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Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan Sports
Kansas Relays
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2000
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
After a two-year hiatus, the Kansas Relays are back with an assist from the World's Fastest Man
Photo illustration
RELAYS INSIDE
High School/Event Schedule: Page 2B
history of the Relays:
Page 7B
Pink and Blue Tradition: Page 8B
Commentary by Mike Miller
W
orld's Fastest Man.
Such as this year's Kansas Relays.
It has a ring to it like heavyweight champion of the world, Super Bowl MVP and Cy Young award winner.
The Relays, which were on a two-year hiatus as Memorial, Stadium was being renovated, draw
It's the greatest single feat
of natural gifts — being able to run faster than any one else in the world.
There's no greater attraction in the world of track and field than watching the World's Fastest Man run. Whether it's at the Olympics, the World Championships or the Goodwill Games, the single greatest moment at a track meet is the 10 seconds it takes him to run the 100-meter dash.
Being the World's Fastest Man means recognition. It means reputation. And it means being known as an athlete the similar to Carl Lewis, Bob Haves and Jesse Owens.
for Maurice Greene, Kansas City, Kan., native and currently the World's Fastest Man who owns the 100 meter record — a blazing 9.79 run last year that only a souped-up Ben Johnson has matched — it means putting on a display at every track meet he enters.
inter- est this we e k from the national media, not only because of the return of a prestigious college relay meet, but also because Greene will be there.
He won't be the only incredibly fast person there either.
Ato Bolden, Trimid and Tobago native is a former Goodwill
Tobago native is a former Goodwin Games Champion, and Jon Drummond and Tim Harden, both world-class athletes who have competed at the World Championships, also will be at the Relays. But they won't be the attraction that Greene is.
Although Greene won't run the 100-meter dash — he pulled out of the last two meets because of injuries — when he runs in the 4x100-meter relay tomorrow afternoon, he still will have all of the attention.
NBC, which will broadcast the 2000 Olympics — of
which Greene will no doubt be the overwhelming favorite to win the 100-meter — is filming Greene visiting his Kansas City home this week, culminating with the relay.
When Greene ran last year at Anschutz Sports Pavilion, it was just a typical college meet. Fort Hays State, Emporia, Pittsburg and a host of other Kansas schools were in attendance, but there was no reason for more than 3,500 people to pack Anschutz other than for Greene's presence.
And this was at a time when Greene was still just a blip on the sprint radar of the track and field world. He held the 60-meter dash (an indoor record that no one really pays attention to outside the track world) and was challenging to make a name for himself before the games in Sydney this summer. But few knew they were watching the future World's Fastest Man.
That was January of 1999. About four months later, Greene blazed to a new world record and instant recognition — perks of being the World's Fastest Man.
Even though he's held his title for a year, he still attracts a crowd no matter where he goes. And he should attract a phenomenal crowd tomorrow, which is exactly what the Relays need.
For the last two years, the Relays have languished while Memorial became football friendly. A gigantic press box and scholarship suites were added, bathrooms and seats were revamped and the MegaVision video board gave the field instant credibility.
Area high schools have gone to Olathe the past two years for the high school version, the Sunflower Classic, and most probably will return to Memorial this weekend.
Teams couldn't leave their schedules open for a weekend in late April, so they have spent the last two years going to other meets, such as the Arkansas Invitational. Now, the Relays have to fight to regain everything they lost.
But the college teams are the larger problem.
Which is where Greene comes in.
Which is where Greene was. The largest crowd in Relays history was 32,000 in 1972, featuring Kansas living legend and Wichita native Jim Ryun. Previously retired from track and field, 1972 was his last Relays, which packed the house.
There probably won't be 32,000 people at Memorial Stadium tomorrow. Greene isn't running his marque event, and track and field isn't the huge draw it used to be, but there should be at least 20,000 people nonetheless. Greene is a Kansas boy, and the natives always turn out in droves to support their boys.
Besides, it's not everyday that the World's Fastest Man is a Kansas boy.
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