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/ NEWS / MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
RELAY REWIND
BY GEOFFREY CALVERT
gcalvert@kansan.com
The Kansas women's 4-4-400-meter relay team won in the second to last event of the afternoon as a result of two strong performances from sophomore Taylor Washington in the second leg of the race and freshman Diamond Dixon in the third.
Of course, the Jayhawk men made sure they weren't outdone, winning their 4-x-400-meter relay, the final event of the Kansas Relays.
"After the girls won, we had to win ours or they'll have bragging rights on us for the week," said senior Keron Toussaint, who ran the final leg of the men's relay for Kansas.
While all four members of each relay队 ran well, it was
Dixon and Toussaint who stood out. Dixon won the women's 400-meter dash not even two hours prior to the relay. Although Dixon's legs weren't fresh for the relay, she said she wasn't as tired as one would anticipate
"I really want to be there for my team," Dixon said. "I'm out there and in it to win it."
Dixon's overall performance in the Relays earned her high praise from senior Kendra Bradley, who ran the first leg.
"I heard that she was fast out of high school but after actually seeing her run, I did not hear enough about her," Bradley said.
The Jayhawks threatened the meet record, falling short by only two seconds. They gained the lead for good in the second leg of the meet, run by Washington.
400 runner," Bradley said. "Being second leg is all about getting out. She held on close until her last 100 and then she kind of took out."
"Taylor is our really strong
The men's relay was no less impressive, and even more exciting. Kansas maintained position in the top three or four runners for the duration of the race, but it wasn't until Toussaint's final 200 meters that they moved into first. It was a sweet ending to a tough three days for Toussaint. He was scheduled to run in the 400 meters, but he withdrew because of a 24-hour flu. Kansas coach Stanley Redwine allowed Toussaint to run in one event, and he made the most of it.
"I just wanted to win," Toussaint said with a smile.
Edited by Emily Soetaert
BY NICOLAS ROESLER
nroesler@kansan.com
"That's the first time I've thrown outdoors this year." Finley, a sophomore said. "So it's not a bad mark to open up with."
A 12-pound ball arching 65 feet through the air and thumping the ground is something that most people applaud in awe at. Mason Finley's father doesn't, he expects his son to send the shot put at least 65 feet.
On his last throw of the day, Finley met the mark, barely. With a recorded 19.84-meter throw (65.09 feet), Finley won the men's shot put event on day three of the Kansas Relays.
The 19.84 meter throw doesn't match his personal best of 20.71
meters, but it was considerably farther than the second and third place throws of 17.66 meters and 17.42 meters.
The Colorado native's mark at this year's Kansas Relays was a proud moment and he said he was happy he could win his home meet; however, he has his eyes set on something bigger.
"My goal definitely is the national championship," Finley said.
Last year, Finley finished second in the shot put and the discus at nationals. He said he has improved more in his shot put this season and is aiming to win the event at this year's national championship. And despite his runaway victory at the Kansas Relays, he knows he still has to work on his throws.
"I could get a little more con
sistent. I have a lot of form stuff to work on." Finley said.
Based off his performance on Friday, there was not much to point at when looking at his form. He didn't once step out of the throwers circle. But that's what is wrong with his form in his mind. He says he might need to foul more to really push himself.
"Maybe I'm thinking about it too much and making myself shorter," Finley admitted. "I like to make myself a little bigger at the end."
Even if he was making himself "shorter", his stature and his performance didn't exude that.
Finley competed in the men's discus on Saturday.
Edited by Becca Harsch
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Senior Keron Toussaint sprints to the finished line of the 4-x-400-meter relay. Kansas finished with a time of 3:12.34 for first place.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Freshman Diamond Dixon begins her leg of the race during the 4-x-400-meter relay Saturday Kansas won the event with a time of 3:38.55.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Sophomore Andrea Geubelle saears through the air during the long jump Saturday. Geubelle finishes in fourth with a distance of 6.33m.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Mason Finley heaves the shot during the shot put event at the 84th Kansas Relays Friday. Finley received the title with a final distance of 19.84m (65-12.52ft.)
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