University of Virginia Library

Merritt Heads Virginia Hopes In ACC Track

By CLARK EMERSON

CD/ Clark Emerson

Merritt Edges Norfolk State's Steve Riddick In State Meet

Maryland, Duke and North
Carolina will dominate the
headlines of this weekend's
ACC track meet, but Virginia
has one definite, and maybe
several hopefuls for individual
honors.

Sprinter Kent Merrit, whose
9.3 100-yard dash in Tuesday's
State Track Meet ties the
fastest time in the country this
year, should win his event by a
full half second. His nearest
competitor, N.C. State's
Dorsey Smallwood, has dashed
only 9.8 and the rest of the
field will be fortunate to break
10 flat.

Merritt is the two-time
defending champion in the 100
(9.9 in 1971 and 9.5 in 1972)
as well as last spring's titlist in
the 220 yard dash (21.6) and
was honored the winner of the
Fetzer award as the
outstanding performer in last
year's conference meet.

He will not be the favorite
in the longer sprint event this
weekend though. The
Wolpack's David Bracey, who
will be racing on his home
track, has a 22.4 220 to his
credit, two seconds better than
Merritt's best. The third-year
track-football star finished
only fourth in the event in the
States, which his coach, Lou
Onesty attributed to a poor
opening turn.

His disappointing finish
Tuesday was also due to the
outstanding competition which
included Norfolk State's Steve
Riddick, the NCAA College
Division champion. There will
be no entrant in this weekend's
field that can come close to
equalling Riddick's 20.7
second performance.

Tom Freshwater will be one
of the better leapers in the
triple jump. His 49' 10" is a
school and state record.
Terrapin Andy Bilmanis
(49'7") and Carolina's Darryl
Kelly (48'9") are also top
contenders.

Both Freshwater and
Merritt have performed well
enough in their respective
events to qualify for the NCAA
championships. As University
athletic policy now stands,
however, U-Hall will not cover
the various expenses incurred
by the two en route to the
nationals. To receive funds,
each will have to be
outstanding in Raleigh since
the medalist in each category
automatically advances to the
nationals.

Cavaliers Jerry Hart
(9:27.9) and Mike Pace
(9:29.4) are long shots in the
3000 meter steeplechase. Hart
broke Phil Meyers old school
record of 9:28.4 Tuesday.

Meyer, whose name appears
beside most of the University's
best times for races one mile
and up, is seeded seventh in the
mile and fifth in the three mile.

The 440-yard relay team,
who are the defending
champions, and are anchored
by Merritt, will be challenged
by Duke, Maryland and
Clemson. It's fastest time this
spring is 41.9;

Donal Day in the six-mile
run, Mike Seeds and Charles
Merritt in the 120-yard high
hurdles, high jumpers Charles
Morris and John Solotorovsky
in the 440-yard dash, and pole
vaulter Jim McClurg could win
ribbons of some color for the
University.

CD/ Clark Emerson

Phil Meyer