Word: meters
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...hero these days than Roland Matthes, 21. He took two Olympic gold medals at Mexico and could pick up as many as five more at Munich, depending on how many events he enters. Lean, lithe Matthes is as sure as any Olympic competitor of winning his specialties-the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke, in which he has been the world record holder for the past four years. Like Shane Gould, Matthes has a distinctive kick; almost twice as big as that used by other backstrokers, it has earned him the nickname "Flipper...
Track and field will dominate the second part of the Munich program. To the winner of the men's 100-meter dash traditionally goes the title of "world's fastest human." Early this year, when U.S. sprinters were rising and falling like imperfect souffles, it looked as if the title might go to a Russian for the first time. Valery Borzov, from the little Ukrainian town of Novaya Kakhovka, had beaten every international runner to face him in three seasons. If anyone could conquer him by the time the Games began, it seemed it might be the "Southern...
Another glamour event of track and field is the 1,500-meter run. If recent form prevails, the final should bring about a rematch between the duelists of Mexico, Gold Medalist Kipchoge Keino of Kenya and runner-up Jim Ryun of the U.S. Keino, despite an attack of malaria, recently ran the fastest 1,500 of the year, 3:36.8. Ryun, who has performed erratically for more than 18 months, seems to be reaching his peak once again. Even so, it may not be a two-man race. Kenya has another prospect in Mike Boit, who started running the distance...
Several competitors command attention in the hurdle and throwing events. Until a few weeks ago, the athlete with the surest shot at a gold medal in track seemed to be muttonchopped Rod Milburn of Opelousas, La., who has not lost a 110-meter hurdle race in two seasons. Then, in the final at the U.S. trials, he was jarred off balance and finished third, behind Tom Hill and Willie Davenport. Milburn still ranks as the favorite, but he is clearly not invincible. In the discus, Jay Silvester of Orem, Utah, was the world record holder beaten by Al Oerter...
...women's track and field program will include a 1,500-meter race for the first time. One contender is Vera Nikolic of Yugoslavia. During a semifinal heat of the 800 meters in 1968, Vera suddenly stopped and fled the track in tears, overcome by a broken romance. In Munich, Vera will probably compete in both the 800 and 1,500. In the former, though, gospel-singing Madeline Manning Jackson of Columbus will be trying to duplicate the gold medal she won last time in Mexico. Other U.S. hopes in women's track include Metric Miler Francie Larrieu...