Big Ten Track & Field Championships
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Light rain didn't hamper great competition or the enthusiasm of a packed crowd in the stands last weekend at the Big Ten track and field championships in East Lansing.

If you haven't seen a major track meet you missed one of the best in Michigan. Unfortunately, it only comes around twice every ten years. Outside of the Olympics, track and Field hasn't developed the interest that is found on the east and west coasts or Europe.

Saturday night, the Spartans hosted a reception for alumni and guests. Some of MSU's greatest track athletes were in attendance. Anyone old enough to have watched the national indoor championships at Cobo arena would remember the world record performances of Herb Washington in the 60 yard dash. He still looked in great shape and was as articulate and gracious as ever.   Washington went on to play baseball as a designated runner for the World Series Champion Oakland Athletics.

Other greats included former 200 meter world record holder Marshall Dill and NCAA indoor mile champion Ken Popejoy, who is now an Illinois Circuit Court Judge. Popejoy was the first Michigan runner to break four minutes in the mile.

Spartan boosters announced that Walt Drenth has been named MSU's head track and field coach.   He is also the head cross country coach. Drenth was a Central Michigan graduate in psychology and political Science. He served as a head coach at his alma mater before taking over programs at William and Mary and Arizona State. Since 1985, Drenth has had a string of successes and dramatically turned around floundering programs. Many of his teams have made it to the NCAA championships.  

Drenth is coming in at a time when the MSU program has hit rock bottom. Last weekend the Spartan women finished last and the men were 9th .   The Spartans have not won a Big Ten Title since 1972. Supporters seem convinced that Drenth has the MSU magic to bring the program back to prominence.

The Big Ten Championships have a rich history and the spectators were appreciative when school and individual records were set over the weekend. There were many opportunities for drama and excitement without moving from your vantage point. The races and field events had crowds standing on their feet or clapping in unison to inspire the athletes.

A few of the many outstanding performances included Penn State's Shana Cox who won both the 200 and 400 meter dashes and anchored the winning 4x100 relay. Michigan's Geena Gall won the 800 by 4 100th of a second in 2:02:73. Michigan's Nicole Edwards and Rebecca Walter came home as champions in the 1500 and 5000 meter runs respectively. Walter also won the 10km. Taren James won the gold in the triple jump for MSU. Minnesota easily took the team title with 152.5 points, Michigan was second.

Indiana's David Neville won gold in the 200, 400 and 4x400 relay. Michigan's Jeff Porter won the 100 meter hurdles by 1/100 of a second in 13.94 while MSU's Brad Gebauer won the pole vault. Ohio State's Brian Olinger narrowly missed winning two events. His 28:45 in the 10km put him 15 seconds ahead of the field.   Running a gutsy race, David Rae of Purdue held Olinger at bay in the 3000 meter steeple chase by one second. Wisconsin won its third consecutive team title while Michigan tied for fifth.

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226