Outdoor track and field begins with solid start

By By Patrick Shehan

Monday, March 28, 2005

The Kansas track and field team set the pace for the season at the Tulsa Duel meet on Saturday.

Twelve Jayhawks finished in first place, and three of them qualified for regional competition. Kansas opened up the outdoor season with competition against Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts and Tulsa, the host.

The Jayhawks thrived in the rough weather, with occasional wind chills of 30 degrees.

The team came off two weeks of rest since competing at the National Indoor Championships.

“Competitors find a way to compete and that is what we did today,” coach Stanley Redwine said. “I thought it was awesome to do what we did in these conditions.”

Fresh out of nationals, Brooklyn Hann and Sheldon Battle turned out a combined three first-place finishes. Hann, senior, won the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.65, quick enough to qualify for regionals.

Battle regionally qualified in the discus and the hammer throw. The junior finished first in the discus by throwing 183 feet. He threw 184 feet, 7 inches, in the hammer throw.

Sophomore Gavin Ball finished just behind Battle in both events.

He recorded two second-place finishes, and won the men’s shot put with a throw of 56 feet, 4.50 inches.

“Our freshmen, and our newcomers as well, really stepped up,” Redwine said.

Outstanding freshman performances included Paul Hefferon’s first place finish in the men’s 3000-meter race. Hefferon, freshman, finished in 8:30.97.

“He did a great job,” Redwine said. “From the word ‘go,’ he went out on a mission to do well.”

Other freshmen made their debuts in stunning fashion. Freshman Julius Jiles regionally qualified in the 110-meter hurdles, with a time of 14.21.

Crystal Manning, freshman, qualified for regionals with a distance of 40 feet, 9 inches, in the triple jump.

“I just went out there to try my best, and I felt really comfortable out there,” Manning said.

Denita Miller, junior, won the javelin with a throw of 151 feet.

“All I can say is that it’s a starting point,” Miller said. “I hope I can be one of those that step up this season.”

After transferring from Tennessee, Miller said the inclement weather would not be an obstacle.

“It was windy and cold, but it didn’t impair me a lot,” she said. “It paired with the training I’ve been doing.”

Kansas City, Mo., sophomore Janiece Gatson started off the outdoor season with a victory in the 400-meter run.

“It felt good for the first meet,” said Gatson, who ran 1:03.26. “This season is going to be great. Hopefully with more competition it will make me better.”

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