The Michigan Daily-Friday, June 2, 1978-Page 15 14,000 MILES AND COUNTING: Donakowski never stops running By DAVE RENBARGER Bill Donakowski has put in quite a few miles in the past four years. Although he hasn't been keeping a running total-all along, Michigan's two- sport champion and three-time All- American recently estimated that he has run somewhere in the neighborhood of 14,000 miles during his Wolverine career. Putting Donakowski's mileage log into some sort of perspective, he could just as well have made four coast to coast jaunts if he really wanted to. Or else he could run over halfway around the world, if it weren't for the Pacific Ocean, that is. BUT THE REAL thing that sets Donakowski apart from.everyone else is not that he can run so far, but that he can run so far so fast. "(Billy) is by far the best distance runner this school's ever had," said cross country coach Ron Warhurst. "He's run the mile, the two (mile) the three (mile, the 5,000 (meters) and the 10,000 (nMeters). Just based on his times, he's by far the best." Palmer blanks Yanks- NEW YORK (AP)-Jim Palmer fired a two-hitter-both scratch singlbs-for his third consecutive shutout while the Baltimore Orioles scored on a two-out throwing error by substitute catcher Cliff Johnson and nipped the New York Yankees 1-0 yesterday. It was the 201st triumph of Palmer's career and his 49th shutout, breaking a tie with San Diego's Gaylord Perry for the lead among active pitchers. The 32-year-old right-hander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, also avenged an April 25 loss to New York rookie Jim Beattie in boosting his record to 7-4. He walked five, struck out For more sports, see page 16 A quick rundown of the highlights of Denakowski's career proves that his coach knows what he's talking about. In cross country he won All-American honors for the last three years, capping it off by "running away with the Big Ten Individual championship last fall. The eight-time letter winner has been an in- tegral part three Big Ten cross country championship teams as well as four track team titles. 'Then just two weeks ago in the con- ference meet, Donakowski executed an incredible double championship, taking both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. ALTHOUGH HE has competed in more than his share of different events for Warhurst and track coach Jack Harvey, the recently graduated ar- chitecture student from Dearborn has been specializing in the 10,000 meters lately. Back in April at the Dogwood Relays, Donakowski registered the fastest 10,000 (a shade over six miles) by an American so far this year-a swift 28:25. Today in Eugene, Ore., Donakowski will step up to the starting line against the world's best runners in the 10,000 meter race at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. It will be his last race in a Michigan uniform, and he has plans to make the last his best. "I'm shooting for anything between 28:25 and 28:00. That is a pretty realistic goal," he said. "that should put me in as the first American, and I'd really like that." ALL OF THE distance events on the NCAA circuit are now dominated by older foreign runners, many from Kenya. Still, the 21-year-old Donakowski is shooting to finish in the top three. Regardless of his finish in today's race, Donakowski will have completed a sensational year of competition. Warhurst has been watching as Donakowski has developed this year, and the coach credits his pupil's great attitude and confidence. "Billy's got a special attitude about competition," said Warhurst. "He knows what he wants and he's not afraid to-work for it. He's a killer. "Right now he's strong as hell," Warhurst continued. "He's not afraid to race against anybody in the country. When you're not afraid to race, then you're not afraid to lose and you can be much more aggressive." ACCORDING TO Warhurst, Donakowski turned the corner last January when "he realized that he could run 110 miles a week and get his schoolwork done and still feel good about his racing." Although he himself admits that he's "not the most imposing physical mass on campus" (standing 5-7 and weighing 130), Donakowski received an award which places him in some mighty tall company. Last week Donakowski became the first track man in history to be honored as the Michigan Senior Athlete of the Year. In the balloting, in which every senior, male athlete had a vote, Donakowski outpolled Mark Donahue and Dave Baxter. Previous winners have included Cazzie Russell, Ron Johnson,. Rudy Tomjanovich and Rob Lytle. "I was definitely surprised," he said of the honor. "I was happy just getting my name on the ballot." LOOKING TOWARD the future, Donakowski has no plans to hang up his sneakers. "As a runner I'm still young," he said. "I've got another three-four years to hit my peak and I'm hoping that it comes in 1980 in a sport called the Olympic Games." Training for the Moscow Games will be a twice-a-day thing for the next two years. Rut that doesn't bother Doaakewski. After aS, in another HOO or so miles, hell be starting on his second trip ar gdlhe world. TODAY BILL DONAKOWSKI is running in his final race as a Wolverine-the 10,000 meters in the NCAA Championships at Eugene, Ore. The distance runner extraordinaire has racked up a closet-full of awards as a collegian including eight varsity letters and the honor of being named the Senior Athlete of the Year for 1978. two and allowed only two runners beyond first base. Beattie, 2-1, allowed four hits in seven innings. The Orioles' run came in the fifth when Doug DeCinces walked on four pitches and took second on Rick AMERICAN LEAGUE Dempsey's single. Mark Belanger, at- EAST tempting to hunt, hit into a double play W L Pet. GO as DeCaces advaueed to third. ieute................ 3#s eo - Then Larry walked and when New Vat ............. a 1s .#" 8% he stole seend, DeCinces scored as betr.. . . a .58 6 Johnen's throw sailed into center field. pwaee ..........a2 2 .51 8% Johnson was replacing regular catcher Bahinsore .........24 25 .480 9 /2 Thurman Munson, who aggravated a Cleveland ..........21 24 .467 5#% knee injury Wednesday night. Toronto ...........57 3 .354 14 The only hits off Palmer were by WEST Lous Piniella with one out in the second Oakland...........27 20 .574 - inning and Chris Chambliss, leading off Kansas City. .. 19 .58 the seventh. Neither ball was-hit hard. California ......... 25 21 .543 1 It was the third loss in a row for the Texas ............ 23 22 .511 3 Yankees and dropped them 3 games Minnesota .........19 28 .404 8 behind Boston in the American League Chicago ........... 17 28 .378 9 East. It also was the first shutout Seattle ................ 17 33 .340 11%/ against them in 123 games since last Yestrdy'sGames July 10. naltimore . New York e The shutout was Palmer's fourth of Muwaukee atnetroit. n the season and his three in a row tied SeattleatKansas City.n the Baltimorclb record shared, by Mos45es; a Jack Fisher in 1960. Onl ame seduled NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST W L Pet. GIB C ..ago.............24 30 .543 - 'tre ' '............252.532 % rah lpasa......... 22 21 .512 11/% New York............23 27 .400 4 Pittsburgh.............21 25 .457 4,-. St. Louis ............... 1831 .367 81 BILLBOARD San Francisco ......... 30 16 .652 - - Cincinnati............30 19 .612 1 The Ann Arbor Soccer Club is having Los Angeles .......... 27 20.574 3% 2 a women's summer soccer league, run- San Diego ............. 21 26 .447 9 ning from June 19-August 9. All women Houston ............... 20 25 .444 9%/2 from 15 on up are eligible to compete. Atlanta ................ 18 27 .409 11 No experience r skills is required in Yesterday'sGames the league, which will play twice a No gamesscheduled week. To register, send in forms Today's Games available at the Y', local sportstores or Atlanta (Hanna 4.41 at Chicago (Surris 2-3). Fuller Park. 2.30 p. San Franecseo (Montefusco 4-2) at Montreal. For further information, contact (Twtchen2-4).n CherWesterman at668-6584.