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Fridav, April 22, 1977
University Dally Kansan
Kansas Relays—traditional rites of spring
Coach Bob Timmons and the 1977 KU track team
"From the sun-kissed slopes of Mount Oread, on the banks of the majestic Kaw, there was sent in the spring of 1923 a call to athletes of America inviting them to meet on the Kansas Memorial Stadium in the classic." — 1924 Kauai Relays Program
There's not much question that the Kansas Relays has developed into a "major outdoor relay classic." But "sur-skied," unfortunately, not always. A public flyer for the 1928 Relays summed up the goings-on:
Outland, "the father of the Relays," had to wait three years to see his idea of the Kansas Relays take form. McCook Field located north of the present Memorial Stadium, was still the home of facilities—Phog Allen made sure the new stadium had a suitable track
The Relays traditionally have been a stopping-off point for athletes bound for or coming from the Olympic Games. The list reads like an honor roll of collegiate sports.
"Work is suspended. Carees are pushed aside. With the Goddess of Play and Amusement as your guide, this weekend will be one continuous round of pleasure."
And the idea for it all began, old program
clipping indicate, with Doctor John
Davis' guidance.
In 1920, Outland, a former KU student and athlete, returned to the University of Kansas from the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his degree and liking for the Penn Relays. He decided that KU should host a similar event.
the stadium was finished in 1923, it had a track with the fourth longest straightways in the country—exceeded only by the football field at Princeton Universities. So, the now-traditional Kansas Relays were first held that year. The now-alt-most-traditional "Relays rain" accompanied the meet. Foul weather turned to be an intermittent ever since.
The continued success of the Relays depended in part, Allen decided, on vigorous promotion. He seemed to have a
The Relays used to be an extravaganza with much ceremony and booole.
Outland's idea was supported by Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, then director of athletics at KU and Karl Schlademann, then KU track coach. The three men used a combination of shred recruiting and outright training to make more outstanding athletes to Lawrence.
One year, for instance, Allen and four members of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce hosted a national wearing white jumpsuits emblazoned with "Kansas Relays" on the back. Another new-fangled contraption — called the Dummy Bag — raked by audiences at their stopovers.
In 1930, coaches and officials dined on buffalo--barbequed in the center of the football field—as part of a rodeo theme chosen for the Relays.
-parades snaked through downtown Lafayette to the city's parade room in the Relaxs
A promotion technique still used was bringing name athletes—world record holders, Olympians and foreign stars—to the Relays. Referees included Knute Rocke, Notre Dame football coach and Alonzo Stagg from the University of Chicago. Jayhawks who achieved lasting fame also had events named after them: the Glenn Cunningham and the OL Berter disc competition. In addition, Jim Ryun made his first major appearance at the Relays while still in high school.
-themes were chosen for the Relays, often centering on KU's Engineering Exposition, which is traditionally held the same weekend
-queens were elected and reigned the weekend of the Relays.
both the parades and queens no longer exist, probably victims of the lack of interest in the late 1960s and early 1970s in pomp and paretry.
But enough activities survived to make the Relays the second stop on the three-round midwest circuit, a regional event with the NCAA national championships.
Besides active athletes, active weather has played a continuing role in the Rulers. They are a significant force on campus.
surance to protect his investment in the event. The $5,000 policy was paid to the University if one-tenth of an inch of rain fell between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the Saturday of the meet. The insurance was carried only during the week because agencies wisely refused after that'
Until 1969, the track became a lob-lobby whenever it rained. The soggy, muggy oval pots were kept covered with otherwise outstanding track meet. And the athletic department was already $1 million
Then a relatively unknown KU athlete from the 1950s helped with the problem. James Hersherberg, owner of oil holdings and an exploration company, announced a $125 thousand contribution toward the installation of an all-wear Tartan track.
Work was completed in time for the 1970
impossible meetings were made
possible.
But in 1960 the Relays were in financial difficulty, KU students, previously admitted free, were charged admission -50 cents a day. The relays broke even that year. Apparently they continue to do so because the admission fee was dropped
But obviously the real drawing cards for the Relays were the athletes, particularly with potential for setting or breaking world records in the KU competition.
That's because since 1923 when 81 schools travelled from throughout the country to
compete in a "new" track meet, the Kansas Relays has become the middle meet in the prestigious track circuit—preceded by the New York Relays and followed by the Drake Races.
The three meets vary slightly in events held, but all three contain seven relay events for which the meets are logically named "Relays". The basic races are the 440, 880, mile, 2mile, 4mile, sprint medley and the distance medley.
Through the years, such Olympic greats such as Jim Ryun, Glen Cunningham, A尔Oerter, Bruce Jenner and Frank Shorter have commited in the Relaxs.
Don Baker, KU sports information director said_recorded that there was no record of the student's participation in Relays, but with the quality of athletes that have performed here, he said the list would be
The 1929 relays featured a mile run between KU star Glen Cunningham and his rival Gene Venake of Pennsylvania. The relays yielded yards in the thrilling speed of 4.127
One world record was established in 1969 by a KU team of Jim Neinley, Randy Julian, Thorn Bigley and Jim Ryun when she ran the distance medley in 9:3.0.
in the 1954 edition of the Relays, West Santee drilled local fans by running the race. They were named in memory of
Fans became excited when it appeared
that Santee might break the four minute mark. Instead he came in just short with a jab.
From 1965 through 1971 the drawing card of the Relays was a man named Jim Ryan who came to KU in 1965 to win the high school rule
In the six year period, Ryun won the outstanding performer award four times.
In 1974 Bruce Jenner, former Graceland College track star competed in the decathlon. He not only scored the fifth best score, but in the process set a world record.
Last year Jenner was the Olympic decathlon winner.
In last year's Rivals, a Yale graduate named Frank Shorter won the 5,000 meter run. Shorter won the Marathon in the 1972 Olympics and second in that event in last year's Games.
Nolan Cromwell, better known for his football heroes and the wishbone T, was named last year's outstanding performer at the Relaws.
So now, the Kansas Relays held "the ranks of the majestic Kawai" is an integral part of the race.
For a week KU is treated to the performances of potential Olympians, to often bitzare promotions and continual unceantaining about the weather's predilication.
But it's all a part of KU's traditional rites of spring. Enjoy.
Relays rains are cause for ponchos, umbrellas
By COURTNEY THOMPSON
Associate Sports Editors
nain. If one element of the Kansas Relays be to be named as the sentimental favor to a champion, it also would be named the most hated part of the weekend by fan coaches and players.
The Relays were scheduled for a week later in April this year to accommodate a change in the dates of the Drake Relays. So, they would improve chances for sunny weather
"Water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls over the sky."
DOUG MESSER, assistant athletic
director of the athletic
department, does that is true.
"We were locked into that date because we were in between the Texas and Drake teams. I didn't realize that changed the date years ago, so I'm sure that the Drake change had a lot to do with it."
"We hope that the date change will help us some." Messer said recently. "We've said around here jokingly that if it rails this year, we have somebody against us."
dust storms and even snow have become part of the relays.
Bad raids occurred during the first Kansas Relays in 1923. Itrained heavily during the high school meet on Friday, a meet that was begun in 1904 by Chancellor Frank Strong. The rains continued through October and almost all events were drenched.
YET STORIES of killer monsoons, hail.
A description of the 1947 Relays reads: "In 1947 the Relays had the appearance of a swimming meet rather than a track meet. Runners flushed through the events in the worst rain and cold in the history of the Relays."
REPORTS OF hard rains and high winds were made in 1923, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1947, 1951, 1955, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975 and 1978. If the weather didn't produce drastically foul conditions, it has at least been reliable in coming up with intermittent snowy conditions and drizzle for most Kansas RELays. Completely clear weekends have been rare.
Without a clear weekend, the Relays have
additionally had a deficit—that is, until last week.
The budget for the 1976 Relays was
$400, and actual expenditures were
$110,000.
year, the Relays brought in $2,600—a profit of
$3,600.
"THAT WAS an unusual year for us, really." Messer said. "That hasn't been a bad year. I have pendencies down considerably; we had more donations than we expected, and our contestant traveling expenses were low. I contended in a reason other than to say we were luck."
The athletic department could use a little luck this year also, especially if it rains. The budget for this year's Relays is $2,000. All that matter at that budget goes to the four following areas:
$-350 per labor, which includes ticket masters, ticket takers, traffic and security.
-$5,000 for awards, including plaques,
tronhies, medals and ribbons.
- $3,600 for traveling expenses to bring in nationally and internationally known athletics.
- $2,300 for printing, which includes heat sheets, results, applications, letters.
THAT LAST category particularly intrigues Messer.
job. I've always thought that it was an unusual extense that nobody thinks about.
"You just can't imagine the reams and reams and reams of printing that it takes to on an event like this," he said. "It's a big expense, but it takes all of it to do the
"WE OWE a great debt of gratitude to those who donate time and money because that's what makes the Relays possible. It would make us more to put on the Relays volunteers."
FOREST C. "PIHGO" Allen realized the Relays would be in severe trouble financially if the rains came. So he did what most people want: want to protect an investment sale.
But even the volunteers can't save the Relays when it rains. Messer pointed out, though, that over a period of years the Relays had made a little profit.
Nevertheless, the $34,000 figure probably won't come in front of the actual cost of putting it together.
"The money hasn't been too significant," he said. "The Relays isn't supporting anything but itself. We expect the Relays to stay on." "If we're not going, we don't, and when it's sunny, we do."
He took out insurance on the Relsays for $5,000. The stipulation was that if one-tenth of an inch of rain fell between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the midday of the meet, KU would put the money.
Allen's idea worked for the first three years of the Relys but after that the insurance companies found they were facing a losing proposition and backed out of the
SO MOTHER NATURE continues to hold the upper hand and amount of worry for the child.
But is there any scientific basis for these aggrassing April showers?
Larry Cosgrouve, Jeffersonville, Pa. graduate student and director of the campus weather service, said that rains during this year's Relieve were likely
"They've scheduled the Relays for the worst possible month in terms of predictable precipitation. There's almost no way to get around it—it's a nuisance."
HE SAID that April was the start of the shower season and that there was a sound basis for the rhyme "April showers bring May flowers."
During the winter, Cosgrove said, the weather follows a steady precipitation pattern—eight-to 10-hour snows or rains. But in the spring, storms form around Denver and move to the Northeast, usually ending up over Omaha. In the process, these storms go through Kansas and produces storms of one-half to one-hour duration.
temperatures in the 40s and 50s. However, the sector to the south (usually the Lawrence area) gets the unpredictable, the temperature here and 60 to 70 degree temperatures.
the region to the north of the storm center usually gets steady rains or snow and
COSGROVE SAID another factor was the jet stream (movement of air at about 18,000 feet) flow. As the upper air moves north with the sun, the unsteady precipitation falls. At this time of year, the Lawrence area is almost directly under the stream, he said.
What it all means is that throughout April and most of May, Congrove show, and shows the spring colors.
"But there's no way to get any indication any further ahead than five to seven days. The only way to get that information is to hire a soffsayer."
"MAY ISN'T much better because the situation gets worse until about mid-June when the rain activity becomes more predictable," he said.
So should you take an umbrella? Probably.
The Jayhawks won the Dallas Invitational track meet in spite of steady rain, so coach Bob Thimmae is not particularly about the weather. On rain, he said:
"Yeah, maybe it's just what we need."
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