Dylan in the tationing 70 off a fi worrs 22 in he wo, feet to "The event track "It's a all fr each Ino be he he stepp Many ing a, 10 ye "W friend said. Re the by t Hoff 69 f ing, plac or n don a go the " a li if t 69 she
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After Rubik's
Dylan Armstrong launches the shot put high into the air during his third throw at the Kansas Relays' Olympic Men's Shot Put held downtown between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets on Eighth Street Wednesday night. The Olympic men's shot put featured eight of the world's best shot putters. Armstrong came into the competition ranked No. 7 in the world won the meet with a throw of 70 1/4".
cube provided by event organizers in about three minutes, well shy of his best time of 38 seconds. He started doing the Rubik's Cube to calm his nerves when he was competing for the University of Georgia.
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
The shot put was held in the streets for the first time in the United States in a makeshift ring. Armstrong said the event organizers got everything right. The only nuisance was the telephone line hanging overhead. Armstrong hit the power line on one of his warm-up throws. Despite this, the consensus from the competitors was that Lawrence successfully pulled off the shot put.
“It's really unique to see that kind of crowd gathered for just one event in track and field,” said Adam Nelson, who placed third. “I think Lawrence did a fantastic job hosting it."
An estimated 2,500 fans really got into the meet when Nelson stepped up to take his first throw. His warm-up routine consists of him urging the crowd into a rhythmic clap, enthusiastically pulling off his shirt, and then hopping down the runway. Nelson did this on all six of his
throws. Like Hoffa, Nelson felt he could have thrown farther.
"I was hoping to get a throw out over 70 feet today," Nelson said. "But I was just having a slight technical, like a timing issue at the front of the circle."
Check Kansan.com today and this weekend for more coverage of the Kansas Relays
Edited by Danielle Packer
Neville dominates first day, scores 3,125 points
TRACK & FIELD
BY GEOFFREY CALVERT
gcalvert@kansan.com
Rebecca Neville won three of the four events in the women's heptathlon Wednesday and ended the day in the lead with 3,125 points. Neville won the 100-meter hurdles, the 200-meter dash, and the high jump. She also placed seventh in the shot put.
The weather was colder than anticipated, resulting in slower times in Neville's events. Despite this, Neville said she was pleased with her performances.
"The 100 hurdles, it was a slow time, but it was 40 degrees outside," Neville said. "So to run a 14.35 in 40 degree weather, that's OK."
The 200-meter dash was Neville's last event of the day. She came close to setting her third personal best of the day, finishing with a time of 25.12 seconds. So far, Neville is performing better than she did two weeks ago at the Texas Relays, and more importantly, she is beating a rival.
"High jump was awesome today," Neville said. "My third attempt I did a time foul so I couldn't get to do my third attempt, but it's OK."
Despite not doing her best in the hurdles, Neville did set a personal record in the shot put and high jump. She recorded a jump of 5 feet, 5.75 inches in the high jump and a recorded a throw of 31 feet, 5.25 inches in the shot put.
"A girl that I'm beating right now from Nebraska beat me at Indoor Big 12," Neville said. "That's just showing me how much better I'm getting as we move on in the season."
Neville said she planned to take an ice bath, eat a good meal and get a good night's sleep in preparation for the long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run set for Thursday. She said she is more than ready for the competition and plans to "kick butt."
"I don't care if it hurts in the 800," Neville said. "It's the last event."
REBECCA NEVILLE'S RESULTS: 1ST DAY OF HEPTATHLON
Edited by Jacque Weber
100-METER HURDLES:
1. 14.35 (929 points)
HIGH JUMP: 1. 1.67m
(818 points and personal record)
Suit Purs. 7, 9.58m
(502 points and personal record)
1. 25.12 (876 points)
1. 25.12 (876 points)
Overall: (four of seven events)
1. Rebecca Neville (3,125 points)
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, it's because I'm desperately turning a blind eye because, hey, these guys are world-class athletes, and they sure do win a lot of basketball games.
When the biggest surprise about a Saturday night arrest is that the point guard wasn't there, that's an issue. A DUI is an issue. A pair of on-campus fights with members of the football team is an issue. Three different battery charges are issues.
This isn't to say these are all bad kids. The Morris twins have grown into quality young men since coming to Kansas and Robinson has been through more crap than anyone could be reasonably expected to handle over the last few months. And Self is by no means an evil tyrant. He genuinely cares about the off-court development of his players, and has sent off guys — namely Giles and Giddens — who were a real detriment to the program
If you want to criticize Kansas coach Bill Self, don't do it over tournament losses. Criticize him for the rap sheet his program has accumulated over his tenure.
It is past time to shine a harsh and unforgiving light on the Kansas basketball program and the real and numerous problems that have been haunting it over the last few years.
Start six years ago, when J.R. Giddens was stabbed in a 2005 fight that witnesses he instigated. C.J. Giles, who was there at the Giddens stabbing, was arrested for battery in 2006. Sherron Collins was charged with sexual assault, though the charges were dropped when Collins filed a counterclaim for defamation. Then there was Markieff Morris' battery charge. Morningstar's DUI. Fights with the football team, highlighted by Tyshawn Taylor's injury and Facebook posts. Little's battery charge. And now Robinson's.
But the problem clearly hasn't been addressed in full, and it needs to be. Forget, for a moment, wins and losses, and look at that list. Forget that you're a Jayhawk fan, and tell me if you would root for that team.
Pretty tough, isn't it?
V
Edited by Brittany Nelson