1979 MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
March 11, 1979
New York Times
Neil Amour, Special to the New York Times
DETROIT, March 10--There seemed to be no way that Villanova could win. No way. Not from that far back. Not against Texas‐El Paso's foreign legion.
But the Wildcats amazingly won a third National Collegiate indoor track and field title today.
By a single point over Texas at El Paso, 52 points to 51.
In the final race of the two‐day championships.
With the help of a controversial disqualification against Texas‐El Paso in the two‐mile relay.
It was a tumultuous windup to a meet that saw a magnificent distance double by Suleiman Nyambui in the two‐mile (8:37.87) and mile (3:57.89) and a meet record by Renaldo (Skeets) Nehemiah of Maryland, who missed a world indoor record in the 60‐yard high hurdles by one‐hundreth of a second.
Nehemiah, the 19‐year‐old sophomore from Scotch Plains, N.J., capped his brilliant indoor season with an easy victory in 6.90 seconds. The world mark, set earlier this winter by Nehemiah, was 6.89.
Extending a Legend
But it was Villanova's comeback, with victories today by Don Paige (1,000). Anthony Tufariello (600) and a 2, 3 finish by Sydney Maree (3:59.91) and Amos Korir (4:03.74) in the mile that wrote another chapter to the Wildcats' legendary track exploits.
Starting today, Texas‐El Paso led Villanova in the team standing, 27‐2, and seemed headed for a fifth indoor crown in the last six years.
But then the IC4A champion Wildcats struck gold. Tufariello, who had been sick all week and was an uncertain starter, ran the strongest 600 of his career (1:09.41). Paige, the Wildcats’ indoor star, followed with a meet record in the 1,000 (2:07.27).
That Nyambui, who is somewhere between 24 and 29 years old and a freshman at Texas‐El Paso, could overcome early boxing tactics by Maree and Korir in the mile, only one hour after he took the two mile, was a reflection of his sharpness.
Only two others. Jim Ryun and Marty Liguori (1971) had achieved a distance double in the meet's 15‐year history. and Nyambui clearly has emerged from the shadows of his more famous countryman from Tanzania, Filbert Bayi.
Miners Lose 8 Points
The disqualification of Texas ElPaso in the two‐mile relay. after it finished second to Nebraska, cost the Miners 8 points and gave Villanova its chance for the team title, helped by the Wildcats’ victory in the one‐mile relay.
Even then, however, Villanova had to play beat the clock in the second section of the one‐mile relay and win the event in 3:15.52 in order to beat Texas-El Paso by a point.
Kansas won its section in 3:16.07
When Indiana fell early on the second leg, the Wildcats were running against themselves. But Tufariello registered a 48‐second leg, Tim Dale anchored in 48.2. and Villanova recorded its first N.C.A.A. title since 1971.
“I hate to win on a disqualification,” said Jumbo Jim Elliott, the veteran Wildcat coach. “But we lost four championships on relays.”
Texas Coach Upset
Ted Banks, the Texas‐El Paso coach, was stunned and angered by the disqualification that involved Jan Boogman, his runner, and Chuck Aragon of Notre Dame, on the third leg of the two-mile relay.
“Oliver Jackson [meet referee] told me, ‘my guy caught him.’ “ Banks said.
“I said, how the hell did my guy get knocked almost all the way off the track? There had to he come impetus to get him there.”
No television replay was available for the race. But some observers at Cobo Arena felt that Aragon, not Boogman, was pushing on the turn.
“The Notre Dame guy beating a latoo on the El Paso guy all the way around the turn,” said Les Wallack, the Rutgers coach.
Boogman defended him of “Bad call?” He said. “Of course. it was a bad call. The guy hit me twice in the turn.”
The controversy could not mar otherwise impressive performances.
Schemiah had run successive heats at 7.08, 6.94 and 6.98 en route to the final.
Nehemiah's indoor record was, indeed, remarkable. He lost only one of 13 major races, on a disqualification when he failed to clear the final hurdle of a heat in the IC4A championships. He set world indoor records at distances of 50 meters, 50 yards. 55 meters and 60 yards.
Tufariello's victory in the two‐section 600 easily was the highlight of his collegiate career. A fast early pace by Darrell Sargent of Miami in Ohio allowed the sophomore from Hewlett L.I. to relax in second place until he made his move to the front just before the final lap.
Tufariello's time was a personal best.
Curtis Dickey of Texas A & M Successfully defended his 60‐yard title by holding off Harvey Glance of Auburn. But it took the photo finish picture to rule in Dickey's favor after the judges initially picked Glance as the winner.
| Name |
Class |
Event(s) |
Hometown |
High School |
| Robert Bizarro |
Sophomore |
Javelin |
Union, N.J. |
Union |
| Keith Brown |
Junior |
Sprints |
Baltimore, Md. |
McDonogh School |
| John Burns |
Senior |
1500, 5000 |
Dresher, Pa. |
La Salle |
| Peter Carroll |
Freshman |
800, 1500 |
Bernardsville, N.J. |
Bernardsville |
| David Cassidy |
Freshman |
Javelin |
Midway, Mass. |
Midway |
| Dean Childs |
Junior |
1500, 5000, Steeplechase |
Calgary, Alta. |
Henry Wise Wood |
| Nate Cooper |
Senior |
Jumps |
Washington, D.C. |
Clarke-Central (Ga.) |
| Brian Dalatri |
Freshman |
Weights |
Bricktown, N.J. |
Brick Township |
| Tim Dale |
Senior |
Sprints |
Jersey City, N.J. |
Pleasantville |
| Paul Denis |
Senior |
10000, Marathon |
Grosse Point Woods, Mich. |
Austin Prep |
| Kevin Dillon |
Freshman |
800, 1500, 5000 |
Oshawa, Ont. |
Paul Dwyer |
| Rob Earl |
Freshman |
1500, 5000 |
Toronto, Ont. |
Porter C.I. |
| Michael England |
Freshman |
800, 1500 |
Allison Park, Pa. |
Hampton |
| John Farina |
Sophomore |
10000, Marathon |
Chelmsford, Mass. |
Austin Prep |
| James Flynn |
Senior |
5000, Steeplechase |
Garden City, N.Y. |
Garden City |
| Brad Gair |
Freshman |
5000, 10000 |
Springfield, Ill. |
Griffin |
| Al Graves |
Junior |
Sprints |
Bryn Mawr, Pa. |
Haverford |
| Anthony Griggs |
Freshman |
Javelin |
Willingboro, N.J. |
J.F. Kennedy |
| Derrek Harbour |
Junior |
Sprints, Hurdles, Long Jump |
Cleveland, Ohio |
Glenville |
| Steve Harford |
Junior |
Pole Vault |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Fox Chapel |
| John Hunter |
Freshman |
400, 800, Hurdles |
Cork, Ireland |
Colaiste Iognaid Ris. |
| Joseph Jacono |
Sophomore |
Weights |
Glen Mills, Pa. |
Garnet Valley |
| John Jefferson |
Freshman |
Weights |
Willow Grove, Pa. |
Upper Moreland |
| John Kelley |
Senior |
800, 1500 |
Oakton, Va. |
Milton (Mass.) |
| Amos Korir |
Sophomore |
800, 1500, Steeplechase |
Kapsabet, Kenya |
C.C. Allegheny |
| Rick Kissell |
Senior |
800, 1500 |
Jenkintown, Pa. |
Beaconsfield (Que.) |
| Dan Liebler |
Junior |
5000, 10000 |
Bethesda, Md. |
Walter Johnson |
| Joe Ludes |
Sophomore |
Sprints |
Wormleysburg, Pa. |
Trinity |
| Sydney Maree |
Sophomore |
800, 1500 |
Pretoria, South Africa |
Vlakfontein |
| Larry Miller |
Junior |
5000, 10000 |
Falls Church, Va. |
Falls Church |
| Joe Mitrovich |
Sophomore |
Javelin, Discus |
Pennsauken, N.J. |
Pennsauken |
| Michael Morris |
Sophomore |
Pole Vault |
Bloomfield, N.J. |
Seton Hall Prep |
| Don Paige |
Junior |
800, 1500 |
Baldwinsville, N.Y. |
Baldwinsville |
| Michael Phalen |
Sophomore |
400, Long Jump, Decathlon |
Ridgefield, Conn. |
Ridgefield |
| Paul Regan |
Senior |
Decathlon |
Drexel Hill, Pa. |
Upper Darby |
| Chris Shafer |
Junior |
800, 1500 |
Williamsport, Pa. |
Williamsport Area |
| Dana Shelton |
Junior |
Sprints |
Hightstown, N.J. |
Hightstown |
| Frank Stanton |
Sophomore |
800, 1500 |
Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. |
Bergen Catholic |
| Willie Sydnor |
Sophomore |
Sprints, Long Jump |
Bryn Mawr, Pa. |
Radnor |
| Anthony Tufariello |
Sophomore |
400, 800 |
Hewlett, N.Y. |
Hewlett |
| Jay Wood |
Senior |
Cross Country |
N. Attleboro, Mass. |
N. Attleboro |
| Mark Worthington |
Junior |
5000, 10000 |
Mantua, N.J. |
Gloucester Catholic |
| Ray Engler (Manager) |
Freshman |
|
|
|
| Larry Kates (Manager) |
Senior |
|
|
|
| Head Coach: Jumbo Elliott |
| Assistant Coaches: Jack Pyrah, Elliott Baker |
| Graduate Assistants: Pam Glennon, Ken Schappert |
1979 HONORS AND AWARDS
All-Americans
Keith Brown (440 Yards, Mile Relay)
John Burns (Distance Medley Relay)
Dean Childs (Distance Medley Relay)
Tim Dale (Mile Relay)
Michael England (Distance Medley Relay)
Al Graves (Distance Medley Relay)
Derrek Harbour (Mile Relay)
Amos Korir (Mile)
Sydney Maree (Mile)
Don Paige (1000 Yards)
Anthony Tufariello (600 Yards, Mile Relay)
IC4A Team Champion
Villanova
IC4A Individual Champions
440 Yards (Keith Brown)
880 Yards (Don Paige)
Three Mile (Sydney Maree)
Mile Relay (Keith Brown, Derrek Harbour, Anthony Tufariello, Tim Dale)
Two Mile Relay (Chris Shafer, Al Graves, John Burns, Sydney Maree)
