Beyond the Flag

Sim Iness of the University of Southern California is an amiable young fellow of awesome proportions: 6 ft. 6 in., 250 lbs. Standing in the discus circle at the N.C.A.A. championships last week, Iness prepared for his final toss. Some 15,000 pairs of eyes were on him as he mopped his brow, pursed his lips, frowned, crouched, then went into his spin.

Downfield, 186 ft. 11 in. away, a little red flag fluttered beckoningly. It marked the world record.

For more than a year, in the Olympics and in U.S. competition, Sim Iness had come tantalizingly close to the record. This time he got the plate-shaped discus off powerfully and easily. High and far it spun, then came down with a clunk--on the far side of the little red flag. Excited officials pegged the spot, then made a careful measurement: 190 ft. f in., more than 3 ft. farther than the world record set in 1949 by Minnesota's Fortune Gordien.

Sim Iness jubilantly tossed his towel in the air. But he was frankly a little surprised by his heave: "The discus left my hand so easy I didn't figure it was going very far. I never spun harder, but I didn't even finish with a grunt."

Other intercollegiate record-breakers at the Lincoln, Neb. meet:

P: Kansas University Miler Wes Santee, who whipped the field by 25 yds. with a sparkling 4:03.7 race, just 1.3 sec. slower than the American record he set fortnight ago (TIME, June 15).

P: Southern California Shotputter Parry O'Brien, who heaved the 16-lb. ball 58 ft. 7 1/4 in., breaking his own N.C.A.A. record, but falling seven and one-eighth inches short of his own world record.

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