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Friday, April 16, 1976
University Dally Kansan
Trio responsible for KU Relays
By KEN STONE
There is no rational explanation for the existence of the Kansas Relays.
"Hold it right there," you say. "Run that by again."
"How's that?"
There is no rational explanation for the existence of the Kansas Relays.
Take yourself back to the Kansas of 1923, the year the Relays began. As now, the state was predominantly agrarian. The sport of track and field was known, but extravagant relay meets were isolated occurrences on the east and west coasts.
Photo courtesy of UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS ARCHIVES
WHAT LITTLE WAS known about track was limited to the larger cities and to the homes of the university-bred. Farmers were as likely to waste a good day of spring planting to attend a Kansas Relays as chickens were to form unions.
And the ability to plan, organize, stage and promote such an event was limited to
"It was only when Kansas students and alumni built the Memorial Stadium, in token of the sacrifice of the 120 students in this war, that the Relays became a possibility."
But that's all it took to get the Relays started; the idea of one man, the promotion activities of another and the organizational acumen of a third.
BUT POSSIBILITY wasn't the same as actuality.
While Outland has been given credit as "the father of the Relays," Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, KU's athletic director then and later a highly-successful basketball coach, did much of the work necessary to insure the success of the early meets.
"Returning to his native state, he began to insist that Kansas should have games similar to the Pennsylvania carnival, but lack of facilities impeded him.
For one thing, he knew the support of the state was crucial. The Relays needed spectators, and the only way to get them was to advertise.
A credit to Madison Avenue, Allen pulled some daring stunts to promote the Relays.
during stints to promote the Relays. Edwin "Doc" Elbel, who came to the University to teach in 1928 and who has been manager of the Relays since the middle of Herbert Hoover's term as President, recalled Allen's advertising glimmicks.
There may be no rational explanation for theounding the Kansas Relays, but there were to be two.
THE FOOTBALL PLAYER, who later was to become a well-known surgeon, was
The first Kansas Relays meet program said, "Being at Penn (where he did his graduate work), where the (Penn) reams were being developed into the biggest anthem of the history of the world (sic), Doctor Outland was filled with the spirit of the games.
The three men most responsible for giving life to the event we now take for granted were an All-America football player, a nationally recognized basketball coach and a track coach with a funny-sounding name.
"HE AND FOUR other men, members of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, bought an old airplane and traveled the state in white jumpsuits with 'Kansas Relays' on the back. That created a lot of interest.
"You can imagine what would happen if you were going by an airport and some lloyds landed and got out with suits on saying 'Kansas Relays'." And eventually became curious as to what it's going on here. What are the Relays?"
That question was answered on the radio.
A jumper employs the Eastern cutoff into a sawdust pit
of all places, another new-fangled phenomenon. Allen spoke over the KU radio station KFKU and spread the gospel of the church among listeners. Support from among the local listeners.
THE MOST RELIABLE means of bringing in the crowds, however, was to invite the "name" athletes, the superstars of the era.
Since the beginning of the event, foreign athletes were a staple diet for Relays spectators. In 1926, for example, Charles Hoff, the Norwegian pole vaulant champion, cleared the stratospheric height of 13.4 m in the meet. The world record today is 13.6.
Swedish spinner Adrien Paulaen was a popular visitor in 1928, too. He won the 440-yard dash in 48.9 seconds. The national high school record today is 45.8.
But regardless of the Outland's idea or Allen's accomplishments, the RELays would never have gotten off the ground without the support of Karl Schlaidemann, the RU track coach.
With more than 700 entrants in the first Relays, the ability to organize the event was, indeed, a crucial factor in making it a success.
SCHLADEMANN DEVISED the plan—still in effect—of getting the students involved in by appointing student Relays managers, the persons who made sure every athlete was assigned a number, a lane and a place to stay while in Lawrence.
The University encouraged students to attend and Haskell Indian Junior College called off all classes for the day to help KU "pull off her greatest athletic event."
Schladman made sure the awards were in order 85 seven-jewel Elgin watches and hundreds of medals—and that every high school, junior college, college and university relay team and entrant knew when to show up for their event.
Hopefuls . . .
And the rest, as they say, is history.
From page one
Kansas junior for ninth on the world list last year. He was ranked the sixth best jumper in the nation.
SAM COLSON—javelin, qualifying standard, 292-6. Colson, with a load of 290-8, scored 47 points for the favorite to have an excellent chance for making the team. He slumped last year after winning an NCAA title for KU in 1973 and the AU crown in 1974, but still threw a few out.
RANDY SMITH—high jump, qualifying height, 7.2—Smith was the 1974 NCAA outdoor champion while competing for KU. His best leap of 7.2 put him on the world list that year, but he'll need to make at least two inches higher to make the team.
KENT McDONALD—steeplechase, qualifying time, 8:32.0-McDonald, who won three straight Big Eight steeplechase championships, has quietly established himself as one of the top steelchasers in the nation. He was ranked second behind former Wichita State runner Randy Smith and also second in the nation. Smith in the AAU in 1975, makes him as a bonafide contender for a berth on the U.S. team.
TERRY PORTER—pole vault, qualifying height, 17-3. Porter has to be peaking in this Olympic year. After clearing 17-3/4 outdoors last year, Porter has already vaulted 17-6/2 indoors this season. Ranked ninth nationally last season, Porter faces stiff competition in his bid to make the team.
DANNY SEAY—long jump, qualifying distance, 25-7. Seaw was fifth on the world list last year after leaping a wind aided 26-11%. He was ranked second in America and ninth in the world last year. With a good score from service, he played June 18-27 at Eugene, Ore., Seaw stands a good chance of nailing down a spot on the team.
THEO HAMILTON-long jump, qualifying distance, 25-7- Seay's teammate at KU last year, Hamilton was ranked fourth in the U.S. and 11th in the world. His indoor leap of 26-7-4 last year was the seventh best jump in the world.
STAN WHITLEY—long jump, qualifying distance, 25-7. The third former KU athlete with a chance of making the team in the OL will play in his first game in the U.S. last year with a best of 26-2%.
WADDEL  SMITH—400 meters,
qualifying time, 46.14–Smith has a 45.6
mile relay split and a 46.0 loop 440 to his
sides. He was able to hit the outside
chance at best of making the team.
MARK LUTZ-200 meters, qualifying time, 12.04 - Lutz owns a 20.52 meters track, which he annotated and enclosed track at the KU Relays age. But last season he slowed to 20.96.
AL OERTer-discus, qualifying standard, 196-10-Lest we forget Al Oertor. Rumor has it Oertor is contemplating a comeback on the national level. Oertor won four consecutive Olympic gold medals. Oertor reportedly has been throwing out 175-0 in practice.
The mid-engine makes it unique. But the price makes it exceptional.
The 1976 Fiat X 1/9. $5,232.20
Delivered, Freight and Prep. Included.
There are six mid-engine cars in the world.
But there's only one at this price.
FIAT
A lot of car. Not a lot of money.
23rd and Alabama
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