THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 3. 2005
Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3B
Sprinter runs to fill team's void
BY PATRICK SHEHAN
pshehan@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
Kansan file phot
When Jordan left the Bulls.
When Montana left the 49ers.
When Bookman left the Jayhawks.
Teams often struggle to find replacements for superstar athletes who made such an impact that it's difficult to picture the team without them.
Leo Bookman, right, Dickinson, Texas, senior, led the men's 100-meter dash against Team Nike runner Rae Edwards during the Kansas Relays last spring. Bookman now runs for Team Nike. The track team is looking for Aaron Thomson, Lenexa junior, to step up and fill the hole left by Bookman.
Leo Bookman brought home so many records for the Jayhawks you would think he was shopping at a vintage music store. He owns the Kansas records for the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes and was three runners away from making the Olympic team. Bookman, the Jayhawk of the year in 2004, now runs for Team Nike, which competes at many of the same meets as the Jayhawks.
Sprinter Aaron Thompson specializes in the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. As a junior, he possesses more experience and places in the top 10 more than any other sprinter/hurdler on the team. He has missed the top 10 once.
These aren't just big shoes to fill. These are clown shoes. As the Jayhawks begin a new era, the question of who will replace Bookman looms large. Someone must step up for the team to have success.
He owns the third-fastest times in KU history in both events, running the 60-meter dash in 6.81 seconds and the 60-meter hurdles in 8.01 seconds. He places fifth in the Big 12 Conference in both categories.
He cleaned up at the KU/KSU/MU Triangular Jan. 22, winning both of his events. At the Arkansas Invitational, he finished second. Behind Bookman, of course.
"For me, it's just inspiring because I got to practice with him, and I got to see what it takes to get there," Thompson said.
He said competing against Bookman while wearing different jerseys doesn't change his perspective of Bookman.
"I still look to him as a teammate, not a competitor," Thompson said. "When I look up at the scoreboard, I still see a 'KU' next to his name."
Kansas coach Stanley Redwine said that expecting runners to perform at Bookman's level would be unfair.
"It's tough to say that Aaron will win the NCAA like Leo did" Redwine said. "Leo was a phenomenal athlete and a phenomenal talent."
Redwine and Thompson collaborate to determine what goals are tangible for Thompson, not what goals were left by Bookman, Thompson said.
"We both work together to get me in the right direction and to get me to the NCAAs." Thompson said of his goal to run at a nationally-qualifying time.
as he continually contributed to multiple events. Like Bookman, Thompson makes contributions to several other events, including the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles, as well as the 200-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay. Thompson's veteran experience allows him to lead his teammates to victory as well, much like Bookman.
The jayhawks relied on Bookman's talent for four years
In a sport where athletes train to peak and reach bests at the end of the season, Thompson's potential cannot be measured in February. To reach his potential, Thompson cannot adopt Bookman's expectations. Thompson has expectations of his own.
Unlike other sports, track relies more on an individual to perform to his abilities and less
"Our goal is to maximize potential," Redwine said. "If someone like Aaron placed third at nationals, then that would be maximizing his potential. But if Leo placed third at nationals, then we wouldn't be."
"Although Leo's still here in some way, I still feel like I have to step up, get them in the right direction and be a leader to them so that they can keep the tradition going." Thompson said.
on his opponent's.
— Edited by Kim Sweet
Rubenstein
Lakers coach quits for health reasons
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Rudy Tomjanovich resigned as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday, citing health concerns brought on by the job.
After victories, Tomjanovich said he would celebrate with a dinner of steak and fries, but the grinding feeling in his stomach always returned by the time he finished his meal.
"There are no outside influences, be it pressure from above, anything to do with my players or being here in Los Angeles," he said.
"It just kept wearing on me and wearing on me and my resistance got low. It hurt my health," he said, clearly subdued. "Maybe I'm an old general that needs to get his butt off the front line and do something else."
Tomjanovich, 56, went 22-19 in his first season as Phil Jackson's successor and with a revamped lineup built around Kobe Brvant.
General manager Mitch Kupchak said assistant coach Frank Hamblen would serve as interim coach.
Tomjanovich, who led the Houston Rockets to NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, returned to coaching after recovering from bladder cancer.
He said that he began wearing down mentally and physically about a month ago.
"I went from this energetic, pumped-up guy to being sapped of a lot of energy," Tomjanovich said, adding that he takes antibiotics regularly now.
Tomjanovich said the Lakers offered him a consulting position for two years, which he planned to consider.
He denied that his resignation was prompted by any conflict with owner Jerry Buss or injured superstar Bryant.
Tomjanovich's decision stunned players and the front office, which now must now look for a successor.
"The other day at practice when we saw him, he looked kind of disheveled a little bit and everybody was concerned," Kobe Bryant said. "I went up and talked to him and called him the next day to see how he was doing."
Tomjanovich signed a $30 million, five-year contract last summer and replaced Phil Jackson, who left at the end of last season. Addressing reports that Jackson might consider returning as coach, Kupchak said he hadn't spoken to Jackson in months.
If the season ended today, the Lakers would be in the playoffs as the seventh-best team in the Western Conference. Following tonight's game against San Antonio, they will play 24 of their final 38 games on the road.