Kansan file photo

Leo Bookman, right, Dickinson, Texas, senior, led the men’s 100-meter dash against Team Nike runner Rae Edwards during the Kansas Relays last spring. Bookman now runs for Team Nike. The track team is looking for Aaron Thompson, Lenexa junior, to step up and fill the hole left by Bookman.

When Jordan left the Bulls. When Montana left the 49ers. When Bookman left the Jayhawks.

Teams often struggle to find replacements for superstar athletes who made such an impact that it’s difficult to picture the team without them.

Leo Bookman brought home so many records for the Jayhawks you would think he was shopping at a vintage music store. He owns the Kansas records for the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes and was three runners away from making the Olympic team. Bookman, the Jayhawk of the year in 2004, now runs for Team Nike, which competes at many of the same meets as the Jayhawks.

These aren’t just big shoes to fill. These are clown shoes. As the Jayhawks begin a new era, the question of who will replace Bookman looms large. Someone must step up for the team to have success.

Sprinter Aaron Thompson specializes in the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. As a junior, he possesses more experience and places in the top 10 more than any other sprinter/hurdler on the team. He has missed the top 10 once.

He owns the third-fastest times in KU history in both events, running the 60-meter dash in 6.81 seconds and the 60-meter hurdles in 8.01 seconds. He places fifth in the Big 12 Conference in both categories.

He cleaned up at the KU/KSU/MU Triangular Jan. 22, winning both of his events. At the Arkansas Invitational, he finished second. Behind Bookman, of course.

“For me, it’s just inspiring because I got to practice with him, and I got to see what it takes to get there,” Thompson said.

He said competing against Bookman while wearing different jerseys doesn’t change his perspective of Bookman.

“I still look to him as a teammate, not a competitor,” Thompson said. “When I look up at the scoreboard, I still see a ‘KU’ next to his name.”

Kansas coach Stanley Redwine said that expecting runners to perform at Bookman’s level would be unfair.

“It’s tough to say that Aaron will win the NCAA like Leo did” Redwine said. “Leo was a phenomenal athlete and a phenomenal talent.”

Redwine and Thompson collaborate to determine what goals are tangible for Thompson, not what goals were left by Bookman, Thompson said.

“We both work together to get me in the right direction and to get me to the NCAAs,” Thompson said of his goal to run at a nationally-qualifying time.

The Jayhawks relied on Bookman’s talent for four years as he continually contributed to multiple events. Like Bookman, Thompson makes contributions to several other events, including the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles, as well as the 200-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay. Thompson’s veteran experience allows him to lead his teammates to victory as well, much like Bookman.

“Although Leo’s still here in some way, I still feel like I have to step up, get them in the right direction and be a leader to them so that they can keep the tradition going,” Thompson said.

Unlike other sports, track relies more on an individual to perform to his abilities and less on his opponent’s.

“Our goal is to maximize potential,” Redwine said. “If someone like Aaron placed third at nationals, then that would be maximizing his potential. But if Leo placed third at nationals, then we wouldn’t be.”

In a sport where athletes train to peak and reach bests at the end of the season, Thompson’s potential cannot be measured in February. To reach his potential, Thompson cannot adopt Bookman’s expectations. Thompson has expectations of his own.