GOLF: Team opens spring season in Hawaii. See page 4B. OLYMPICS: Canada asks for investigation into pairs skating. See page 5B
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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
1B
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2002
Andy Davies adavies@kansan.com
Track athlete works toward Olympic bid in javelin throw
If you've caught Olympic fever, you might want to check out the Kansas track team.
Don't come to the conclusion that I've become mixed up, lost my way and forgotten track is a sport in the summer Olympics. What I'm giving you is a heads up to see a potential Olympian who competes in track at the University of Kansas.
His name is Scott Russell and he's a thrower on the team.
Kansas has a proud tradition of Olympic competitors. If Russell, an Ontario, Canada, senior, qualifies for the Olympics, he would become the 24th Jayhawk to appear in the games. From Ray Moulton's appearance in the 1904 games in St. Louis, to Al Oerter's gold in the discus in the 1960 Tokyo games, to Scott Huffman competing in the pole vault six years ago in Atlanta, Kansas athletes have dotted Olympic rosters.
But first thing's first.
As hopeful as he is of appearing in the games, Russell is focused on capturing a national championship in the weight throw this season.
Russell is the favorite to win that championship. Recall that he nearly established a new collegiate record for the weight throw in the last two weeks.
His record throw of 80-4 1/4 feet in the Jayhawk Invitational was disqualified because of an equipment technicality, but last Friday at the Iowa State Invitational, Russell broke the record again
— this time officially, with a throw of 81-
1 1/4 feet.
But even those records don't satisfy him. What he wants is a national title — something he thinks he can win.
"With how I've been throwing, I'm fairly confident of being able to go to the national championships and perform again," he said.
Russell hopes a good performance at the national championships can fuel an Olympic appearance — something he has had on his mind for a while.
"Probably from the time I've been a freshman until now, that's been my goal," Russell said.
However, since the weight throw isn't an Olympic event, Russell's best chance to appear in the Olympics will be in the javelin. The senior is pretty good in that event, too. Last year at the World Championships he finished 13th and established a new Canadian record for the event.
That finish gave Russell confidence in his ability to compete beyond the collegiate level.
"From how I competed last year at the World Championships, I know I can continue on with throwing and possibly to the Olympics," he said.
While those around Russell think he can eventually be an Olympic medalist, they also know he has plenty of work to do.
"That's down the road," said Doug Reynolds, Kansas assistant track coach. "There's a lot of improvement that's got to take place between now and then."
Sounds like a good coach who wants his athlete to achieve the most he can.
Russell will compete in the Kansas Relays April 17-20. Check him out. It may be your last chance to see an Olympic athlete and a potential gold medal winner.
Davies is a St. Mary's senior in journalism.
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Kansas guard Jeff Boschee signs autographs for fans after a game. Fans frequently line the hallway outside the locker room for autographs from their favorite Jayhawks.
Rock Stalk Jayhawk
Pursued like a rock star, Boschee keeps stardom in perspective
By Doug Pacey
Kansan sportswriter
A teen-age girl with No.13 painted on each cheek eagerly waited for Jeff Boschee to make his way down a rope lined with people who begged for a moment of the senior's time.
With each signed basketball and posed picture, Boschee inched down the column of people toward the girl.
Finally, it was her turn.
Boschee waited a moment, but the girl didn't speak or move. The normally stone-faced senior cracked a smile and reached for a poster of himself, scribbled his name and placed his hand on the awestruck girl's shoulder as her mom snapped a photo of the two.
Nearby, an Allen Fieldhouse usher
shook his head. He has watched this scene play out after every Kansas home game.
"Jeff Boschee," he uttered. "They all want a picture, autograph or something from Jeff Boschee."
Most Jayhawk fans limit their obsession with Kansas basketball to the games at the Fieldhouse, conversations with family and friends and the Kansas flags they unfurl on game days.
But there is a group of people, many
of them women, who take their fixation on the Jayhawks and cross the line into what some might call stalking.
And Jeff Boschee gets more attention from these people than any other Kansas basketball player.
He gets phone calls at all hours of the day. Letters from people he doesn't know stuff his mail box. Someone posed as the senior guard on the Internet last year and spread lies and rumors
SEE BOSCHEE ON PAGE 3B
Home runs propel 'Hawks
Kansan sportswriter
By Ryan Wood
Coach Bobby Randall said the 2002 Kansas baseball team would be a team with power.
The layhawks held true to his word yesterday.
The jayawards held true to its word yesterday. The team's four home runs erased an early deficit as Kansas defeated Ottawa 10-6 at Hoglund Ballpark.
"We hit some balls awful hard," Randall said. "I think that's an understatement. Even some outs were some rockets."
After missing all of 2001 with a shoulder injury, sophomore second baseman Ryan Baty led the Jayhawks' offense, going 4 for 5 with four RBI's.
"It felt real good to get out." Baty said. "We've been working hard. We expected to hit the ball like this today."
After the Jayhawks fell behind 4-0 early, Baty led off the fourth inning with a long solo home run. Ottawa pitcher Ryan Hill retired the side after Batty's blast and kept the Braves up by three.
With two outs in the fifth, Baty delivered again, hitting a three-run double, tying the game.
Junior first baseman Kevin Wheeler and senior third baseman Ryan Klocksien followed with RBI hits, which gave Kansas its first lead of the day at 6-4.
Wheeler and junior designated hitter Pat Holmes each hit solo blasts in the seventh, and sophomore outfielder Matt Trible contributed a two-run home run in the eighth.
Senior Dan Olson pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four and earning the victory.
Contact Wood at rwood@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jenna Goepfert.
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Designated hitter Pat Holmes is congratulated by teammates after a solo shot to right. Holmes' eighth-inning home run gave the Jayhawks an 8-4 lead enroute to a 10-6 win over Ottawa University in Kansas' season opener yesterday at Hoglund Ballpark.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas looks to end losing streak
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
The seventh try might be lucky for the Kansas women's basketball team.
On this day two years ago, the Jayhawks defeated Nebraska 63-58 at Allen Fieldhouse. Since that win, the Cornhuskers have dominated the series, winning the last six games and extending their all-time lead to 40-18.
Kansas will try to end its two year drought against Nebraska (13-11, 3-8 Big 12 Conference) tonight at home.
The Jayhawks (5-20, 0-12) are also the not-so-proud owners of another streak - the longest losing streak in school history, which now stands at 12 games. Kansas coach Marian Washington said the losses weren't shaking her team's confidence.
"The rest of the way is not going to be any more painful than it was midway, so we're pretty focused on finishing out the season as best we can," she said. "It's important for me to get my young players ready to go and so I'm trying to get them out on the floor as much as I
can."
One of the young players who is receiving more playing time is freshman Blair Waltz, who recently re-entered Kansas' starting lineup after a foot injury sidelined her for four games. Waltz said she struggled mentally after returning to action but was slowly regaining her confidence.
"Lately I haven't been feeling very confident just because of coming off an injury and kind of being behind," she said. "There's a time where you have
SEE WOMEN ON PAGE 4B
The Jayhawks (4-20 overall, 0-12 Big 12 Conference) play host to the Cornhuskus at 7 tonight at Allen Fieldhouse, in hopes of avenging a 73-59 loss in Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 19.
Unfortunately for Kansas, Nebraska (13-11, 3-8) comes to Lawrence with
If the Kansas women's basketball team wants to avoid an 0-16 conference mark this season, tonight's game against Nebraska might be its best shot.
Jayhawks have shot at first conference win
momentum after defeating No. 12 Kansas State 67-52 on Sunday. Junior guard Keasha Cannon, a Kansas City, Kan., native, recorded season highs with 27 points and 16 rebounds.
Cannon's play, as expected, has improved as the season has progressed. A transfer from Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo., Cannon leads the 'Huskers with 13.7
SEE HUSKERS ON PAGE 4B
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