LEGGY TRIUMPHS OF THE WEEK

From Berlin to Boston, from Tampa to Miami, the picture evidence came in last week of new earth-spurning deeds, new records, figures and rear-guard insignia

Octopus, shown here with Jockey Kenny Church, salvaged a thoroughly wretched week for his owner, James D. Norris, by winning the $25,675 Hibiscus Stakes at Hialeah. Earlier, Norris' other pet octopus, the International Boxing Club, came to a deserved end as a result of a Supreme Court decision. Norris was not in Florida to see his bay colt win the six-furlong race. Mrs. Norris said that Jim "had to go up to New York on business." The "business," undoubtedly: redesigning the old IBC for the future.

Although Octopus won by a handy two lengths, he appears to qualify as a sprinter only. At longer distances in the brand-new eastern 3-year-old season, track observers expect he would show a tendency toward tiring tentacles.

Patriotic panties emblazoned with flags of Confederacy are flaunted by Laura Lou Kunnen, Clearwater, Fla., who won Tampa's Dixie International tournament.

Perilous Prance is performed by Ina Bauer in Berlin Sports Palace where she retained her German figure skating title. Ina aims to challenge Carol Heiss for the World Championship next month.

Plummeting, mouth agape, to a pile of dusty gym mats at Boston K. of C. meet is John Thomas, a taciturn Boston University freshman, who last week set a world's indoor record of 6 feet 11¾ inches in the high jump, which is seven inches higher than Thomas. It was the second week in a row that Thomas, 17, had bettered the old record, and the second time he did it under inauspicious circumstances. At the Dartmouth cage, where he jumped 6 feet 11, he burned himself backing into a steampipe; at Boston Garden he made his remarkable jump during the eighth lap of the featured mile run.

THREE PHOTOS

PHOTO

MARVIN E. NEWMAN