The Michigan Daily-Thursday, May 31, 1979-Page 11
NEILSON GUNS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT CROWN
Huskie hammers out NCAA titles
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP)-The hammer throw is
not one of track and field's glamor events, but Scott
Neilson hopes to give it a big boost by winning the
event for a record-tying fourth consecutive time in
the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The University of Washington senior begins his
quest for that coveted fourth crown today in the
hammer throw qualifying that is part of a long
opening program in the three-day 58th National
Collegiate Athletic Association championships at the
University of Illinois.
The ever-improving Neilson, the collegiate record
holder with a toss of 238 feet, 8 inches, has won three
consecutive NCAA hammer throw titles, starting in
1976 with throws of 216-8, 2284, and 237-5. He also has
won three straight 35-pound weight titles at the NCAA
indoor meet in Detroit.
Outdoors, only the late Steve Prefontaine of the
University of Oregon has won four national titles in a
row in the same event, capturing the three-mile run
SPORTS OF THE DAILY:
in 1970-71-72-73.
Last year in this meet, Neilson, a native of New
Westminister, B.C., had little competition, beating
his closest rival by more than 25 feet. This year,
however, there are two strong challengers-Richard
Olsen, a Texas-El Paso freshman froni Sweden
whose best throw is 236-10, and Paul Buxton of
Washington State, who has thrown 230-7.
The hammer throw trials and final wil be held
Friday. Five other finals-long jump, shot put, 110-
meter hurdles, 100-meter dash and 10,000
meters-also are set for Friday, with the remaining
14 finals Saturday.
As usual, the hammer throw competition will be
held on a field adjacent to the main stadium. This
procedure is generally followed for safety reasons
and lack of adequate space. There, only a smattering
of fans, coaches and officials gather.to watch the
behemothes throw the 16-pound hammer.
"It's a dangerous spot and I can see why they put us
where they do," said Neilson. "Really, many of us
like it better that way. We're away from the runners,
who sometimes get in our way. On the outside field,
we can run the event ourselves without a lot of inter-
ference."
Despite his superiority in the United States, Neilson
is not ranked among the world leaders in the hammer
throw, and he knows he has to improve greatly if he is
to win a medal in the 1980 Olympics at Moscow.
The world record is 263-6 by Karl-Hans Riehm of
West Germany, and there are about 20 hammer
throwers in world who have bested Neilson's best
mark.
"If I throw 245 feet this year, I would feel much
more confident about the Olympics," Neilson said.
Following the NCAAs, Neilson plans to compete in
the Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
in July, the World Cup meet in Montreal in August,
and the World University Games in Mexico City in
September.
T umblers to name coach
After two months of anxious an- University 8-1.
ticipation, Michigan is finally going to Karzen is qualified in the open
have a new women's gymnastics coach. tournament as she placed in the top
Gymnast Teresa Bertoncin said four at the regionals and she is qualified
Tuesday a new coach would be named with partner Barb Fischley in the open
tomorrow. Bertoncin was informed of doubles tournament.
the imminent decision in a letter from Junior Ann Kercher and Fischley
Women's Athletic Director Phyllis keyed the win over Ohio State, a team
Ocker. that had beaten the Wolverines by a 7-2
Scott Ponto and Ginger Rober margin in Ann Arbor earlier, as each
resigned from their coaching positions accounted for two points. In fact, the
last month following a contract dispute third doubles team of Kercher and Lisa
with the Athletic Department. Wood decided the OSU match snapping
Meanwhile, co-captain Mia Axon has a 4-4 tie with a three-set victory.
decided against competing for the - -DAILY SPORTS
Wolverines in her senior year. The Ann Cherry hired
Arbor native, a member of the All- DENVER (AP) - Don Cherry, con-
Midwest regional team, will concen- troversial but highly successful former
trate on her Music School studies this coach of the Boston Bruins, was named
fall, yesterday as the new head coach of the
-ALAN FANGER Colorado Rockies.
Rockies' general manager Ray Miron
Netters qualify said Cherry has signed a multi-year
Junior Kathy Karzen will lead the contract with the Rockies which makes
Michigan women's tennis team into the him the highest-paid coach in the NHL.
26-team AIAW nationals June 3- Miron declined to give the exact terms
12 at the University of Iowa. of the contract, but the Boston Globe
reporter earlier that the pact was for
The Wolverines (18-3) qualified as a five years at $150,000 per season.
team by placing second in the regional Cherry became available to the
meet at French Lick, IN. Michigan Rockies after the Bruins announced
knocked off Northwestern 9-0 and Ohio last week that he was released from his
State 5-4 before losing to host Indiana contract, which ran through July 31.
Celtics coop Bird?
BOSTON (AP) - The Boston
Celtics backed off their take-it-or-
leave-it stance in negotiations
with Larry Bird's agent and now
exect to sign the college basket-
ball star Friday to a multiyear
contract worth more than
$600,000 per season.
Harry Mangurian, owner of the
National Basketball Association
team, stepped into the bartering
Wednesday and apparently for-
ced progess between Celtics
President Red Auerbach and
Bird's representative, Bob Woolf.
The two had been feuding,
jeopardizing an agreement that
would bring the Indiana State
college player-of-the-year to the
venerable franchise, which has
fallen on hard times.
_ \
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