THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
MONDAY APRIL 20TH 2008
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MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008
SPORTS
5B
Weston White/KANSAN
Kansas City, Mo., native and member of Total Sports Muna Lee brings home a victory on the final leg of the women's 4x100 meter relay. The team finished in first place with a time of 43.65 seconds.
Chris Cantwell throws for 67 feet, 6 one-fourth inches to win the shot put event at the Kansas Relays track and field meet Saturday in Lawrence.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Weston White/KANSAN
Kansas meet warms up Olympic hopefuls
BY TAYLOR BERN tbern@kansan.com
Fans at the 81st annual Kansas Relays were treated to an Olympic preview Saturday afternoon as some of America's best athletes were in action in the invitational competitions.
With the U.S. Olympic trials set to start on June 27 in Eugene, Ore., this was the first chance this season for several Beijing hopefuls to perform at an outdoor meet. While all the athletes understand there's still a ways to go before they're ready, that didn't stop them from putting on a show.
Columbia. Describing his transition from indoor to outdoor competition, Cantwell likened himself to a newborn deer trying to walk.
"It's easy to get off-kilter when you haven't had a lot of ring time," Cantwell said.
The distance wasn't what Cantwell was looking for — he joked that a "world record would have been nice" — but he knows what's ahead and believes he can handle it.
"I'm ready now. It's just that consistency right now is the killer. That's more than enough time." Cantwell said referring to the 12 weeks leading up to the trials. "I'm right on track, and I feel really good about it."
The biggest name coming into the weekend was that of Bershawn "Batman" Jackson, a 24-year-old who has won the 400-meter hurdles five out of the past six years. A
competitive field was there to challenge him, but Jackson rose above everyone else with a new record time of 48.32 seconds, breaking his 2006 time of 48.34.
That's the fastest outdoor season-opening time Jackson has ever run, and it's also the best time in the world this year.
"It feels great to be running fast again after coming off a terrible season," Jackson said.
Jackson injured his hamstring during the indoor season and called himself a bit out of shape, but after seeing Saturday's time he can't wait to see what's next in store.
Jackson said that he doesn't yet own the Kansas Relays, but he'll keep running here until he does.
"It means a lot to me, coming here, and you'll most definitely see me here in years to come," Jackson said.
Another elite athlete on Saturday was Muna Lee, a native of Kansas City, Mo.
Lee competed in a pair of relays, the 4x100 and 4x200, for her team Total Sports. Total Sports won both races, thanks in large part to Lee's anchor legs, though she was quick to defer compliments.
"Those girls came out, and really did all the work, I really didn't have to do anything," Lee said.
Lee enjoyed being able to see her friends and family, but similar to most other competitors, she just likes the Kansas Relays environment.
"This is one of the most fun meets we've been to," Lee said. "Usually everything is so serious, and the competition is crazy, but then you come here, and you can relax and run."
Right: Sophomore relay runner Lauren Bonds passes off to senior Lisa Morrissey in the women's 4x800 meter relay Saturday. Kansas' relay team finished in 9:29:99 and took second place overall behind Seton Hall.
— Edited by Katherine Loeck
Left: Sophomore pole vaulter Kirk Cooper sprints down the runway Saturday afternoon at the Kansas Relays. The Jayhawks will head off to the Drake Relays Thursday for a three-day event.
Weston White/KANSAN
'Batman' returns to set third Relays record
"R riveting ... the best performance of the year
"A true masterpiece. Two thumbs way up!"
Bers hawn Jackson, center, wins the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 48.32 seconds as Adrian Finley, left, takes second and Ian Weakley, right, finishes third during the Kansas Relays track and field meet Saturday in Lawrence.
ASSOCIATED PR
"Batman does it again."
Relax, you didn't miss the opening of Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film "The Dark Knight," a sequel to his 2005 "Batman Begins." That's still 87 days away.
However, what you did miss — unless you were one of the estimated 13,500 people to attend the Kansas Relays — was a chance to see Bershawn "Batman" Jackson fly over hurdles and save the people of Lawrence from evil.
OK, maybe not evil exactly, but this cape-less crusader was heroic in the 400-meter hurdles, dispatching his competitors with moves that deserved exclamations of BIFFI or ZLOOP!
Batman crossed the line in 48.32 seconds, which was good enough for a season-opening personal best and a new Kansas Relays meet record.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Batman's back, Batman returns once again," Jackson said. "I'm back in shape, I'm back fit, and it's going to be an amazing summer."
It was also the fastest 400-meter hurdle time in the world this year.
"That's where I belong, on top," Jackson added.
Batman had a rough 2007 season because of injuries and dealt with another hamstring injury while competing indoor this year. None of those problems have ever stopped him from conquering the Kansas Relays, though.
With Saturday's victory, he has now won the event five out of the past six years and set the meet record three times. Still, Jackson wouldn't say he owns the Kansas Relays.
Only 24 years-old, Jackson has already accomplished a great deal in his career. Batman won the 2005 World Outdoor, 2005 USA Indoor and 2003 USA Outdoor 400-meter hurdles Championships. Track & Field News has also ranked him in the top 10 in the world in the event every year since 2003. That's all well and good, but Batman's looking to soar even higher.
"Not yet, not until you see billboards of me everywhere, then I own the meet," Jackson said. "Right now, I'm just up-and-coming."
"The sky's the limit," Jackson said. "I'm one of the best hurdlers in the world, and I've proved that anything
Jackson has the unique ability to express how humble he his and proclaim himself to be the greatest hurdler in the world in the same sentence, and somehow make you believe both. It's what endears him to fans and has them hollering
If things go right, those fans will be yelling at their TV screens later this summer as Batman battles competitors halfway across the world.
"Batman" from the stands before, during and after his races.
At age 20, jackson fell short of qualifying for the 2004 Olympics.
This time around, he's older, wiser and thanks to Saturday's race, he's ready for the challenge.
"This is the meet where I got my confidence back," Jackson said. "This is the turning point right here."
Jackson's quest started in Kansas and from the looks of it.
Christopher Nolan may not be the only one with a blockbuster this summer.
Jackson may have the chance to star in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which open August 8 in Beijing.
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Edited by Katherine Loeck
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