Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 21

Malito Eyes Olympics With Switch to Intermediate Hurdles By Virgil Parker Journal Sports Editor Des Moines, Iowa Ten wooden hurdles will be almost as much of an obstacle overcome as the talent and speed of a world record holder when Nebraska's Chuck Malito runs in the 440-yard intermediate hurdles at the Drake Relays here Friday. Malito, the 440-yard Big Eight champion, switched to the grueling hurdle event this spring. "I don't want people to misunderstand me," Malito says. "I don't want them to think I'm a braggart. But I sincerely feel I have a good chance to do something in the Olympics in the hurdles, but not as a straight 440- yard runner." Malito, a split end for the Cornhusker football team in the fall, ran the hurdles for the first time competitively in the Texas Relays two weeks ago.

He was clocked in :54.0. Last week in the Kansas Relays he improved to 52.4. "I can't say what my potential is," Malito admits, "but at Kansas I ran up on a couple of hurdles (got too close before his takeoff and was forced into a slower, higher leap to clear the barrier) and a couple of other times got up there and had to go over with the wrong foot forward. "Even then I improved a couple of seconds. I hope that I can get down to around the low 50s at Drake." Jim Holding of the Pacific Coach Track Club set the world mark of :48.7 and posted the record of :50.1 in 1972 while attending Oklahoma State.

Bolding and Ralph Mann, the only person to beat Bolding (in one of 22 races) last year, will both be in Friday's field. "I'm excited about running against the best," Malito says. "That's the only way to get better." Nebraska track coach Frank Sevigne says Malito just needs time and practice, but is currently hampered by a painful sprain to his right arch. "Chuck has come a long way, but he has a long way yet to go," Sevigne observes. "The biggest part of the race is developing a rhythm and tempo in going over the hurdles.

It may sound easy, but believe me, it's not." The veteran NU track mentor points out that the rhythm for the high hurdles is easy three steps and over. Cinnifo Jumna! SPORTS Thursday, April 24, 1975 "It's just one-two-three and over. You come down and it's one-two-three and over again. Even the lows, which are not run during the outdoor season anymore, are seven steps between hurdles. Developing an easy rhythm for seven is quite simple.

"But the intermediates, everyone uses either 13 or 15 steps between each hurdle. That's a tough tempo to establish. You certainly aren't counting the steps you're 21 going to fast for that. It has to become a natural feel from doing it over and over and over again." Sevigne says Malito (6-2, 173) is of fair size, "but he has to overstride to make it in 13 steps. Yet, he isn't getting his maximum potential when he takes 15 steps.

We're working to get him to lengthen his stride a bit." Sevigne adds, "The best thing about Chuck is that he's a helluva competitor. He looks better in each meet than he has all week in practice." Malito will be joined here by five other individual entrants and two relay teams representing the University of Nebraska. Sevigne will enter a distance medley relay team (Don Grow, 880; Leif Olsson, mile, Harold Stelzer, mile; and a yet-to-be- named quarter-miler), and a mile relay team of MikeThomp- son, Chris Grieb, Tom Dovel and Malito. The individual NU entries are Steve Jepsen in the discus, high- jumper Dean Herzog, David Green in the triple jump, Scott Sorchik in the javelin, Thompson in the 100-yard dash and Malito in the hurdles. The discus, javelin, hurdles, 100 and mile relay will be on Friday's schedule, with the high jump, triple jump and distance medley set for Saturday.

Wesleyan coach Woody Greeno plans to take eight or nine athletes to the Relays. The sprint medley relay squad of Don Rossbach, Craig Mundt, Jim French and Lee Richardson that took sixth in the college division of the recent Kansas relays will compete as will the 2- mile relay team of French, Richardson, Joe Neneman and Ron Greeno or Mark Kuzma. The Wesleyan team also finished sixth in the 2-mile relay at Kansas. Jim Glen will make the trip to Des Moines for the triple jump. More than 3,600 male and female athletes will be on hand for the 66th running of the Drake event.

Meet director Bob Ehrhart says the field will include six world record holders. A total of 68 colleges and 64 universities will be represented. The selection committee narrowed the 100-yard dash field to 32 entries half of whom have run the distance in :09.4 or better. The 32 selected for the 120- yard high hurdles had to have a 9 to their credit to make the field. "It's the fastest we've ever had," Ehrhart says.

Fourteen men in the high jump have cleared seven feet or better this season. Nebraska's Chuck Malito just hopes he can smoothly clear ten evenly spaced hip-high hurdles preferably at 15-step intervals and do well against the world's best. NU Baseballers Face Tough Series Former Knights Aid Huskers Rocket pole vaulters STAFF PHOTO BY RANDY HAMPTON junior Don Biggerstaff (left) and senior Rick Cole. Northeast Duo Co-Favorites Pole Vaulters Aid Each Other By Randy York Prep Sports Editor Lincoln Northeast doesn't have the luxury of a pole vaulting coach this spring. So Rocket vaulters Rick Cole and Don Biggerstaff do the next best thing they coach themselves.

"We've been able to help each other correct different mistakes," says Cole, a 'senior. "Since we're mostly on our own this year, we try to keep the horseplay down and get the job done:" The results earlier this week were 13-3 efforts for both vaulters, making them co- favorites in the event at Friday's Lincoln Public Schools championships at East's Stuart Siauium. First-year Northeast head track coach Clayton Luther credits former Grand Island vaulter Terry Medjo for much of the Rocket vaulting success this spring "He was a student teacher here last year and coached our vaulters," Luther explains. "He's the track coach at Amherst now, so our vauiters Movies Baseball Out (c) New York Times New York NBC-TV has suspended the Monday night telecasts of major league baseball games until June 2. Beginning next week, it will substitute movies.

The programming maneuver is widely described in the industry as an attempt by the network to build up ratings during a period when the A. C. Nielsen Company and Arbitron are conducting their seasonal surveys for local stations. The practice of increasing audiences in this manner -known as "hypoing" is technically illegal. However, the Federal Communications Commission has not been strict in enforcing the rules prohibiting it.

aren't getting the specialized attention they were." Luther indicates there has been a greater emphasis on lifting weights this spring and "I'm sure that's helped Rick and Don. We're also running more and even though they might not like it as much, I think they're in better shape." Biggerstaff, a junior, admits he isn't quite as fast as Cole But he believes he's stronger, thanks to competition on the high bar and rings for the Rockets' varsity gymnastics team last fall. Last January, Cole wondered if he would even be able to compete in track this spring. He fell down during a Rocket basketball skirmish with Omaha Benson and someone stepped on the back of his heel. He suffered a broken right ankle and watched the rest of the season from the sidelines.

"It was a real letdown," recalls Cole, who was beginning to work himself into the varsity basketball picture for the first time in his Rocket career. Sights were redirected to track and Cole finally got his cast removed the week before Northeast's first meet. "I was worried I might not be able to run as hard, but my ankle NU Presents Case to NCAA Nebraska's appeal to the NCAA over the eligibility of football players Vmce Ferragamo and Ray Phillips which may now also include Dean Gissler and Jim was heard Wednesday in Kansas City. Athletic director Bob Devaney, Cornhusker coach Tom Osborne and three players appeared before the infractions committee. Ferragamo and Phillips attended but did not play in the Sugar Bowl game last January though they were ineligible.

It is now rumored that the other two may have inadvertently done the same thing three years ago at an Orange Bowl game after Gissler transferred to NU from the Air Force Academy and Burrow switched from Mississippi. A decision, which was said to have ruled Ferragamo a i i Nebraska's first game (LSU) a a i appealed. The NCAA says any announcement on what was decided must come from the university. "They (the Nebraska officials) may be verbally knowlegable as to what the final decision was," NCAA investigative staff member David Berst says. "But we' will send them a complete written report.

We haven't had enough time to prepare that yet." Devaney says he will release the information in the report "as soon as it arrives." feels as strong as ever," says Cole. Both vaulters cleared 13-3 in Tuesday's a win over Southeast with inches to spare. "Both were over 13-6, but knocked the bar off coming down," notes Luther. The Rocket coach admits the vaulting duo has been a pleasant early-season surprise. He's i they some valuable points in Friday's city meet.

"It should be a dogfight All four schools have a good chance to win," Luther says. "I think it'll boil down to the relays." Field event competition starts at 2:45 m. The first track final is the 2-mile run at 3:55 p.m. with the last event scheduled at 6-30 City Records 100 Ron Strnad, Southeast, 09 8 1970 220 Doug Caulkins, East, -22 3, 1974 440 Jerry Kletchka, Lincoln High, 49 9 1974 880 Dave Dunnigan, East, 1 57 7, 1970 Mile Ron Greeno, Northeast, 4 16 1, 1971 2-Mile i a a Northeast, 9 354, 1971 120 High Hurdles Ralph Henderson, Lincoln High, 1 4 5 1971 180 Low Hurdles Ken Adkins, Lincoln High, 1971, and Steve Eliker, Northeast, 1974, both 2 0 2 880 Relay Southeast (Tom Tallman, Richard Norman Kirk McCown, Ron Strnad), 1 31 5, 1969 Mile relay Northeast (Craig Mundt, Steve Leach, Chuck Sales, Terry Novak), 3 253, 1974 2-Mile Relay Northeast (Steve Leach, Rod Luft, Burt Thompson, Gary Gustatson), 8-04 5, 1974 Long jump Steve Bnttenham, Southeast, 23 2 1972 High jump Kurt Nielsen, Northeast, 6-5, 1970 Triple jump Steve Bnttenham, Southeast, 45-7, 1972 Pole' vault Mike Henninger, Northeast, 14-1V 2 1967. Shot put Dave Ripley, Lincoln High, 55 5 1967 Discus Ron Swanson, Lincoln High, 1968 By Dave Sittler Journal Sports Staff All season, togetherness has been the word used to explain Nebraska's success in the Big Eight Conference baseball race.

a a Cornhuskers have developed team spirit and unity while climbing to the top of the league standings with a 5-1 record Three members of Sharpe's team, Gary Healey, Paul Haas and Steve McManaman, qualify as experts when it comes to togetherness. The three Cornhusker starters have played baseball together since their high school days at Lincoln Southeast. "It's unique to have three guys from the same high school starting on a major college team," Sharpe said "And all three of them have contributed a great deal to our success." Second baseman Healey hits at a 288 clip while designated hitter McManaman has a 296 batting average and Haas hits 246 while playing errorless ball at centerfield In Big Eight conference competition, McManaman hits a healthy .400 while Haas follows closely behind with a .375 league average. The trio, friends since pre-high school days when they played city recreation baseball, are of their position. "It's pretty unusual to have three gujs from the same school starting for a major college team," said Haas, who led the Huskers in hitting last season as a freshman with a 325 average.

"A lot of people we were associated with in high school are watching how 'the three Southeast guys' are doing at Nebraska." Healey, who is the elder statesman of the group as a junior while the other two are sophomores, said, "I think it's really great. I always thought about playing baseball for Nebraska, but didn't think three of us would be starting at the same time." Southeast finished third in the Class A state championships when Healey was a senior and Haas and McManaman were juniors. Paul Haas Center Fielder "We have the talent to play with any team in the conference if our pitching comes through." Haas said. "The key to this team is its closeness. We got rid of Steve McManaman Designated Hitter three or four guys who were a bad influence on last year's team Iowa State, third in the conference after winning two games Back Shortage Hinders Huskers A shortage of running backs caused the cancellation of a planned scrimmage for University of Nebraska football team Wednesday But don't ask the lineman how they enjoyed the day off.

coach Tom Osborne evaluated his up-front troops in a double drill. First, a series of running plays tested the blocking and tackling abilities of the linemen, then they got some more heavy contact dutj on their pass blocking and pass rush techniques. I-backs John O'Leary and Dale Zabrocki and fullback Tony Davis missed Wednesday's workout altogether, while fullback Dody Donnell and Byron Stewart were excused early because they weren't at full speed. "Our backs are pretty well beat up Osbor-ce said in explaining why the usual midweek scrimmage was called off. "The first offensive line is coming along." Osborne added.

"They played better in Sunday's scrimmage and it looked like they did well out there today." are showing good signs." Jim Belka. another linebacker who was showing well before being sidelined with an injury, is expected to return Monday The latest depth chart was released Wednesday. After an excellent scrimmage last Sunday. Dave Gillespie moved up to share the No. 11-back spot with Anthony, moving O'Leary aown to the No 2 unit The chart Offense Tight ends Laf-, 'h nn Da o'h Ron S-rt Tr-m 2 Dan Left tackles Fob Lmgnnfmtor trnpnrry ViKp Clark Left guards Drin Gro Inr ifnscn BOP a 10 Jlhl Srhrooa- 3 Centers Tom is GBOP a 1 fi.

Right guards -k Ri Gary Healev Second Baseman against defending champion Oklahoma last weekend, will visit Lincoln Friday and Saturday for a crucial three-game series with the Cornhuskers "If we can win two out of three from Iowa State, we'll be in this thing (conference race) all the waj," McManaman said. "You know Oklahoma has to be worried. And thev'll reallv be worried it we get past Iowa State." Friday doubleheader with the clones will start at 1 30 while Saturdav single contest will get undervvav at 1 m. A's Defend Hunter mui s' Paul Right tackles OTT jpr A'lN Split ends ROCKP Loken i K-ati Te" or--- os HP sP Tnopias Je-' Lee John Ln A i a Fiala Nebraska baseball and football standout) probably helped develop us as much as any coach," noted McManaman of Fiala who coached all three players in midget league baseball. "Fiala taught us the basics and was tqugh.

He taught us what discipline was all about. "A lot of people expect Southeast players to do well in college because the school is known for its baseball like East is known for its football." Finding themselves leading the conference after finishing dead last a year ago, doesn't sur- pnse any of the former Knight players. The offensive line was further bolstered a linebacker Steve Lindquist was moved to offensive guard. "He wasn't a bad linebacker" Osborne says, "but he wasn't moving up very fast. He's physically capable of playing the offensive line." Lindquist is 6-6.

weighs 240 and runs the 40-yard dash in :046 The linebacking spots, of concern with the graduation of Tom Ruud, Bob Nelson and John Starkebaum, is coming along, Osborne says. "We're not totally satisfied there," he adds, "but Percy Eiehelberger and Clete Pillen are playing quite well, while Jim Wightman and Jeff Carpenter Quarterbacks FprraqaTo Toil ET Burns Ran Ga.rn a I A a G'llpspip lohr 0 Lrarv Dale Zabrocki Bvrnn Boh Fotson a Dav a Donnpl 1 Jason Justice Kim Kuiaf 1 Wingbacks Curtis C'aiq Heispr frarl frverptt Randv Pittr-ian Da Walton Mike Torn r'Pli Defense Left ends Rav Phillips Gcpr Andrews Cirna Rej Tjm RiCldfr Bon EJV PI Left tackles Ron Pruitt Dean GisUpr Jerrv in. ed Steve Ma'ner Bill Bryant Middle guards John Lee Je" PHlpn Iphn Piurknoti Sro't Hertensten Mitch Wpnn Middle guards John Lee Jeff Puiien linn Piucknptt Scott Hertenstem Mitch Wohb Right tackles Mike i-uitz oeorqe Mills Dan B'ork Randy Poeschl Scott Avcrv Right ends Bob Martin Dave Ppdriinn. Tonu Samuels Randy Rick Cnpstpr Taliev Bob Bonness Strongside linebackers Fichplpprqor Clerus Pillen Larry Young Carpenter Joe Dervm Markus Weakside linebackers Pillen jim Winntman Randv Lessrnan Jeff Onnnmi) Left cornerbacks Dave Butterfieia JSKP Caneil Ted Harvey Pat Lehicjn Tim Fisrner Monsters Wonder Moids Kent Smitn Jim Pillen Tim Borg i Vernon Rose Safeties-- Jnn Burrow Larry ValaseK Harvpy Dennis Payne Gren Ro.ener Right cornerbacks Chuck Jones KurtStacey Rod btcvall Jim Wilhduette Rich Nastase Confident Motta Predicts Chicago Victory UNL, Kearney Split Twin Bill The Nebraska women's softball team and Kearney split a doubleheader Wednesday with the Capital City team winning the first game, 6-5, while losing the second, 8-2. UNL 6-2, Kearney 5-8 FIRST GAME Kearney 100 U1 0-5 12 2 UNL 300 001 2-6 9 2 Cindy Kohlc and Anna Christianson, Jan Bartels and Joan Vrbks SECOND GAME Kearney 021 203 0-8 11 3 UNL 000 200 0-2 6 2 DefOre Dittmer and Anna Christianson Sandy Stewart, Kamce Kruger (5) and Christy Oswald By Associated Press Some Kansas City fans tried in a not-so-subtle way to tell the Chicago Bulls: "You stink." But Chicago Coach Dick Motta couldn't disagree more.

He's picture of cool confidence. Amidst a hail of spray deode- rant cans--which had been passed out free to fans outside the arena--and other debris, the Bulls built an 81-69 lead and went on to a 101-89 victory, eliminating the Kings 4-2 in their National Basketball Association Western Conference semifinal series. "We're the (best defensive team in pro basketball," Motta said. 'If we play like we did against the Kings, we'll go all the way. This was our toughest series." -S With 8:40 left in the game and the Bulls leading by 12 points, frustrated fans began the barrage.

The game was delayed five minutes when the Bulls, en masse, launched a counterattack and stormed after a heckler but were restrained before reaching him. Kings Coach Phil Johnson could only look ahead to next' year. next a I told my players," Johnson said. "They may think last year's training camp was hard, but' wait until this one coming up." Bob Love led the Bulls with 26 points, and Nate "Tiny" Archibald had 26 for the Kings. In the other NBA playoff game, Buffalo beat Washington 102-96 to even that Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal at three games apiece.

The deciding game of the series will be played Friday night at Landover, Md. Buffalo's Bob McAdoo, who admitted after the game he was "dead tired," scored 37 points anyway. "I stopped pressing in the fourth quarter," said McAdoo, who scored 22 of his points in the first half. Jim McMillian was excellent in a supporting role with 20. Washington's Phil Chenier, who had scored 19 points before intermission, could manage only six in the second half.

Two playoff games are on tap in the NBA tonight. Houston travels to Boston in an Eastern Conference semifinal series 'which the Celtics lead 3-1. And the Golden State Warriors take a 3-2 Western Conference semifinal lead into Seattle. Boston Coach Tommy Heinsohn probably has more than one reason to be glad his series is headed back to the "friendly" confines of Boston Garden. Besides holding the home court advantage with a chance to end the series, Heinsohn will not have to "suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." During Tuesday night's 122117 victory over the Rockets in Houston, such artifacts as bottles, ice cubes, papers cups, a golf ball and even a pair of shoes were rained down on the Celtics, "For a city that was so gracious in victory, it wasn't very gracious in defeat," Heinsohn said.

"It was terrible." The SuperSonics suffered some injuries in Tuesday's 124100 loss to Golden State that could prove irksome. Guard Fred Brown broke the middle finger on his shooting hand, rookie center Tom Burleson aggravated a knee injury and Spencer Haywood complained of an ailing arch. "Yeah, it's tough," Seattle Coach Bill Russell said, "but we've just got to make more adjustments and get back to where we want to be." OAKLAND (APi The Oakland A's stood up for Catfish Hunter, the struggling ex-teammate they figure to stand up against in two weeks "If the Yankees are worried a a i in trouble," said Ken Holtzman "I think they've got a fine team, and Cat should be the last man they worry about." Reggie Jackson shrugged off Hunter's slow start with the New Yorkers and predicted, "Unless he dies, Catfish Hunter will win 18 to 20 games this year All he'll have to do to get that many is get out of bed even- morning He's a superstar." Hunter, a 25-game winner last year and leader of the A's pitching staff throughout three consecutive world championship seasons, got the baseball superstar treatment in New York after being freed from his Oakland contract and signing with the Yankees. But he's winless through four starts and already has been booed in Shea Stadium. "He's got a lot of pressure on him.

If he doesn't win one pretty soon, they might run him out of town," Joe Rudi said with a slight laugh. The A's would welcome Hunter back. No one, except maybe owner Charles 0. Finley, blames the pitcher for leaving when other teams offered bigger money but they'd rather be on his side when the Yankees arrive here for a three-game series opening May 9. "I expect him to pitch here, and I know he'll be tough," said Sal Bando.

"I'm sure we'll face him the first time we go to New York (May 16-18)." Bando added, "He's got to be pressing toe much now. The new surroundings and everything would make it hard for anyone." Ray Fosse, who caught Hunter for two seasons, said, "He'll be all right. He always was a slow starter." His 4-1 record for April last year was his best start ever. "But he had a bad spell later. He was 10-8 in late June," Bando recalled about the 1974 season which Hunter finished with a 2512 record.

"We were afraid for a while he had arm trouble. He wasn't throwing like he could, But he snapped out of it.".