36-4,p15

Numbers Challenge: Tison takes the trio

by Russ Kaufman

Dana Tison, who has done well in many events at recent conventions (he has competed in everything but joggling) took the top spot in all three Numbers Challenge events in Akron .

In the ball category, I6-year-old Tison edged out Ken Falk by catching 69 times at the seven level before missing. Neither Tison, Falk nor the other seven ball qualifier, Jack Kalvan, made the 16 catches necessary to place at the eight ball level.

Only two entrants tried rings - Tison and Bob Mendelsohn. Both qualified at seven and tried eight. Mendelsohn amused the audience with one-liners, but was not able to match Tison's 20 catches during his two-minute time period. Tison moved on to the nine level, but was unable to make the requisite 18 catches there.

The club event featured the same people who tried balls ( Denton , Falk, Kalvan and Tison). All four made ten catches to qualify at the five level, with Falk leading the pack by juggling one run from start to finish for the entire two minutes - 463 catches!

When they moved on to six, Kalvan tried an unusual pattern, described by championships director Barry Bakalor as a crossing triple double pattern. It was a combination of high right handed triple spins and lower left handed doubles. But only Tison qualified with six, barely making it with 14 catches. He went on to seven clubs but could not make 14 catches.

Joggling Gains Ground

by Tom Sparough

The World Joggling Championships were held during Wednesday's convention field day and attracted dozens of spectators and two film crews. Those who showed up for the action witnessed the first women's joggling race and Owen Morse breaking his IJA and world record for 100 meters. It was the only IJA record broken in Akron. In the winner's circle at the end of the day were Morse; Laura Green (women's 100 meters); Todd McLeish (mile); Billy Gillen (5-k); and Bill Fowle, Bill Giduz, Bill Gillen and Morse again (mile relay).

Morse was the main focus of media coverage. He shaved more than 1/10 second from his previous 100 meter record with a time of 12.12 in the first heat of the event. He took a tumble at the end of the run, but was able to come back to win the finals heat in 13.50 a half-hour later. Tom Sparough placed second at 14.61 and Todd McLeish in third at 14.89.

n the mile joggle, McLeish pulled ahead of Gillen in the last 100 meters to take first in 5:26.74. Gillen led most of the race, but couldn't resist McLeish's kick and finished second at 5:28.55. Third went to 16-year-old Clark McFarlane in 5:24.28.

With a time of 19:52.4, Gillen's 5-kilometer joggle took first. McFarlane came in second in 20.06.09 and Fowle placed third.

An exhibition women's race was organized just minutes before the men's races were to begin. Five women competed in the 100-meter joggle, with first place going to Laura Green, IJA art director. In order of finish, Sandy Brown, Jane Hussey, Mary Wilkins and Risa Davis followed.

Brown also became the first IJA woman to enter the regularly scheduled races by running in the mile joggle.

A respectable 4:31.2 took first place in the mile relay as "The Jogglers," Fowle, Giduz, Gillen and Morse, blazed their way around the track. "Miscellaneous" finished second at 4:59.04 with the combined team of Lars Rohrbach, Sparough, McLeish and Tim Heil. The "Baltimore Bouncers," Mike Rosman, Marlin Ballard, Russ Kaufman and Paul Ballard, had a 6:35 time in third place.

After the crowd thinned out, Morse and Gillen ran exhibition five ball 100 meter joggles for a film crew from "The Amazing World of Guinness Records." Morse beat Gillen and established a record time of 15.25 for that event.