4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS RELAYS
TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2006
Locals shine in Gold Zone
3 qualify for regionals
BY ASHER FUSCO
afusco@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
Plenty of action took place in the Gold Zone II on Saturday, from the pole vault to the discus
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throw. Some of the biggest names from the track and field world converged on Lawrence to take part in the afternoon-long showcase.
Some of the most exciting performances of the day came not from world-renowned sprinters, but from homegrown middle-distance runners.
The men's invitational mile run featured six competitors
from in-state colleges, with four Jayhawks among them. Although none of the runners could top Jim Ryun's famed Kansas Relays record of 3:54, three athletes qualified for the Division-1 Regional meet. The qualifying time is 4:06.
Cowley County's Daniel Maina won the race, but was trailed closely by an eager pack of runners that included all four Jayhawk participants. Kansas sophomore Colby Wissel finished third in 4:05, just in front of Jayhawk seniors Cameron Schwehr and Joshy Madathil followed by sophomore Paul Hefferon. Wissel was the only Jayhawk to qualify for the regional meet.
The race was close until the end, and most of the runners were bunched tightly together for the duration of the contest. The competition was so
tight that unaffiliated runners Ben Houltberg and Chris Mulvaney were forced off of the track, resulting in disqualifications.
The Jayhawks didn't appear fazed by the magnitude of the Gold Zone II, and were just grateful to be a part of such a respected event.
"It's tough that I couldn't win, but having great competition like this, you really can't complain at all," Schwehr said of his final race in the relays.
Wissel said he was just as proud of his school and teammates as he was his record-breaking time.
"It's just a lot of fun out here in your hometown with your teammates, competing in front of a home crowd," Wissel said.
- Edited by Janiece Gatson
Gold Zone II races smash hurdles, 800 meter records
BY CASE KEFFER
ckeefer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITE
Jeremy Mims was a member of the Kansas Track & Field team until last year. During his track and field career, Mims was awarded with numerous medals and accolades.
Race records were shattered as a plethora of Jayhawk fans watched from the stands of Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the Gold Zone II portion of the 2006 Kansas Relavs.
He ran the 800-meter run as a member of Team Nike at this year's Relays.
The most memorable of these was being a part of last year's All-American Team.
As a sophomore, Julius Jiles drew much praise and hype during the weekend from fans and fellow athletes. Jiles, who was named athlete of the meet at last year's Relays, competed in the 400-meter hurdles this year.
Mims ran an exceptional race in the 800-meter to finish third, just behind two runners who broke the previous Relays record. Mims' Nike teammate, Kevin Hicks, won the race in a record time of 1:47:58.
The race broke evenly with about seven of ten runners together at the first turn. That was until Mims, Hicks and Brandon
The race broke evenly with about seven of ten runners together at the first turn. That was until Mims, Hicks and Brandon Hodges broke out of the pack to establish themselves as the top three runners in the race. Mims stayed in second place position until the final 100 meters of the race, when Kansas State's Christian Smith rocketed from the back to take the silver.
Mims stayed in second place position until the final 100 meters of the race, when Kansas State's Christian Smith rocketed from the back to take the silver.
Hodges broke out of the pack to establish themselves as the top three runners in the race.
Smith also broke the previous Relays 800-meter record by .31 seconds with a time of 1:47:91. Any other year, the time would have easily won the race. But in 2006, the harsh competition only yielded him second place, is a position Smith has become accustomed to.
"I've been coming to the Kansas Relays since high school and I've come in second four times. I'd like to win one eventually." Smith said.
Mims said he was pleased with his performance, but wished he could have won the race.
"I really wanted to get a victory for my fans and friends out here. In the years to come, I'll be better prepared," he said.
Hicks led the entire race, and was not the only runner that made his respective race at the Relays look easy. Bershawn Jackson, the U.S. Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, destroyed the field on the way to breaking his own Relay record.
"It was a perfect race, exactly how me and my coach planned it." Jackson said. Jackson ran a 48.34 which beat his 2005 Relays record of 48.67.
Jiles sped out of his stance to a great start in the Jackson dominated race but slowed down once he reached the hurdles. Jiles finished in 8th place with a time of 52.81. He was happy with his time and overwhelmed with the fan support.
"When you hear that crowd yelling and hollering, it gives you an extreme boost to cross that finish line a little faster." Jiles said.
- Edited by Lindsey Gold
Sophomore Julius Jiles leaves the blocks at the start of the men's invitational 400-meter hurdles Saturday afternoon at Mr finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.23 seconds and eighth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.8
Senior Denita Young throws the javelin during finals Friday at the Kansas Relays. Young placed second with a best throw of 154' 3".
Jarod flab/KANSAN
Big 12 teams find friendship
Athletes get cheers,not jeers,from fellow competitors
BY BETTY KASPAR
bkaspar@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
"When you see each other during every meet, you become friends," Kansas freshman Stephanie Horton said. "When you are going somewhere where you don't know anyone, it's nice to have people to talk to."
At the Kansas Relays, competition between the women discus throwers of the Big 12 Conference was a little different. There was more camaraderie than in most competitive sports.
During the competition, athletes from Big 12 schools Kansas State, Nebraska and others cheered for one another.
Horton competed in the discus along with junior Abby Emsick and senior Denita Young.
In the first flight, Young's first two throws were foul. However, for her third throw, she made some adjustments and threw the disc 44.03 me
in the first flight, Young's first two throws were foul. However, for her third throw, she made some adjustments and threw the discus 44.03 meters, which was good enough to propel her into the finals. Young credited a position move for her success.
Emsick's best throw was 41.25 meters and Horton's best throw was 41.90 meters. Neither of the athletes were pleased with their performance.
"I scooted over. I am a javelin thrower and I go straight instead of spinning, so my coach is trying to get me to spin." Young said.
ters, which was good enough to propel her into the finals. Young credited a position move for her success.
For the finals, the qualifying distance was 43.70 meters. Sand-wiced between two foul throws, Young's second throw was 43.42 meters. It was enough to finish in ninth place.
"Denita did real well; she is a javelin thrower and she competed in the discus for the team the first time this year." Kansas assistant coach Andy Kokhanovsky said. "Our other girls did not compete up to their potential."
Kokhanovsky said the problems were tactical, not physical. The throwers were ready to compete, he said, but they just did not do well.
"It was okay, it is something to get my mind off javelin, I just come out and enjoy it." Young said.
Junior Dace Ruskule of Nebraska won the event with a throw of 56.97 meters. Missouri Baptist's sophomore Sheruelle Nichols followed with 49.26 meters.
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— Edited by Hayley Travis