Track and Field : Reynolds Reaches for Rarefied Record

Bob Beamon’s world long jump record of 29 feet 2 1/2 inches has a mystical quality about it.

The record is 20 years old and only one athlete, Carl Lewis, consistently approaches it.

Another record, the 400-meter mark of 43.86 seconds held by Lee Evans, isn’t as famous as Beamon’s, but it’s just as enduring. It was set at the same time, the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, a high altitude site.

Butch Reynolds, among others, is chasing that one and he seems fairly confident that he can run it down.

Reynolds has recorded the fastest time at sea level, 45.10, and believes he is capable of breaking Evans’ record without ascending to some thin-air track.

“It’s very achievable,” Reynolds said Monday at a track writers’ luncheon, adding that he wants to break the record at low altitude. “In that way, there are no complications, or stigma to the record and it speaks for itself.”

Reynolds was timed in 44 seconds for his anchor leg in a 1,600-meter relay at the Mt. SAC meet Sunday, showing that he is fit at this early juncture of the season.

A girlfriend has suggested a time to remind him of his goal--43.81.

Like Reynolds, shotputter Randy Barnes, who had an impressive throw of 72-6 1/2 Sunday, is also confident that he can break the world record this year. Italy’s Alessandro Andrei is the record-holder at 75-2.

“I’ve thrown over that distance several times in practice,” Barnes said, acknowledging that he has been in the 77-foot range.

Reynolds and Barnes still have eligibility remaining at their respective universities, Ohio State and Texas A&M;, but they’re not competing in college meets this year so that they can concentrate on the Olympic Games.

“Bringing a gold medal back to Columbus, Ohio, would be prestigious for me and the university,” said Reynolds, adding that he enjoyed competing for the Buckeyes last year.

However, there is a catch for the collegiate athlete in an Olympic year. He is usually needed to win important meets, even national championships, and he is usually inspired to do so. However, his schedule is more arduous than the athlete who isn’t in school and can pick and choose his meets.

Last year, Reynolds set his low-altitude 400 record in May and kept on competing without much of a break through to the World Championships in September at Rome.

He was weakened by a virus in Rome, where he was a bronze medalist in the 400 behind gold medalist Thomas Schonlebe of East Germany, who had a modest race schedule leading up to the championship meet.

“The virus took more out of me because I was over-raced,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds, 23, and Barnes, 21, who will both compete in the Pepsi Invitational June 5, are young enough to accomplish their goals.

Barnes was even ahead of schedule with a mark of 71-9 1/2 as a freshman. Then, he virtually disappeared as a world-class competitor.

“I surprised a lot of people even myself, and then I couldn’t answer my own expectations,” he said. “It was frustrating.”

Part of his problem was a painful hand injury that required corrective surgery last summer. He also decided to bulk up to 315 pounds, which did not improve his performances.

“I couldn’t throw over 66 feet,” he said ruefully.

He weighs 290 now and is looking forward to competing against John Brenner, America’s best shotputter, in the June 5 meet at UCLA.

Track Notes

Reports that Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic champion in the women’s marathon, would not be able to compete in this year’s Olympic trial, were premature. Sunday’s Pittsburgh Marathon has been designated as the U.S. trial. Hal Bateman, a spokesman for The Athletics Congress, said: “The word today is that she’ll run no matter what her coach (Bob Sevene), or anyone else says. She might pull it off by sheer force of will.” That’s what she did in 1984 when she was injured about two weeks before the trial and still qualified. She is bothered by a hip injury now.

Jud Logan improved his U.S. hammer throw record to 268 feet 8 inches Saturday in the Nittany Lion Relays at State College, Pa. . . . UCLA sprinter Mike Marsh has a hamstring injury and isn’t expected to compete in Saturday’s dual meet with USC. . . . Carl Lewis is planning to run in a 100-meter race in Modesto May 7. He had originally planned to compete only in a sprint relay. However, after finishing fifth in the 100 meters when his starting blocks slipped Sunday in the Mt. San Antonio College Relays, he probably figures he needs another race soon.