European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday August 4, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 21 of Ersery be chomp eyes bigger prize Story and photo by Tracy Tanner staff writer Frankfurt West Germany winning a Gold medal in the Long jump at the armed forces track and Field championships did t leave Michelle Collins wit feelings of elation. I did t have to work hard enough said the 22nd signal brigade first lieutenant. However she did describe the experience As Eye opening. Eye opening in the sense that with her armed forces title she had earned a Chance to compete in the athletic Congress tag track and Field meet and was just a shot away from trying out for the olympics. And also in the sense that she was among the Best and had proven herself an athlete to be respected. Many Young soldiers May have competed in High school or in College but once they join the army they feel they Aren t Good enough to compete at this level explained Collins. Another problem is that Many Are not aware of what is out there As far As the army s sports programs Are concerned she continued. Since i be been Back a lot of people have come up to me and asked How i got  Collins quest began with an application to the department of the army. Her times As a sprinter and Long jumper during her High school years at proviso West in Illinois where she competed against current heptathlon world record Holder Jackie Joyner Kersee and after High school while attending the . Military Academy at West Point gave her the ticket she needed to make the All army training Camp. Although Collins fell Short of her goal to qualify for the Seoul olympics her new found quest has her looking ahead to 1992, the next olympic year. Collins feels the absence of rigid training and serious Competition since she graduated from High school put her at a disadvantage this time around. Although she had competed during her four years at West Point she said the 20-hour credit Load Cut out any serious training. And the years since her graduation in 86 have been filled with her commitment to the army. Armed forces Long jump Champ Michelle Collins the All army Camp despite lasting Only three weeks gave her the time to concentrate on her skills. But it did t give her the time needed to make up for the years of training missed since she last competed. And although injuries sustained during those years had healed enough for Collins to compete in her unit s it formations her legs weren t Strong enough to carry her through the rigorous training required of an olympic ath Lete. That resulted in Collins pulling a hamstring during the 200-meter dash at the armed forces meet. Coming off the curve i Over extended myself and Felt the pain Collins recalled. I knew what it was because i d pulled the same muscle while at the  however that did t Force Collins from the Long jump Competition. My company commander asked me How i could still jump but not run she said. But when i jump it s a controlled Speed. I have longer  besides Collins had already taken four of her allotted six jumps and was doing terrific. I did t real ize How Well i was doing in the Long jump until that Point and Felt i did t have anything to  she did however have everything to win and her Best Effort a 20 feet 6 a inches gave her the armed forces title and a Chance to compete in tac championships. Collins also enjoyed another distinction even though it was t recognized with a medal. I was the Only person from the armed forces meet to qualify for tac who was not a member of the world class ath Lete program the 23-year old claimed. The program Collins mentioned is made up of army athletes who through their accomplishments have earned a Chance to train year round in one of the army sponsored Camps. Their principal purpose is to prepare for the big events the pan am and olympic games. Having achieved As much As Many of these athletes who benefited from year round instruction Collins expressed satisfaction with her accomplishments despite a poor showing in tac. I could t get a foot on the Board Collins said. I really Don t like to make excuses she continued but some Days i do better than others. I was off at  still Collins has set her sights on 92. I feel blessed she said. I have a lot of natural  she plans to spend the next four years training and strengthening her Muscles through weights. While eager she remains realistic. If i Don t make it in 92, i la probably have to give up she said. The body gives out after a certain  meanwhile with youth on her Side Collins plans on showing the soldiers of Europe a Sample of her competitive zest. First Shell compete at the v corps meet August 12-13. If she qualifies Shell be on her Way to the Usa eur meet August 26-28, and have taken another step toward her olympic goal. All pro Montana Young wage monster Battle for starting Job by Steve Wilstein Rocklin Calif. A put Joe Montana and Steve Young together and what do you get no it in t mighty Joe Young though they both can make monkeys out of the defense with their Quick moves and Strong arms. What you get is a first rate Battle set in lung scald ing desert heat Between two of the nil s most exciting quarterbacks for the starting Job with the san Francisco 49ers. And on the sidelines spurring both combatants on with the grim Delight of a roman patrician trying to pick his Best Gladiator is coach Bill Walsh. So far the Job still appears to belong to Montana who has started for the 49ers since 1981 and has won two super bowls. But Walsh is leaving enough doubt to keep the Competition Lively. Most Likely Joe will Start the regular season opener sept. 4 at new Orleans Walsh said tuesday. But it s open  that is not exactly the kind of ringing endorse ment that All pro Montana would like or perhaps should expect after winning his first nil passing title last year and leading the 49ers to the league s Best record in the regular season 13-2. Montana shrugs off the Competition Trade rumours and Walsh s modest support saying he s always had to fight for a Job. He s just never had to fight this , who led the 49ers to three touchdowns in last sunday s loss to Miami in London s Wembley stadium also plays Down the Duel with Montana. But there is no doubt As he works out vigorously in practice and talks about his Progress that he expects to move into the top spot one Day soon. There will be a controversy related to the Quarter backs this year Walsh acknowledged. There was last season and going into this year and it will  Walsh says he looks on it As a personal Challenge in which he has to orchestrate Competition Between two excellent quarterbacks for the first time in his 10 years with the 49ers. Nil Roundup we be avoided this in the past As Well As we could and very effectively developed a single quarterback that became a Premier quarterback he said. This is the first year where there s something very evident and direct and highly  Walsh says he would have to be awfully dogmatic and Bull headed if he were to consider Only Montana As the starting quarterback. That would make my life easier and simpler he says. It would t necessarily be the Best 11  this is the Way he sizes up is two scrambling quarterbacks the right handed 32-year-old Montana and the left handed 26-year-old Young it would be very difficult to dislodge Joe. He s just completed his greatest season he s right at the top of his game and he has total command of our system. Steve in turn is a Brilliant athlete who has a Dimen Sion that really is unique to him in this game. He s an explosive runner very Active very spontaneous. He s a very Good passer. He has shown great instincts and the ability to rally a team and move the  on the Downside for Montana Are age questions about the extended effects of Back surgery in 1986 and failure to carry the team through the playoffs the last three years. For Young the problems Are related More to Lack of experience something he May get Only if he be comes no. 1. With Steve we have to reduce the amount of instinctive play to Mold that into his Overall play Walsh said adding that Young needs More consistency and discipline. As Brilliant As Steve is we still have some Prog Ress to make before he will rival Joe As a starter Walsh continued. Now will he be Able to make that Progress most Likely he will. He just needs a lot of repetitions in practice to develop the sequence of Reading receivers and the knowledge of exactly where they la be when he turns his  make mine a double Cincinnati offensive lineman Bruce to Erski finds tuesday that the combination of near-100-degree heat High humidity and football pads can work up a five gallon thirst. Temperatures at the bengals training Camp at Wilmington Ohio were expected to reach record Levels again on wednesday