Volume 124 Issue 138
kansan.com
Thursday, April 19, 2012
COMMENTARY
Relays an event to watch
We live in an age where team sports dominate because they draw more interest and are more attractive to sports fans.
Much of our sports discourse revolves around the four main professional sports leagues — NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB — and the two revenue-generating college sports — NCAA football and NCAA basketball — because they are immensely popular to watch.
It's easy to understand these sports because the media does a great job exposing them to the public. Lost in the shuffle in our sports culture are the individual, Olympic sports that conceived these highly active, competitive games we've grown to love.
The 85th annual Kansas Relays started yesterday in Lawrence. The Kansas Relays were founded in 1923 by two legendary Kansas coaches: Former basketball coach Phog Allen and former football coach John Outland, whose involvement in the Penn Relays inspired him to carry on a similar tradition at Kansas. The Penn Relay is the oldest and largest track and field event in the United States.
Some famous meet referees from previous Kansas Relays events include inventor of basketball Dr. James Naismith, and former Kansas basketball player and Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp.
I encourage everyone in Lawrence this weekend to attend the Kansas Relays. They are steeped in history. It should be something that students and residents should be prideful about. If you're attending the meets in downtown Lawrence, you're able to not only enjoy watching the meets, but also visit downtown shops, restaurants and bars.
What makes the annual event unique is the placement of some of the competitions, most notably the shot put and long jump. Last year, these two meets took place in downtown Lawrence between Massachusetts Street and New Hampshire Street. This marked the first time in the United States that a track and field meet was held on a street. The men's shot put drew 2,500 people at the intersection of Eighth and New Hampshire Streets
JAYHAWK BASEBALL
The University will also attempt to break the record for world's largest nacho plate during the Relays. After all, records were made to be broken.
Don't dismiss the Kansas Relays because it's a track and field event instead of a team sport tournament. Track and field is the root of all sports. The Kansas Relays is a top destination for world-class athletes, not just high school and college athletes. Successful Olympic athletes such as Maurice Greene, Marion Jones, Stacey Dragila, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Bruce Jenner have competed in the Relays. Some these names you probably know, for good or bad, and some of them you might not know, but they've all reached the pinnacle of track and field. Who knows, maybe a future Olympian could emerge from the Kansas Relays this weekend or new records could be set.
Edited by Pat Strathman
Check out the stats from last night's
game
Page 9
KANSAS 6, SAINT MARY 0
THREE IN A ROW
ANDREW JOSEPH
ajoseph@kansan.com
The Kansas baseball team extended its winning streak to three games Wednesday with a 6-0 victory over the University of Saint Mary.
The win improved Kansas' record to 15-23 overall and gave the Jayhawks their first three-game winning streak since the opening week. Similar to Tuesday night's victory over Baker University, the Jayhawks took an early lead and never looked back.
Senior third base on Zac Elgie hit an RBI double off the base of the left-field wall in the first inning, giving the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead. A sacrifice fly off the bat of junior infielder Jordan Dreiling had Kansas heading into the second inning with a 2-0 advantage.
After coach Ritch Price placed an emphasis on getting these quick leads, Elgie came through in consecutive nights.
"I think when it comes to playing teams like this, the older guys really want to come in and lead by example," Elgie said. "We sputtered off a little bit there in the middle, but the younger guys got a chance to play late. They've proved that they can play well, and it's good for the team as a whole."
Saint Mary used nine pitcher in the ballgame, but the 17-25 Spires — out of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference — held the offense in check for most of the night. The Jayhawks mustered just eight hits, but their recent improved plate discipline continued against Saint Mary, earning nine walks.
"As we get deeper in the season — now that we've played over 30 games — our hitters stop chasing that breaking ball out of the zone," Price said. "I think that's what we're seeing now. Our guys have played enough games and seen enough pitches where they're laying off on those out of the zone."
With the offense struggling to break the game open, Dreiling made his presence known, even without an official at bat. Dreiling went 0-for-0 with two walks and an RBI on the sacrifice fly. Sophomore infielder Ka'iana Eldredge's double in the fourth inning brought Dreiling home for Kansas' third run. Coming off a weekend series against Texas A&M's hard-throwing arms, the Jayhawks had to adjust to the drop-off in pitch velocity.
"For some guys it takes a little while for them to stay back," Dreiling said. "As we saw the last few games, people were able to get on time with swings and it ended up working out."
The Jayhawks only used freshman pitchers against the Spires, and Drew Morovick's five shutout innings improved his record to 3-1.
Having successfully avoided a mid-week letdown, Kansas' focus turns to this weekend's matchup at No.23 Texas.The Longhorns have one of the best home pitching staffs, and the Jayhawk rotation will need to match it to come away with a win.
Edited by Katie James
"It all starts with our pitching," Price said. "We'll need three quality outings from each one of the starting guys."
TYLER ROSTE/KANSAN
Infielder Ka'iana Eldridge tags out a Saint Mary runner attempting to steal for second base. The Jayhawks shut out Saint Mary in their 6-0 victory last night.
TRACK AND FIELD
World's best throw at Relays
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
On Wednesday night the downtown Lawrence crowd saw three of the top throws in the world this year. People watched from rooftops and windows and many stood on the street surrounding the giant mound of sand constructed on top of Eighth and New Hampshire Streets as some of the world's best shot putters competed. Reese Hoffa threw over 71 feet to beat former silver medalist Christian Cantwell.
Hoffa won the event on his final throw, outdoing an earlier throw by Cantwell that had already been announced as the longest in the world this year. A day before the downtown competition, Reese discussed why he was looking forward to the event for this year's Kansas Relays.
"I love these kinds of meets because it gets the crowd into it," Hoffa said. "It's up close and personal and if they ever have any questions about what is shot putting, we answer that for them."
Hoffa's winning throw traveled 71 feet, 3' ¼ inches to show fans why shot put is on a world class level. After the competition Hoffa was the center of attention, answering questions, signing
autographs and taking pictures with fans.
All of the throwers seemed to enjoy the opportunity that the downtown shot put event provided for the fans to be able to see the event at such close range. The throwers normally don't have the opportunity to interact with fans after competition, so they took advantage of the moment.
"I think it's an awesome place to throw and a great way to feature the shot put." Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic medallist, said.
"It's exciting that the fans here just enjoyed watching us throw," Hoffa said.
This competition was just the beginning of the outdoor season for many of the competitors, and from here they have just over two months until the Olympic trials take place on June 21.
"Usually we're in the middle of the field, and you're lucky if the fans are actually able to see the event." Nelson said.
Ryan Whiting, the 2012 World indoor champion said this is the first step toward trials. "We're all going to have to shoot it out in Eugene in two months," Whiting said.
Edited by Bre Roach
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAS Reese Hoffa of the New York Athletic Club hoists the trophy after winning the Kansas Relays Men's Shot Put competition in downtown Lawrence, Wednesday night.
GOLF
Five Jayhawk golfers make academic team
It was released Wednesday that five Jayhawk golfers made the Academic All-Big 12 conference team.
To qualify, athletes must maintain a 3.0 GPA for two semesters and participate in 60 percent of the team's scheduled contests.
Seniors Katy Nugent and Maria Jackson, junior Audrey Yowell and sophomore Meghan Potee made the Women's Academic All-Big 12 first team. The women's team has produced at least three first-team selections for five consecutive seasons and 47 first-team selections of all time.
Junior Alex Gutesha made the Men's Academic All-Big 12 second team, which requires a 3.2 GPA over two semesters. Gutesha is one of 22 players to make the list.
Freshmen and transfer students are not eligible in their first year of academic residence.
The women's team is preparing for Big 12 Championship play at Lawrence Country Club in Lawrence April 27-29. The men's team travels to Trinity, Texas for the Big 12 Championship at Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Trevor Graff
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