 46. 6) 3: 11. 6 Southern C ali(ornia, Univ . of '\\'est Coast Relays Fresno , Cal . 5.1 6. 36 (Est el Johnson , Jim Cassin , Hal Smallwood , Al Fitch ) 3: 11. 6n Canada British Empire Games Vancouver 8. 7. 54 (Laird Sloan , Doug Clement , Joe Foreman , Terry Tobacco 46. 6) 3: 11. 6 Oklahoma A&M Kansas Relays Lawrence 4. 23. 55 Uackie Hays 49. 2, Fred Schermerhorn 48 . 5, Bill Heard 47. 6,J. Mashburn 46. 3) 3:11. 6 Texas, University of Southwest Conf . Dallas 5.10 . 58 (Wally "\'✓Uson 49 . 2, Drew Dunlap 18. 5, Jimmy Holt 48, 3, Eddie Southern 45. 6) 3:11. 6 Kansas State College Big Eight Columbia, Mo. 5.17 . 58 3: 11. 7 Big Ten v . PCC Evanston, Ill. 6.1 7. 40 3: 11. 7 Southern California, Univ . of Coliseum Relays Los Angeles • 41 3: 11. 7 Southern California, Univ. of West Coast Relays Fresno, Cal. 5.1 6. 42 3:11 . 7 Soudicrn California, Univ. of . 52 3:11 . 7n Southern California, Univ . of ComptOn Invitational Compton, Cal .6. 5. 53 3:11. 7 Oklahoma A&M Drake Relays Des Moines, Ia4. 30. 55 3: 11 . 7 Southern California, Univ . of Canpton Invitational Compton, Cal . 6. 1. 56 3:11.7 C olifornia, University of V✓est Const Relays Fxesno,Cnl. 5.10. 58 3:11. 7n Manhattan College Coliseum Relays Los Angeles 5. 16. 58 3: 11. 7 Indiana, University of Blg Ten Lafayette, Ind. 5. 24. 58 3;11 . 8 Pacific Coast Conference v. Big Ten Los Angeles 6. 26. 37 3:11 . Sn Illinois, University of ColiseumRefays Los Angeles 5. 21. 54 3:11. 8 Texas, University of Southwes t Conference Austin, Tex. 5. 11. 57 3:11.8 Villanova College Penn Relays Philadelphia 4. 26. 58 3:11. 9 Oklt.lhoma A&M Compton Invitational Compton , Cal . 6. 3. 55 3:11 . 9 Villanova College PennRclays Philadelphia 4. 28. 56 3:11 . 9n North Texas Stat(? College v . AbilcncCC &Tex . Tech Abilene 4. 19. 58 3:11. 9 Texas, University of Drake Relays Des MoinesJ.a4 . 26 . 58 Women 's All Time List 400 Meters * = •140yards (•.02. 3•.imeters) time less 0. 3 seconds Maria ltkina (USSR) 53. 6 1 Moscow 6. 7. 57 Ursula Donath (Jurewitz) (Germany) 54. 4 1 Warsaw 6. 8.55 Albina Khomutova (USSR) 54.4 1 Moscow 1. 8. 57 Betty Cuthbert (Australia) 54. 4 1 Gotcborg 28, 8.58 Yekaterina Parlyuk(Lepichina) (USSR) 54. 6 1 :Nalchik . 11. 5,58 Zinaida Safronova (USSR) 54. 8 1 Leningrad 22. 7.55 Polina Lazaryeva(Solopova) (USSR) 5•1.9 1 Moscow 13. 8. 55 Aleksandra Sicoe (Taifas) (Rumania) 54. 9 3 Buchare:..t 1. 10.55 Nina Otkalenko (Pletneyeva) (USSR) 55.0 4 Bucha1:cst 1.10 . 55 Ludmila Sharova (tvlitrofanova) (USSR) 55.1 1 Vilnius 24. 8. 55 Ludmila Lysen,.'co-Shevtsova (USSR) 55. 2 1 Kiev 23. 4.58 Zoya Kotova (US.SR) 55.2 lb Tbilisi 28. 10.58 Nonna P altsev a (USSR) 65. 3 1 Moscow 27. 7.56 Tatyana Avramovc. (USSR) 55. 3 1 Bucharest 14. 9.5 7 Moira Hiscox (Greet Britm.n) 55.3* 1 London 2, 8. 58 Galina F alkovskaya (USSR) 55.'1 2 Moscow 13. 8.55 Yelizo.veta Yermolayeva (USSR) 55. '1 2 Moscow 14. 7.57 Aina Alksne (Grun NOT ED \VITH INT ERBST DAN PARK.BR, N. Y. scribe, explains why Ron Delany is· booed in New York: "He incurred the enmity of a certain mucksteri sh clement in the galleries the night he, along with the other top milers, refused on orders from Avery Brundage of the Olympic committee to compete in the K of C mile against Wes Santee, the big doublc-cntrybookkeeper from Kclllsas who could get more mileage into a swindle sheet than the most accomplished tennis bum . A lot of misguided folk, refusing to look at thu black and white of Santce's record, tried to ex cuse him on the ground that "everyone else was doing it, too". No doubt others have padded their expenses without being caught and others will continue to do it . But if amateur sport is to survive, thls form of payoff has to be dealt with summarily wherever uncovered. In win ning the special mile event carded after Santee ~mi two token opponents r&n the Columbian mile, in which others refused to compete on advice of Brundage, and the AAU, Delany was booed roundly . Thus the pattern was set for those who don't think for .thems elves . Only unthinking or unpricipalcd people would .boo a great athlete for a magnificent performance; In no other city except New York docs Delany haYc to put up with such hooliganism . Unfor runately it is hard to deal with a problem of thi s type. One would expect patrons of track and field sports to be many notches above the loudmouths who frequent the lower order of sporting events and consider their tickc:t of uclmission a license to nbuse everyone in sight, who is a safe distance removed from them . It takes no courage to boo; in fact it usually is a badg e of cowardice, where no breach of etiquette prompts it . " MELVYN WATMAN, in Athletics Weekly, averages the bes t ten performers for each of six countries for the 1958 season: 100 220 440 880 WJ..ilc 3 Mile 6Mile 30C0St 120H 440H USA 9. 37 20. 85 46 . 50 1:49 . 2 4; 03. 7 --- 13. 88 51. 24 USSR 9. 49 21 . 38 48.19 1: 51.1 4: 06. 0 13:36 . 5 28: 16. 3 6:47. 1 14.32 52.36 Germany 9~ 42 21. 2347. 72 1:49 . 4 4:02 . 6 13:41. 8 28:58 . 5 8:53. 6 14.42 52. 70 Poland 9. 60 21. 73 48. 39 1: 50. 0 4: 04. 6 13:44 . 7 29:45. 2 9: 06. 3 14. 80 53.72 Finland 9. 92 22. 19 49 . 07 1: 51. 8 4: 05. 4 13:40 . 6 29: 03. 0 8: 58. 3 14:. 98 53. 85 Britain 9.73 21.4547 . 70 1:19 . 8 4:02 . 7 13: 36. 8 t8:29 . 4 H .• 75 53. 39 PV OJ ~ SP OT HT JT USA ~9;! 14'6-k 2 1.1'9f 58';j 180'3J 192'8} 2-15'!) USSR 6'9t l 11'Gi 24'9· 52'8 56'5~ 180 ' 5 212' ,1½ 251'6½ Germany 6'5 14'1 2,1•~ 49 '5¼ 5·1'~ 166'1.1 191'6 3 243'8½ 1 Poland 6 51 14' & 24' 19' 8J 52'11i 161'31 19,1•9f 238'Jt Finland 6'6¼ 13'llt 23'10! 49'8 52'9 166 '11! Hll'l0-3 2-17'2· Britain 6'3¾ 12'11 · 23'6 48'1 52'3¾ 159'1¾ 182'2 216'7¼ SO THEY TE LL US ELMER GASTON, Ohio track coach: "I have a son six years old and he has been r tmning distances for two years now. He runs a mile in seven minutes and runs 4 to 5 miles a day in good weather. I run with him to help teach him pace." TN CHARLIE MJ,RLER, Abilene Christian sports publicist: "Our sprint relay teams had quite a ,record during the past four yeara. They won 52 and lost only nine races at the 440 and 880 yard distances. They tied or cstd>lishcd meet records 25 times in 61 races. Jomes Segrest competed in every one of the 81 races; Bobby Morrow ran :ill but three; Way mond Griggs ran 49; Bill Woodhouse 48. Other members hnve been: George Peterson, 6; Leondous Fry, 4; Don Conder 15; Mock Clark, 2; Ken Fannon, 1. And, of course, they hold the world marks of 39. 7 and 1: 22. 6. " TN BERNIE CECINS, Australia: "We hcvo a new leader in the "three jump' total. Russia's Igor Ter Ovanesian has done 6'2¾, 13'9 ~" and 25'7½" to total 45'7¾". If we colDlted his 6'6i" with the built-up shoe he would just miss the 46 foot mark by¼". Previous best was Robert Richards' 45'¼" (6'31", 15'5", 23'31"), with Boo Morcom at 45't" (616, 14'8¼, 23'10). Bob Gutowski gets 40'2¼" in the vault and long jump and would need to high Jump only 5'6" to take the lead." TN JOB GALLI , Australia: "The Australian championships go on in Hobart, Tas m en.la, Feb. 28. Some of the top athletes tried to get a change because the conditions are poor, including a 6'3" drop in the grass track~ Our method is to o.ward the championships to each state capital in rotation and we come up with worse deals than your famous Dayton AAU. ".After the Australian AAU made threats to the l1merican J.J.U that no athletes would be allowed in the U.S. if the U.S. did not send otltletes to J\ustralia, the U.S. got Bowden, lro. Davis and Jock Ellis to agree to go. Then five of the six states voted against them "because they won't be drawcards". Then the -Victorian li.J.J. decided to bring Bowden and Davis out. The whole thing is stupid, but the people don't wake up. I have pointed out that the American A/-.U cannot force athletes to accept invitations. And what American wants to come here, in the middle of your winter, to find no competition for sprinters, hurdlers, Jumpers or throwers7 " TN EMERSON CASE, FD.i.rOak.B 1 Cw.if.: "To me the most strildug example of ,,_,, several men with the srune nrune starring ru: a certain distruice is that of the Martin clau, albeit they come from several countries. At the 800 meter, 880 yard distmice: Orval Martin of Purdue was never dcfaru:ed in a Big 10 conference title encounter (1928 -30) ond won the NCAA in 1930; Alva ?v.artin of Northwester, winner of the AAU in 1926; Sam Martin of the Bostonli.A, who won the Lapham 1000 at the BAI, indoor games in 192!>; Dr. Paul Martin of Switzerland, runnerup h1 the 1924 Olympics; and Scaphin Martin of France, 6th in the 1928 Olympics and former world record holder or 800 meters with 1: 60. 6. " "I have averaged the best broad Jump purforrn.:mccs, each year, from '25 Years of Progress in Track & Field' for all the countries listed. These overages range from 22'11i" in 1945 to 24'2i" inl956 and the improvermnt from 1932 to 1956 is only l'¼". The figures hnve been improving steadily since the end of the war, but this improvement is slow and shows no signs of a major br~nkthrough . Usually the breaking of a record is preceded by - several performers coming near the record, all within o rather b:ricf period. Greg Bell was slowly creeping up on Jesse Owens' world record and might break it by a small margin if he continues in competition. But there is no statistical evidence of a major breakthrough looming up. The number of jumpers over 24'6" has increased from 8 in 1953 to 24 in 1956 to 50 in 1958. But there were only two over 26' last year, and one the year before. So the record of 26'8¼" is not being challenged seriously. "I believe that if some of our great American hurdlers could be induced to take up the broad jump in a serious way we would see the r ecord broken in short order. They have the great speed and drive needed, and also the ability to place their feet within a fraction of an inch of where they should be placed. In other words they would be able to hit the board hard, at nearly top speed, without fouling. If J~sse Owens, with great speed and good ele- vation, but otherwise rather poor broad jump form, could clear 261 8¼", surely some hurdler capable of 9. 5 or better should be able to do as well. or better. One of the problems is a C too narrow board, only Ed.ghtinches and how is a jumper with a 10" or longer foot to hit that squarely? It leads to too many fouls and too many injuries and I believe the high schools tl.I'e on the right track with their 24" board which is now legal after some years of experimentation. The event also locks spectator appeal amI wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of interest on the part of sprinters and hurdlers whc, might become excellent jumpers?