University of Virginia Library

Harvey Places Fifth In Nationals

By Bob Cullen

Only one ACC track team
managed to break into the scoring
column at last weekend's NCAA
indoor championships in Detroit-and
it wasn't Maryland or North
Carolina. Virginia's Mike Harvey
leaped to a fifth place finish in
a world record setting field in the
long jump.

Bob Beamon of Texas at El Paso
set a world indoor record of 27′ 2″
in the competition at Cobo Arena.
Harvey stood second only to him
going into the final jump. But the
Virginia jumper fell back on an
effort that seemed to exceed 25
feet on his last attempt and had
to settle for the 24′ 2″ he had
recorded earlier.

Unfortunately, several jumpers
edged him out on their final efforts,
leaving Harvey in fifth place,
an inch behind the fourth place
finisher. Harvey's mark was a new
school record for indoor competition,
and only two inches behind
his best ever outside.

Jesse Owens, who in 1936 set
a world record in the broad jump
that lasted 24 years, commented
that Harvey's form impressed him
more than that of any other competitor
at the meet, including Beamon.
Owen's observation lent
added credibility to Virginia coach
Lou Onesty's prediction that his
third-year protege from Lynchburg
will surpass 25 feet sometime this
spring.

The trip to Detroit produced
another school indoor standard for
Harvey, this one in the triple jump.
Harvey's 47′ 2″ effort failed to
qualify in the event, which was
also won by the high flying Beamon,
who indicated that track
officials are going to have to
lengthen the pits where he competes
in the future.

He had one jump, on which he
overstepped the board by an inch,
that carried out to 27′ 7 1/2″
His feet were out of the pit when
he came down from that one.

Track enthusiasts will have their
first opportunity to catch Harvey
in action this Saturday afternoon,
when the Cavaliers take on Spring
field College in the first dual meet
of the season. Springfield was the
ICA small college cross-country
champion last fall, and they
should be strong from the half-mile
on up.

Long Jumper Mike Harvey On Lambeth Field

Harvey Took Fifth In Nationals Last Weekend