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, lllini Seeks Big Ten Championship Rate Michigan Co-Favorite With Champaign Thinclads; Laz Threatens Vault Mark By ED SAINSBURY United Press Sports Writer EVANSTON, HI., May 23.— The two most consistent track powers of the Big Ten, Michigan and Illinois, were virtually co-favorites for the championship of the 51st annual outdoor meet, scheduled Thursday and Friday at Northwestern. The Ulini, who have won 15 outdoor titles, captured the indoor crown for the 12th time -at Champaign in March, and headed by pole vaulter Don Laz, figured to score heavily in the dashes, hurdles and middle distances. Michigan, leader in outdoor championships with 20, was rated as a contender on its strength in the distance runsthe hurdles and in field events. Laz, competing for the last time in a Big Ten meet, was expected to be the individual hero from the standpoint of record breaking. He holds the indoor mark of 14 feet 8 inches in the pole vault, and was an odds-on choice to crack the 14-year-old outdoor mark of 14 feet 2% inches set by Bob Cassells of Chicago in 1937. Preliminaries This .Afternoon The Ulini leaper has bettered 15 feet both indoors and outdoors this year and there was a good chance that he could perform this feat again should weather be favorable Friday. Preliminaries for the meet will be held Thursday afternoon in the broad jump, 440, shot put, 100 and 200 yard dashes, the 880 and the 120 yard high hurdles and 220 yard low hurdles. The finals will be held at twilight Friday, opening at 6 p. m. CDT with the last event, the mile relay, scheduled for 8 p. m. The field was to include four defending champions in addition to Laz, who went 14 feet even last year. Other returning title-holders were Leroy Collins, Wisconsin, 440, Don McEwen, Michigan, two mile, Don Hoover, Michigan, 220 yard low hurdles, and Cliff Anderson, Indiana, shot put. Illinois apparently boasted top team strength, with Dick Coleman and Dick Calish probably point makers in the pole vault in addition to Laz. Other mini threats for points included sprinter Joe Gonzales, Cirilo McSween, in the 220 and 440, Stacy Siders in the 880, Joel McNulty in the high hurdles, and Marv Berschet in the discus. Michigan also had good balance with McEwen and Hoover likely to retain their titles. Other Wolverine threats were Bill Konrad and Dave Stimson in the sprints, Joe LaRue in the quarter, George Jacobi in the 880, Tom Johnson in the shot put and Horace Coleman in the broad jump.
