One Man's Meet

TRACK & FIELD

Careful research, meaning a talk with his wife, has disproved the notion that Randy Matson, 22, has a red S for Superman inscribed on his chest. That still may not convince anybody who watched the 6-ft. 6-in., 263-lb. Texas A. & M. senior compete against Baylor and Texas Christian in a triangular track meet. Matson is the only man in the history of track and field to put the shot 70 ft. or more--once in May 1965, and again last February. Against Baylor and T.C.U., he did it three times in a day. In a remarkable display of strength and consistency, World Record Holder (at 70 ft. 7 1/4 in.) Matson heaved the 16-lb. ball 70 ft. 5 1/2 in., 70 ft. 5 1/2 in., and 70 ft. even.

He might have done even better if he hadn't spread himself so thin. Besides the shotput, Matson was asked to compete in the discus throw, an event he does not much like. It was probably not entirely accidental that he forgot to bring his discus with him to the meet; his wife discovered it lying on the floor of the family car and rushed it out to the field. Randy resignedly trudged over to the throwing ring, wound up and sailed the discus 213 ft. 9 1/2 in. -- 3 ft. 3 1/2 in. farther than any American had ever hurled it before and barely 2 in. short of the world record held by Czechoslovakia's Ludvik Danek.

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