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6.10.98 ▲
daily kansan
Lawrence resident trains to bike cross-country
By Michael Martin
Kansan Staff Writer
When Hao Nguyen committed to a cross-country bike ride for charity, she did not think her greatest challenge would come before the starting whistle.
The 28-year-old Lawrence resident committed to the benefit for the American Lung Association in February. By early May, she had raised slightly more than half of the $6,000 in required donations.
then her $2,700 bicycle was stolen.
"I cried," Nguyen said. "I couldn't even think."
But she knew giving up was not an option.
"I thought, okay, the bike's gone, but I need to persevere," Nguyen said. "I said. 'I'll go on a tricicle if I have to."
She sold egg rolls door-to-door. Friends helped her with a car wash. Downtown bars and businesses held benefit concerts. Her parents, owners of The Orient Vietnamese Restaurant on Massachusetts Street, donated each Sunday's proceeds. A
total stranger approached her at a coffee shop and gave her $15.
Today, two days before she leaves for Seattle to begin the ride, Nguyen is only $200 short of her goal. And she is getting one final push.
Coco Loco Cafe, 943 Massachusetts St., will sponsor a benefit dance for Nguyen tomorrow night. Kelfel Aqui, owner of Coco Loco, said that 100 percent of cover charges would be donated to Nguyen, along with proceeds from the evening's Tahleft sales
"We're going to have a world-class dance party." Aqui said. "And because we'll be sweating for a good cause, it'll be even more fun."
The last-minute benefit is not all that has come down to the wire for Newen.
Her insurance company sent her a replacement Schwinn Homegrown Factory CXR yesterday, only five days before the ride begins.
"It's like someone offering to loan you their toothbrush or shoes," she
Local merchants had offered to loan Nguyen a bicycle for training, but she refused.
said. "It's a very personal thing."
The original bike was a gift from a former boyfriend, with whom she coowned a car. When they broke up, he wanted her to pay for the bike. She let him take the car instead.
"A car is just transportation," she said. "When you get on a bike, it becomes an extension of yourself. You feel like it's a part of you."
Nguyen has wanted to help the American Lung Association for equally personal reasons," she said.
Her older sister has chronic bronchitis. Nguyen smoked since high school, a habit her training regimen forced her to leave in the dust when she began cycling 11 years ago.
The theft of her bicycle caused Nguyen to change her training regimen. Because she was unable to cycle outside, she trained on spinning machines at Robinson Gymnasium.
She noticed one difference right away; air conditioning.
"I thought, this is really unrealistic," she said. "There's not going to be air conditioning on the ride."
The six-and-a-half week ride, which begins in Seattle and ends in Washington D.C., begins on June 15. About 1,200 cyclists ages 17 to 72 and a support crew will cover 85 miles a day, stopping to camp periodically. Nguyen will carry 70 pounds of gear, including camping equipment, food and clothing.
So she trained in layers of shirts and long pants, attracting stares.
She worries about weather conditions.
"You think, 1,200 people. That's a small town," she said. "About showers, laundry facilities, I don't know how that's going to work."
The ride is noncompetitive, Nguyen said, but she will have an eye on her time. That is her nature.
After the ride, Nguyen plans to enter law school. She said that she would remember how a thief's capriciousness, then the generosity of strangers changed her course.
"I've learned patience, tenacity, conviction and that there are a lot of good people out there," she said.
Hao Ngueng rides her new bike down an alley off of Massachusetts Street. The Lawrence native, whose bicycle was stolen last month, has been training indoors in preparation for her 48-day cross-country trip beginning June 15. The ride will benefit the American Lung Association. Photo by Lizz Weber / KANSAN.
Determination, hard work and passion for heptathlon sends Kansas athlete Candy Mason...
LEAPING TO NEW HEIGHTS
By Melinda Weaver Kansan staff writer
Ever since she was a young girl, Candy Mason has seen a clear path for her future: to run track at the University of Kansas.
Mason's track career began in her hometown of Nevada, Mo., when she saw a flyer for a track meet and begged her mom to let her compete. A club track coach witnessed her talent, and the rest is history.
At 8-years-old, Mason began competing in multiple events. She started with the triathlon which included high jump, 200 meter dash and hurdles. Through high school, Mason continued developing her track skills with one goal in mind.
"I wanted a scholarship," Mason said. "I've known all along that I need a scholarship to go to college. This gave me a chance."
Mason's college career has produced
Candy Mason stands on the track at a recent meet. Mason said she always wanted to be a Jayhawk. Contributed photo
When her senior year arrived, offers came in from across the country.
"I only took one recruiting trip," Mason said. "I've always wanted to be a Jayhawk. Being from Missouri, I was shunned!"
From Nevada, Missouri
Parents Mickey & Laurel Mason
Born February 28, 1976
Major Coaching
Personal Bests
M. D. Bradshaw/KANSAN
amazing results.
Her main event is the heptathlon, a seven-event competition which includes the 200 and 800 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin and shot put. In 1997 and 1998, her performances in the heptathlon earned her All-American honors.
This year, Mason's 5,571 points in the heptathlon broke the conference meet record and she was ranked sixth nationally.
At the Big 12 Conference Championship, she won the heptathlon and pole vault titles en route to becoming the Big 12 Outdoor Performer of the Year.
Mason also was named the Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year after claiming the pole vault and pentathlon titles. Her 4,053 pentathlon points broke the school and conference meet record.
Despite having little pole vault experience prior to college, Mason also excels at that event.
"She is such a hard worker and good learner that she just picks things up," head coach Gary Schwartz said.
Despite not having a technical coach until college, Mason's talents have soared since she found the flyer in Nevada, Mo.
Mason clears the bar in pole vaulting at a recent meet. She has been awarded several honors during her career at the University. Contributed photo
"To be successful at something, you have to have a passion," Schwartz said. "She has the passion."
At the Texas Relays, Mason's jump of 12'-9 1/2" set the school and conference record and earned her a national second place ranking.
Mason earned All-American honors in the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Championships with her second place jump of 12'71/2."
Mason's parents have been behind her since her mother initially gave her the permission to get started
"My parents are very supportive," Mason said. "My mom has missed maybe five meets."
Though Mason's plans after college are
uncertain, she said she wants to enter graduate school. Schwartz has offered her a position as a graduate assistant
One piece of her future is always a certainty.
"As long as my body holds up, I'll be running." Mason said.
Transportation fees to increase by $2
Full-time students pay to help fund additional weekend Saferide cars
By Duane Wagler
Kansan staff writer
Last month's Regent meeting made it official that the University of Kansas full-time students would pay $2 more per semester for campus transportation fees.
The increase continues the steady climb of campus transportation fees, said Nicole Skalla, chairwoman of the campus fee review subcommittee. Last year's transportation fee was $14, and in 1996 it was $12.
Most of the roughly $88,000 generated from the $2 hike will fund Saferide, said Aaron Quisenberry, assistant director of student finances and advisor for the transportation board.
Quisenberry said that $28,000 would be used to subsidize Lawrence Bus Company's contract price increase for Saferide from $80,000 last year to this year's
as a taxi to get home from places like Watson Library, the primary service is to keep intoxicated drivers off the road.
"The majority of our ridership comes from bars," Quisenberry said.
$108,000. Another $17,000 would be designated for adding extra weekend Saferide cars.
Saleride runs from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Although some KU students use Saleride
Skalla said that last year's wait time for Friday and Saturday night riders was up to 40 minutes. She projected that next year's wait time would be cut from eight to four minutes with the
purchase of a sixth car.
September 1997 statistics show that Saferide fielded an average of 74 calls per night on Friday and Saturday with an average of 173 passengers per night as
"The majority of our ridership comes from bars."
Aaron Quisenberry Transportation Board adviser
opposed to an average of 35 calls and 62 passengers the other five nights.
Adam Mansfield, co-manager of Louise's Downtown, 1009 Massachusetts St., said that he thought the purchase of another Saferide car made sense because many students either drove themselves or found another way home rather than waiting outside for 45 minutes.
Stadium's renovation stays right on track
By Duane Wagler
Kansan staff writer
The first phase of the Memorial Stadium renovation is on target and should be completed by the first home football game on Sept. 5.
"So far it's on budget and on schedule," said Warren Corman, University architect.
Corman said construction workers were pouring concrete slabs for the lower-level concourse. They plan to finish by August so concession stands can prepare for the opening game.
Corman said that most of the first phase involved the lower level of the stadium. Ten main contractors and about 50 sub-contractors have added new restrooms with 100 more toilet fixtures and 10 new concession stands. New plumbing, including water and sewer lines, also has been laid.
Part of the renovation involves tearing out the old. McCook Hall, a former dormitory for football players built in 1946, has been demolished to improve crowd flow patterns.
Not all the renovations are hidden in the bowels of the stadium. Wrought-iron gates at the entrances will replace the old rotting wooden doors.
"We used to have a four-foot corridor for thousands of people to walk in between the old dorm and concession stands," Corman said. "Now we have three bays that must be 80 feet wide."
Built in the 1920s, Memorial Stadium's last major renovation was in 1963.
Total cost of the first phase of renovation is estimated at $14 million out of the $25 million estimated for the complete project, Corman said. Another $11 million will be allocated for a press box expansion that includes the addition of two levels of luxury suites. Press box expansion bids will go out at the end of this month.
The $25 million project will be funded by ticket surcharges and private gifts
Daren Cook, director of facilities for the Athletic Department, said fans would appreciate the improved restroom facilities and concession stands.
Convicted kidnapper sentenced to prison
Kipling Johnson, one of two men arrested in January on a charge of kidnapping two Douglas County residents, was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison yesterday in Douglas County District Court.
Johnson was arrested Jan. 24 when he surrendered to authorities after holding Ralph Leary hostage in home at 1509 N. 1100 Rd., for 45 hours. Leary's wife, Lelia, was released Jan. 22 after being held hostage for 12 hours.
Douglas County District Attorney Christine Tonkovic said that Johnson would serve 194 months for three counts of kidnapping, and 98 months for two counts of aggravated robbery. He was also given a total of 46 months for three other charges, which Tonkovic said he would serve simultaneously with his kidnapping sentence.
After Johnson's trial concluded, the trial of his alleged partner in the crime began. David Cox entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment yesterday morning.
Cox was arrested Jan. 22 when he surrendered to authorities minutes after Leila Leary was released.
— Ronnie Wachter
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