University of Virginia Library

Cindermen Better

Sixty years of brow dripping
and pulled muscles over the dust
and dirt of Lambeth Beach or
Field, whatever one wants to call it,
have ended and future Virginia
track teams have quite a bit to look
forward to.

For this fall the University unveils
its new nine lane tartan track
complete with fancy runways and a
steeple chase water jump. The brick
red facility will literally be one of
the best of its kind in the world.

Ready to greet this new track in
early March when practice begins
will be one of the best track teams
the University has had in recent
years. There are few losses from a
1970 team that went unbeaten in
dual meets, but over a rather easy
schedule. There are also some big
gains from this year's first year class
that include a lost of sprinters,
hurdlers, and field event men.

The first of these that pops to
mind is sensational sprinter Kent
Merritt, a 9.4 high schooler. To
compliment Merritt in the 100 and
220 will be Ron Shorb a 9.8 sprinter
and Johny Morris, last years top
sprinter, but an even better
quarter-miler.

First-year football players John
Rainey and Harrison Davis can also
be expected to help out in the
quarter-mile The Cavaliers are loaded
with the Morn's brothers Johnny
and Dick at 46.5 and 48.5 respectively
Julian Solotonousky, Bob
Niles, and Lou Mackail compliment
these two in the mile relay.

In the longer distances the Cavaliers
return many of the group that
enabled the team to score well in
this area.

Greg Lane, Brew Barron, Jerry
Hart, and first-yearman Leon Levan
will handle the half mile, all having
done 1:55 or better. Lane will also
be a miler having run a 4:15 as will
Frank Andrew who has had a 4:24.

The two or three milers will be
Phil Meyer backed by some of the
half-milers and first-yearman Mike
Pace. Meyer will also run the steeplechase,
now an official conference
event. He has run a strong
9:28.

The hurdles, a weak spot for
The Cavaliers last year will be
strengthened. Mike Heagle 15.2 returns
in the highs, but indications
are he will be hard pushed by
first-yearmen Ronnie Stevens and
Harrison Davis (14.3 over high
school hurdles.

The intermediates will again be
handled by Roger Calvert who did a
fine job in this event last year, his
first crack at the job. Calvert has
run 57.0.

In the field the squad has some
real strong events, but some other
questionable ones. The broad jump
is loaded with returnee Jim
Shannon and first yearman David
Chalmers, both of whom will be
jumping at the 24 barrier.

The triple jump will be handled
by Bob Bischoff who has done 45.
The pole vault is questionable.