University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, November 2, 1977
7
Splash in pool awakens swimmer
Bv REGGIE ROBINSON
Sports Writer
Four days a week at the crack of dawn,
Jed Blankenship, Hutchinson junior, gets
out of bed and goes to the Robinson Gymnasium swimming pool to practice.
Blankenship, one of the top breaststroke swimmers in the Big Eight Conference, is preparing for his third season as a Jayhawk swimmer.
Staff Photo by ELI REICHMAN
Last year he finished fourth in both the 100-yard and 200-year breaststroke at the conference meet, but he is looking for an improved performance this year.
As a freshman, he finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke and second in the 200-yard breaststroke in the Big Eight championship meet. He also swam the breaststroke leg of the 400-meter medley relay team which finished fourth.
If he stays healthy, Blankenship thinks he can win the conference championship in Utah.
BLANKENSHIP SUFFERED a collar-bank injury in a motorcycle crash in New Jersey.
He started swimming competitively when he was about 10 years old.
The road to swimming success has been a long but mostly bright one for Blankenship.
"I always liked to swim," he said. "And when some friends of mine started doing it competitively, I thought it would be fun, so I did it, too."
At Salina South, Blankenship showed that he was one of the best swimmers in Kansas. He won the state title in the 100-yard breaststroke three years in a row.
Looking back, Blankenship lamented the fact that in those three years he was unable to break the Kansas state record for the event.
"It was and is kind of frustrating that I never did break that record," he said. "But I had to work very hard."
Blankenship was heavily recruited by many of the top swimming schools in the country, including the University of Florida and the University of Alabama, both former NCAA championship teams.
"BUT IN THE END, it was a choice to be sentenced to the court and the University of Kansas," he said.
Kansas was his choice of its good facilities and winning tradition, he said. At the time he was recruited, the KU swim team had won eight straight Bie Eight titles.
Though the thought of being a member of the Big Eight championship team helped lure Blankenship to KU, the Jayhawks have not won a title since he has been here.
"This year, we've really improved
knitting and a very good
tennis attitude," he said.
Blankenship called first-year coach Bill Patnin "an excellent coach who is bringing people to the front."
Ku finished third his freshman year and fourth a year ago. Blankensmith said that this was one of his best years.
843-0808
"A lot of people have the natural talent to swim," he said. "But a good coach is too."
Blankenship credits the people who have coached him throughout his career for much
10:30:5:30 Mon.-Sat. 'Til 8:00 Thurs.
Bubble up
Heading into his third season on KU's swim team, Hutchinson junior杰伦 Blankenship tuped up in an afternoon practice last week. He was one of the few players to make it past a year.
Blankenship's performance last year, but he still managed to place fourth in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events at the Big Eight Conference meet.
important in making sure that a swimmer reaches his potential."
Even though swimming takes up much of his time, Blankton also spends considerable time in the water.
"I know that I only have two more years to reach my full potential as a swimmer," he said. "And I want to leave KU and be able to say confident that I have done that."
"A lot of times there is a conflict between my studies and swimming," he said. "I have to work hard at my studies so that I can handle the challenge of a swim meet, I won't be too far behind."
The Hiding Place
Starring JULIE HARRIS • ELEEN HECKART
ATURTHA KOHL • PIG
Into the Woods • JEANETTE CLIFT
ALLER SQUARE • LAWRENCE HOLESN
A World Wide Pictures release in Metropolitan
November 2nd
Hoch Auditorium
8:00 p.m. • $1.25
Sponsored by I.V.C.F.
Sponsored by BOCO & Lambda Sigma
---
VETERANS
ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3,
1977 at 6 PM in the COUNCIL ROOM, main floor Kansas
Union. NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN for all
positions in the Campus Veterans Office.
KU Campus Veterans
118 B Student Union
864-4478
Paid for by Student Activity Funds
Panavision® Inhibitor® from Warner Bros. A Warne Communications Company R
Nov. 4 & 5, Friday & Saturday
'1.25, 3:30, 7:00 & 9:30 p.m. Woodruff Auditorium
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