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Coverage of track and field lacking

TO THE DAILY:

I am writing this letter in response to the Daily's pathetic coverage of the NCAA Track & Field Championships. Your article "Indoor season finale letdown for men and women runners," (3/11/96) grossly underplayed our achievements at the NCAA Championships. I have spent my years as a non-revenue sport athlete reading articles laced with ignorance buried on the back page of your sports section, so I have grown accustomed to shrugging off the incorrect information.

You belittled the efforts of some of the hardest working, finest athletes at this institution. We have not qualified for the Olympics yet, and we have no multi-million dollar contracts waiting us in the pros, but that does not make us lesser athletes. Give us the respect we deserve.

All I'm asking is that you do some kind of research. Do not simply scan the results and spew them out. Let me clarify you on a few things -- I have never run in a "tournament" or "played" against any Big Ten teams. We "compete" in track and field "meets." These things may seem petty, but they point to a deeper problem. Your writers really don't know what the hell they're talking about! I have grown tired of fielding questions like "what event are you running?" during cross country season!

Since your article about the NCAA Championships did not quote anyone, and the picture was from Big Ten's, I think I can safely assume that there was no reporter assigned to cover us. Just curious, but exactly who told you that the meet was a letdown!

In the women's 3,000 meters, Courtney Babcock returned from a year plagued with injuries to finish fifth in a personal best time, just 0.5 seconds out of second place. Her finish earned her All-American honors. Monika Black was also named All-American with her finish in the high jump.

The Men's Distance Medley Relay broke the school record which two years ago was a world record. We ran the third fastest time of all-time and lost by a mere 0.15 seconds. We were all named All-Americans.

But there is more to the story. Trinity Townsend moved up from his past distance of 400 meters to the 800 meters this season; Jeff Wood had never competed at NCAA's and was not named to the team until a week before; I am returning from a year of injuries which included knee surgery and a stress fracture and Kevin Sullivan, who chose not to defend his NCAA title in the mile due to an Achilles injury that has plagued him all season, ran the relay and outkicked this year's champion. These would all be big stories if we were competing in the final four of the hockey or basketball tournaments. Well, this was our final four. And we lost by 0.15 seconds.

Your article was pure numbers and stats which do not even begin to scratch the surface of the story. Track is more than times and places, but not according to your article. Neil Gardner did not make the hurdles final and ran 8.01, nowhere near his personal best. Your assessment -- a letdown.

SCOTT MACDONALD

LSA SENIOR