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Show 10 Signpost-Friday, May 18, 1984 SpORTS by Dan Dickson Sports Editor The Steeplechase Is A Big Event At Weber m l i n h 9 Whatever happened to America's team? After winning the Midwest Division crown the Jazz struggled in the Playoffs, winning over Denver in a " close series and in the second round. The Jazz were trailing Denver two games to one in the best of five series before pulling out the last two games to win the series. The Jazz went against a Phoenix team they beat four out of five times in the regular season. But the playoffs are a whole new ballgame and the physical game of the Suns was too much for the Jazz to handle. The referees let a lot more go in the playoffs than they did in the regular season and the Suns took advantage of their physical play to bully the Jazz right out of the playoffs. The Suns won the series four games to two to put an end to an other wise successful Jazz season. Now the Jazz can only sit home and watch the rest of the playoffs on the tube and get ready for the draft. Even though the Jazz are out of the playoffs, lets give credit where credit is due. The Jazz had their most successful season in the history of their franchise. Not only did the Jazz make the playoffs for the first time ever, they also won their division and the hearts of the Utah fans. Never before has a Jazz team finished the season with' a winning record. The Jazz success this year was a total team effort. Even though Adrian Dantley led the league in scoring he got a lot of help from Darrell Griffith, Ricky Green and rookie Thurl Bailey. John Drew came off the bench to average in double figures for the Jazz and the defense of 7' 4" center Mark Eaton triggered the fast break for the Jazz. Head coach Frank Layden was voted the National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year, which is quite an accomplishment since he is known more for his one-liners than his coaching ability. After missing most of last year with a wrist injury, Dantley came back strong this year to win the Comeback Player of the Year award. If Dantley hadn't won the award, Drew probably would have. After missing most of last year with a drug problem, Drew came back to be one of the best sixth men in the league. The Jazz also had two players, Adrian Dantley and Ricky Green, named to the All-Star team along with Layden being named the head coach of the team. After being the doormats of the league for the better part of their existence, the Jazz are finally earning a little respect from other teams in the league. But inspite of the success of the Jazz this year, the Jazz still have a long way to go before becoming a bonefide contender. One year does not a dynasty make. by Steve Spafford Asst. Sports Editor When you think of steeplechasers at Weber State, the name that probably comes to your mind is Farley Gerber because of his record breaking attempt to make the U.S. Olympic team this summer. But Weber also has two other fine steeplechasers in Clark Roberts and Darrin Williams, who are competing on this year's team. Roberts is a walk-on from Ogden high school, and he was not recruited by any college. Coach Chick Hislop thought Roberts looked more like a wrestler than a runner at first because of his body build. In high school, his time in the two-mile was 10:26, and he has improved that to 8:52. "I'm as proud of his accomplishments as anyone," Hislop said, "because be started from so far down to come as far as he has now." Roberts is a junior majoring in business and is an excellent student (4.0 last quarter). "Clark has great determination and desire to excell in everything he does (school, athletics, ROTC)," Hislop added. "He has placed in every conference meet that he has participated in since coming to Weber." Roberts' best time in the steeplechase is 8:52.04 which is the fourth fastest time in the conference this year and he is still getting better. Williams is a sophomore from Bonneville high school and Hislop says that he has about as much Track Team Goes The Distance talent as any distance runner that he's ever coached. Williams was seventh in the state two-mile race, but during his freshman year at Weber he finished second in the National Junior Championships. His best time in the steeplechase this year in 8:55.48 (sixth best in the Big Sky). "Darrin has run very consistently this year in both the steeplechase and the 5,000-meters," Hislop said. "When he came here he didn't realize what potential or talent he had. Part of the hard job that I have is making him realize the potential that he has." Of the event Hislop said, "The steeplechase event in the U.S. isn't as highly developed; therefore, it is easier to excell in. Although there has been a great increase in both the number of steeplechasers and their quality in the last five years." Weber should score well in the steeplechase event . at conference this weekend. Gerber not only has the fastest time in the Big Sky this year, but the fastest in the world with his time of 8:24.7 in the steeplechase. Gerber will be attempting to triple in this week's meet by competing in the 1500-meters, the steeplechase, and the 5000-meters. Williams and Roberts will also be competing in the 5000-meters for the Wildcats in the conference meet. The men's track team is in Bozeman, Montana, this weekend competing in the Big Sky track and field championships, and the three steeplechaser are expected to make a major contribution. Runners End Year-Long Season by Steve Spafford Asst. Sports Editor For the six distance runners on this year's women's track team, Saturday's Mountain West Athletic Conference meet will mark the end of a full year of competition. They are the only competitors who participate in three MWAC championships, with cross country in the Fall, indoor track in the Winter, and outdoor track in the Spring. They start training in the summer to prepare for the intense cross country season. After a short break, they start the indoor season. "The indoor season is tough on them because we have no facilil-ty," coach Jim Blaisdell said. "On the smaller indoor tracks the runners just go round and round, and we really have to be careful about sustaining injuries." After a short break between the end of the indoor season, the outdoor season starts. Outdoor track has a lot of events for the distance runners, as they can compete in the 1500-meters, the 3000-meters, 5000-meters, and the 10,000-meters. "Jackie Dowdy is one of the success stories that you read about," Blaisdell said. "She came to Weber, got married, and was out of running for two years. Dowdy wanted to come back because she felt she hadn't reached her potential - and she came back." Dowdy started putting mileage in during the summer but she struggled during the cross country season because she hadn't competed and it was a tough transition. Dowdy was basically the sixth finisher for Weber during cross country, but she started coming into her own during the indoor season. Dowdy had a sixth place finish in the 1500-, and 3000-meters in the conference championships. She is expected to do well in the 10,000-meters and the 5000-meters in this weekend's conference championships.Diana Jones is a sophomore from Casper, Wyoming. During cross country she was Weber's top performer in all but one meet. Jones finished fifth at the MWAC cross country meet. "Diana did a super job," Blaisdell said. "She has always been an excellent cross country runner, and was named All- Conference." Jones will also be running in the 5000-, and 10000-meters at the conference championships this weekend. Becky Wayment, a sophomore from Bountiful High School, had a stress fracture and a back injury that kept her out of action during her freshman year. This year she was fourth in the MWAC cross country race and was named to the All-Conference team. Wayment has continued her excellent running as she finished second in the 3000-meters at the MWAC indoor meet, again being named All-Conference for her performance. She has had personal bests in the 1500- and 3000-meters this outdoor season, and broke the ten minute barrier in the 3000-meters with a 9:52.02 in her last meet. "She is turning into one of the top distance runners in our conference," Blaisdell said. Mary Losensky is also a sophomore who struggled with injuries during her freshman year. "Mary put in the work during the summer and came back with a good attitude," Blaisdell said. "She has made tremendous improvements in the 3000-, 5000-. and 10000-meters this year." Losensky is from Hamilton, Montana. Sophomore Sona Schmidt has had an excellent year for the Wildcats. "She went through the freshman transition and had an excellednt cross country season for us," Blaisdell added. "She has also made tremendous improvements in the 1500- and 3000-meters and has done a good job for us." Schmidt is from Salt Lake City and attended Skyline High School. Melinda Smith, a freshman, was a highly recruited distance runner from Skyline high school. "Melinda is an excellent cross country runner as she placed anywhere from second to fifth for us," Blaisdell said, "and she has tremendous track potential." Smith broke her leg in a freak accident and has missed the outdoor season, but she should be a top runner for Weber next year. "Distance runners are almost on a twelve month program," Blaisdell said. "They have to keep their mileage (40 to 60 miles per week) up during the summer to be prepared for cross country in the fall. They have to be self motivated and willing to put forth the effort-and our girls do just that." |