SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, April 15, 1993
11
Rain, cold slow first day of Kansas Relays
Decathlon heptathlon to continue
By Blake Spurney
Kansan sportswriter
Cold temperatures and rain slow most of the athletes competing in the men's Jim Bausch Decathlon and women's heptathlon at Memorial Stadium yesterday at the 68th Annual Kansas Relays.
But the weather did not keep independent Steve Fritz, a former Kansas State athlete, from dominating the 13 in the first five events of the decathlon.
Fritz racked up 4.124 points in the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 400-meter run.
Northern Iowa's Jason McCleary leads the collegiate competitors with 3,869 points. Kansas senior Chris Walters is eight overall with 3,336.
Fritz, who placed fifth at the 1992 Olympic Trials, said that he was attempting to break the Relays record of 8.252 points, which was set by Soviet Grigory Degtyarev in 1983.
"There's a chance," he said about breaking the record. "The weather's
Another decathlete, 60-year old Phil Mulkey, is attempting to break the world record in the over-60 age division.
After the high jump, Mulkey said that he was about 200 points ahead of his schedule. The shot put is his best event, and he posted a mark of 47-3%.
"What you lose when you get old is that damn speed," he said. "Throwing events stay with you a long time."
The athletics were hampered most in the 400, the day's final event, which
was run in a downpour. McCleary ran the fastest time of 50.3 seconds. Most of the athletes said they were just glad that the event was finished.
The rain also caused the high jump to be moved indoors to Anschutz Sports Pavilion. Miserable weather at the Kansas Relays is almost a tradition according to former Kansas track athlete Wes Santee.
Santee is the only athlete to have been named the outstanding performer at each of the Drake, Texas colleges. She was twiced between 1952 and 1954.
In the heptathlon, Michigan's Laura Jerman is leading 14 competitors with 3.035 points. Kansas' Sandy Wilder stands in 13th place with 2.014. After missing the indoor season because of a broken leg, that she was happy with her progress.
"I'm preparing myself for the Big Eight Championships right now," she said. "Slowly, all my events are getting better."
The Kansas Relays offers one of the best high school fields in the Midwest — 98 girls teams and 103 boys teams are entered. Those athletes will begin competition tomorrow.
One athlete that will be competing. Hill City's Darby Roberts, is the nation's top javelin thrower at 235 feet.
Schwartz said that having high school athletes at the Relays helped in recruiting, for both the athletes and coaches, but there is another reason preen athletes compete.
"It provides a service to high school athletes in helping promote high school track in the state and region," he said.
The Relays continue today with the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run in the decathlon and the long jump, javelin and 800 in the heptathlon. The Bill Penny Hammer Throw will also be held at 4:30 p.m. east of the stadium.
Renee Knoeber / KANSAN
Phil Mulkey clears the bar in the high jump portion of the men's decathlon, Mulkey, a 60-year-old independent athlete, competed yesterday in the Kansas Relay which continue through this weekend.
Phoenix bidding for Montana
Cardinals agree to 49ers' demand for first-round selection
The Associated Press
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 49ers told Phoenix they are willing to accept the Cardinals' offer of a first-round draft receiver exchange for Montana. The decision to stay
SAN FRANCISCO — Phoenix has emerged as the front-runner in the bidding for Joe Montana, who must decide if he prefers to play for the Cardinals or remain a backup quarterback to 48ers starter Steve Young, according to a published report yesterday.
After visits last week to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cardinals, Montana made it clear he preferred playing in Kansas City. There he would work with offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, a former 49ers assistant.
But the Chiefs reportedly aren't willing to give up the first-round draft pick the 49ers are seeking.
Joe Montana
or go rests with Montana, who has said he doesn't want to back up Young the NFL's MVP last season.
"Our situation with the 49ers has been settled," Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell told radio station KTAR in Phoenix. "Now it's a matter of discussing with the agent whatever conditions we might have between the Cardinals and Joe Montana."
The Detroit Lions said yesterday that they had changed their minds
about talking to Montana.
"It's difficult to turn down a future Hall-of-Famer in Joe Montana, but I really like our young quarterbacks," Coach Wayne Fontes said in a written statement.
Bidwell said he is offering the 20th pick, one of Phoenix's two first-round selections, to San Francisco.
"We've had a number of conversations with the 49ers concerning any potential compensation if Montana came to the Cardinals," Bidwill said. "We've discussed a number of scenarios, and I believe we've come to some sort of agreement with them."
San Francisco coach George Seifert told the Chronicle Tuesday he still wants Montana in 49ers uniform but stressed that Young is the starter.
"It doesn't bother me to say Steve Young's the starting quarterback, but it bothers me when people take that to mean that, no matter what he's doing, it won't change." Seifert said.
Royals lose seventh game of season
Late Kansas City rally falls short after errors poor hitting hurt team
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Bob Wickman came into the ninth inning with a three-hitter and a 6-1 lead but gave up four runs with two out on Kevin McReynold's RBI single and a three-run homer by rookie Phil Hiajt, his second.
"I thought about taking him out, but he hadn't thrown that many pitches," said Yankees manager Buck Showalter. "There were a couple of errors that might have rattled him a little."
Kansas City has lost seven of its first eight games while the Yankees won
Steve Farr got the last out for the Yankees' first save of the season as New York held on for a 6-5 victory against Kansas City.
"I knew I was gone after the home run," said Wickman, 2-0. "But the important thing is we won the game."
their fourth in five.
"We're not doing much of anything right now," he said. "The defense has let us down."
For Royals manager Hal McRae, it was another long day.
Wickman had a one-hit shut out until George Brett opened the seventh with a double, eventually scoring on Brent Mayne's one-out ground out.
nooggs singled in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings, driving in the Yankees' first run off Mark Gubicza, 0-2, in the third.
new York scored twice in the fifth by Boggs and Don Mattingly had successive hits with one out. Boggs scored on Danny Tartabull's grounder to short that was booted by Greg Gagne, and O'Neill singled in Mattingly.
Royals second baseman Jose Lind was back in the lineup after missing Monday's game with an injury.
Paul O'Neill and Matt Nokes started the fourth with singles, and O'Neil scored on Spike Owen's grounder to make it 2-0.
Billy Brewer relieved Gubica but allowed a run in the seventh when he walked Bernie Williams, threw away a pickoff throw that enabled Williams to go to second and allowed Boggs' second RBI single.
Bogs now has 48 four-hit games in his career.
Kevin Maas hit a solo homer, his first, in the New York eighth.
NOTES
KC job offer surprises Woodard
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Former Jayhawk star wants districts' students more involved in sports
By Jay Williams
Kansan sportswriter
Lynette Woodard said she was surprised when Kansas City School District officials offered her a job as district athletic director.
"I was planning to attend school full time," Kansas' four-time basketball All-American said.
The Kansas City School District announced Woodard's appointment Tuesday at Central High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Woodard, 33, said she had planned to take a slower road to athletic administration: work toward her master's degree and maybe do some coaching and lower-level administrative work. Kansas City's offer changed her timetable.
"It came a lot sooner than I thought," she said.
Woodard said her first goal is to set up meetings between the academic directors and students at the schools. She said she wanted to get a feel for the system and the problems that existed.
One problem she said she plans to target is the lack of programs for young students. Middle schools in Kansas City do not have athletic programs — something Woodard said needed to change in order to boost children's confidence and self-esteem.
Another problem Woodard plans to address is a lack of funds for district athletic programs.
"We need to work hard to get the money so these kids can succeed," Woodard said.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said she was questioned about whether Woodard would be a good choice for the job. Washington recommended Woodard and said she was
impressed with the district's commitment to rebuild its athletic program.
"I was encouraged about the opportunity and the support she would get," Washington said. "No one person can turn it around by herself. In terms of being a spark for them, she'll be excellent."
In March, Woodard finished playing professional basketball in Japan. She is the most decorated women's basketball player in Kansas history. She was the 1981 Wade Trophy winner, signifying the best women's basketball player in the nation. Woodard scored more points, 3,649, than any other woman in NCAA history. She was the first woman inducted into the Kansas Athletic Hall of Fame, and the No. 31 Jersey she wore was retired in her honor.
Woodward was co-captain of the 1984 Olympic gold-medal winning basketball squad and was the first woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Jayhawks sign All-American guard Dixon
The Kansas women's basketball team landed its third All-American in as many years with the signing of Tamee Dixon.
Kansan staff report
Dixon signed her letter of intent yesterday, the first day of the monthlong signing period.
The 5-foot-10 guard from Linden, N.J., was named to the *Parade* magazine All-America second team She averaged 28.1 points and 13.6 rebounds this season and shot 57 percent from the field. She led her team to two state titles and was named the most valuable player in the state championship game both
years.
"Tameeka is one of the finest young athletes in the country today," Kansas coach Marian Washington said. "People knew she was talented, but the more they saw her play the more her skills surfaced."
Washington said Dixon would play either the point or off guard
position.
Dixon's father, Russell "Boo" Bowers, played at American University and was one of the nation's leading scorers during his career
"She played some point in high school, but she was predominately on the wing," Washington said. "Our offense will suit her just fine."
Kansas signed 5-10 guard Angie Halbleib from Middleton, Wisc., and 6-1 forward Jennifer Trapp of Lawrence during the early signing period last November.
Washington said that the Jayhawks hoped to have two more players sign by the end of the period.
Fans at Hogendunge-Maupin Stadium endure a rain delay during Kansas' game against Oklahoma. Oklahoma was winning the game 9-6 when it was cancelled because of poor field conditions.
Rain washes out looming loss for Hawks
Game canceled in fifth inning with Oklahoma leading 9-6
By Brady Prauser
Kansan sportswriter
With no outs in the top of the fifth inning and runners on first and third base, Oklahoma looked like it was about to expand on its 0-1 lead in yesterday's baseball game against Kansas at Hogwain-Paunton Stadium. But the Jaj Hawks got a little help from the weather.
Steary ran delayed yesterday's game several times, and after the last hour-long hiatus the game was canceled.
Senior David Soult, 5-1, pitched for Kansas, 27-7 overall and 8-3 in the Big Eight Conference.
Oklahoma scored four runs in the first on four hits, two errors and two wild pitches.
Freshman Ryan Minor, also a 6-foot-7 inch forward on the Oklahoma basketball team, made his pitching debut for the Sooners, 12 and 7.5. Matt Williams relieved him in the fourth inning
Kansas scored once in the bottom of that inning, and gained a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by senior second baseman Jeff Berlinger, an RBI sacrifice fly by senior first baseman John Wuycheck and a two-RBI double by senior catcher Jeff Niemier.
The Sooners scored three more runs in the third inning, giving them a 7-1 lead. The Jayhawks scored once in the bottom of the inning, but Oklahoma scored twice more on Rich Hill's two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, completing the scoring.
Kansas beat the Sooners 4-2 Tuesday, the third time in the last four games.
Under Big Eight Conference rules, games that are rained out are only replayed if a game is scheduled the following day and a doubleheader can be played. Yesterday's game was the last of a five-game series against the Sooners.
kansas plays host to Iowa State, 2-8 and 8
13 at 7 o'clock night.