SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10. 1996
Kansas graduate going for gold
PAGE 6A
Earning a spot on Olympic team was bittersweet for Scott Huffman
By K C Hammons
Kansan sportswriter
Former Kansas pole vaulting star Scott Huffman will represent the United States in the Olympics this summer, earning the third and final spot in the pole vault at the Olympic trials in Atlanta.
Huffman, 32, edged out four others, including former Kansas vaulter Pat Manson, because he had fewer missed vaults.
It will be Huffman's first Olympic contest. Huffman made the trials in '88 and '92 but failed to secure a spot on the team.
"To me, it means I'm a legitimate athlete now," he said. "To accomplish something in track and field, you have to make the Olympics."
Huffman said he went into the trials last month with a negative attitude because of the injuries he has had in the last year.
He said his technique is not where it should be, making it his focus in the weeks leading to the Olympics, which start in late July.
In finishing third, Huffman elimi nated Manson, his good friend.
"I just need to focus on my technique," said Huffman, who is training in Lawrence. "I'm about 95 percent right now, and I should be perfect by Julie1st."
Although he said he's excited about earning a spot on the team, the accomplishment was bittersweet.
"I feel bad for Pat. I know he's very frustrated. It was really hard for me to rejoice in earning that spot, since we're such good friends. I had mixed feelings," Huffman said.
Scott Huffman Olympic pole vaulter
Huffman noted that he and Manson
"I just need to focus on my technique.I'm about 95 percent right now,and I should be perfect by July 31."
trained together and roomed together teammates at Kansas.
Now Huffman, who once held the American record at 19 feet 7 inches, must prepare himself to compete against the best in the world, including the world record holder, Sergei Bubka, from the Ukraine. Competing for world titles is nothing new for Huffman.
He has won the last three U.S. titles and has been ranked as high as fifth in the world.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
With less than a month to opening ceremonies, Huffman has a full agenda planned.
He will travel to Europe to compete in four different meets and will have only one week before heading to Atlanta with teammates Lawrence Johnson, the current American record holder, and Jeff Hartwig.
Scott Huffman, a 1988 Kansas graduate and former Kansas pole vaulter, will be competing in the Summer Olympics in Atianta as part of the U.S. track and field team.
Kansas hockey club set for new season
By Matt Woodruff Kansan sportswriter
"We had a lot more people trying out than we had room for," Jergenson said.
Hockey is alive and well in the state of Kansas. Just ask Nils Jergenson, president of the Kansas hockey club.
The club started three years ago, but was suspended in its first season for misconduct. Jergenson said members who are no longer part of the club got into trouble for fighting on the ice and allowing the club to go into debt.
Last year the club finished 4-14.
Club members are excited about
the expected turnout for this
year's club.
David Hill, senior center and captain of the club, said the team was expecting only 20 or 30 students to try out last season.
"We ended up having about 50
people," he said. "I expect to see the same turnout this season."
Jergenson said the level of competition ranged from great teams to teams just getting started.
Five players from last year will be returning. Hill said he planned to have a travel roster of 20.
"We'll be playing a lot of Big Eight schools, such as Iowa State, Missouri, and Kansas State," he said. "We'll also play a lot of outside schools. We'll be playing a team from St. Louis, we'll play Colorado State, and we'll be traveling to Kentucky."
Hill said the hockey club is always looking for people willing to help build a strong program.
Although the schedule for next season still is tentative, the club plans to play between 26 and 30 games. The home ice will be at The Rinks in Shawnee.
The club will begin practice in September, and the season runs from October to late April.
Sunflower Games' deadlines nearing
Kansan staff report
The Sunflower State Games, Kansas' largest amateur athletic event, will be held for the seventh time on July 19 to 21 and July 26 to 28 in Lawrence.
The sports festival is for Kansas residents, students attending Kansas colleges or universities and military personnel.
Entry deadlines for the games are approaching. The team sport deadline is July 12
for fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, sand volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball and in-line hockey.
The deadlines for the individual sports are July 12 for disc golf, golf, tennis and wrestling; July 17 for gymnastics; and July 19 for track and field, racquetball and swimming.
Anyone who is interested in the Sunflower State Games still may participate.
To contact the games office call 913-842-7774.
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