16 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19,2002
Kansas Graduate concentrates on professional career
By Matt Norton Kansan sportswriter
A week after claiming the NCAA title in the javelin throw, recent Kansas graduate Scott Russell had a frustrating practice last Thursday.
Russell and his coach, Doug Reynolds, attempted to fine tune his technique before the Canadian national championships in Edmonton later this month.
The coach grinned as Russell struggled to keep an arm locked in position, plant his left foot in a certain way and do all of the little things that turn a very good throw into a great one.
But on this day Russell wasn't clicking.
Couldn't the Jayhawk great do anything right, the coach and athlete joked to each other?
But after being reminded that he was the Canadian national record holder and NCAA champion, Russell assessed the event more seriously.
"I love throwing the event, but it's frustration because so many things can happen that take distance off the throw," he said.
But Russell figures to get much more out of his specialty event now.
He signed with agent John Nubuni last week, who also represents Jason Tunks and Brad Snyder, two of Canada's best shotput and discus throwers. After consulting with Reynolds and his agent, Ray Flynn, Russell decided to choose Nubuni.
Finalizing the decision was a relief, Russell said.
Russell also won a NCAA indoor title in the 35-pound weight throw, but because that event was not widely contested on the international scene, Russell will no longer compete in it.
With no collegiate season or alternate events to worry about, Russell now will focus on the javelin and becoming an international star in that event.
"Honestly, the weight was something that came easy to me," Russell said. "Competing indoors was a lot of fun, but now I'll be able to concentrate in the javelin and see where it takes me."
It could take him to Athens for the 2004 Olympics. According to Reynolds, no one in Canada can compete with Russell, and the coach said he knew Russell could make great strides in strength and technique.
"He's nowhere near close to fully developed yet," Reynolds said.
Russell said he would like to get a master's degree in physical therapy, but would not begin until after the Olympic year.
Contact Norton at mntoron@kanssn.com.
This story was edited by Mandy Miller.
Track and field athletes ready for championships
By Matt Norton
Kansan sportswriter
Six Kansas track and field athletes compete this weekend at the USA Outdoor and USA Junior Championships in Palo Alto, Calif.
Recent graduate Charlie Gruber will represent Kansas in the senior portion of the event, running the 1,500 meters, while freshmen Kim Clark,800 meters, Brooklyn Hann, triple jump, Brandon Hodges, 800 meters, Megan Manthe, 1,500 meters, and Jeremy Mims, 800 meters, will run in the junior championships.
The junior championships are open to athletes who meet the qualifying standard and will not turn 20 years of age during 2002.
This will be the first competition since the Big 12 Conference Championships May 17 to19 for all of the athletes except Hann and Gruber.
Coach Stanley Redwine said he wasn't concerned about the athletes being stale from a lack of recent competition.
"A lot of the athletes they'll be running against will be high school students who had a state meet recently, but a lot of them will also be other college freshmen in the same boat as they," Redwine said. "We've been doing a lot of race-simulation workouts to keep them sharp, and hopefully that will work."
The meets this weekend will serve as qualifiers for the World Cup this September in Madrid, Spain, for the senior athletes and World Junior Championships next month in Kingston, Imaica.
Redwine said several Jayhawks could qualify.
"We like all of their chances but some are better than others," he said. "Some of them are going into the meet with the thought. 'I can do this.'"
Gruber, who had a disappointing race in the Big 12 finals and faded in the last lap of the NCAA final three weeks ago, said he was looking forward to this meet.
Gruber said a slight hamstring pull that occurred two weeks ago was fine, as evidenced by his victory in the 800 meters at Stanford after the injury.
But he would not do any hard running on the track this week to insure he would be ready for Friday's preliminary heat, Gruber said.
"I think I'm ready for a breakthrough," he said. "I definitely feel like I'm due. I've done all the hard work, now I just have to go out there and do it."
Redwine said Gruber's contribution to the track program at Kansas has been large and that "we're really excited he's wearing our uniform out there."
Redwine said that having the junior and senior championships in the same place, a first in 2002, is a benefit to programs like Kansas.
"The good thing is all those high school athletes and coaches will see Kansas out there competing and doing well," he said.
Contact Norton at mnorton@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Stumpff.
MLB teams pick former Jayhawks in draft
By Matt Norton
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas pitchers Dan Olsen and Jeff Davis were picked in the June 4 to 5 Major League Baseball draft.
Davis was picked in the 31st round by the Cleveland Indians and Olsen in the 32nd round by the Florida Marlins.
Davis left Monday for Burlington, N.C., to play for one of the Cleveland's short-season Class A farm teams.
Olsen will begin his professional career in Jupiter, Fla., at a mini-camp for Marlins' draftees. Then he will be assigned to a short-season Class A team as well.
Davis said last week that he couldn't wait to get started in Burlington. A starter last season for the Jayhawks with a 5-5 record and a 3.99 ERA, Davis said he didn't know whether he would be asked to be a starter or come off the bench in relief.
"I'm going to keep focusing on hitting spots, especially with the fastball. I also have to throw the off-speed pitch where I want, so hitters can't get a full swing on me."
Jeff Davis Former Kansas baseball player and 2002 MLB draft pick
Davis led the Jayhawks in wins and ERA, and posted arguably the team's best win, a 5-3 decision against then No. 11-ranked Texas, a team that has qualified for this year's College World Series.
A scout who talked to Davis told him the players he would face this summer were no
better than the ones he faced in his final year at KU.
"I'm going to keep focusing on hitting spots, especially with the fastball," Davis said. "I also have to throw the off-speed pitch where I want, so hitters can't get a full swing on me."
Olsen, 4-3 this year with a 4.00 ERA also led the Jayhawks to a victory against a top-20 opponent, getting the win in a 14-3 decision against Nebraska on April 28.The Huskers also qualified for the College World Series.
Davis said he couldn't stop thinking about becoming a professional baseball player, but knew he had a long way to go.
"I'm taking a step where I'm realizing how hard I have to work," Davis said. "I have an opportunity, and I want to make the most of it."
Contact Norton at mnorton@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Stumpff.