NEW: Gold Zone on the horizon

By By Evan Kafarakis

Friday, April 21, 2006

Press conferences were held by the main event competitors and egos were high for the Gold Zone event on Friday.

At the press conference, Team Nike was first to the table and took questions.

Nike coach Al Hobson, whose team is called Hobson’s Choice, was so enthused about the Gold Zone lineup he said it would be a time to see something people have never seen before.

“Give a hand to Tim Weaver for bringing in who he did,” Hobson said of the Kansas Relays meet director. “We’ve got names.”

Hobson’s Choice team member Mardy Scales said he felt confident in his team.

“We don’t practice our tails off every day to come in second,” Scales said.

Even more confident was teammate Rae Edwards.

“It’s not a matter of if we can win, it’s a matter of when we will win,” Edwards said.

Maurice Greene’s former coach was Hobson, so he was ready to impress as well.

The Kansas City, Kan., native said he felt responsible to hold down his home track.

“If you want to see a show, this is the place to be,” Greene said.

Greene’s team took the table after Hobson’s Choice team was done.

Justin Gatlin’s team, Sprint Capitol, was at the table along with Greene’s team, HSI. Weaver separated the two teams.

“It’s not that the teams don’t like each other, it's just their competitive sides coming out,” Weaver said.

Earlier in the day, the women of the Gold Zone events were at the table answering questions.

Allyson Felix, the youngest person on the U.S. team, at age 19, said skipping college to be a professional sprinter was a move she didn’t regret.

“It’s been an adjustment, but I think I made the right move in the end,” Felix said.

Weaver said of the women that if fans didn’t know who they were coming into the stadium, fans would know them once they left the gates.

Bershawn Jackson, 2005 World Outdoor champion in the 400-meter hurdles, took time to talk about his feelings on the Relays.

“The loyalty Tim and the Kansas Relays have had to me,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that not making the Olympics was one of the biggest disappointments of his career.

“You can lose money and get it back, but you can’t take time back,” Jackson said.

Last year’s Kansas Relay winner in the pole vault competition was Jacob Pauli.

Pauli, not only a great entertainer, but an up-and-coming pole vaulter, will look to repeat as Relay champ.

“The Relays are a great place to jump,” Pauli said.

The Gold Zone event will take place on Saturday at Memorial Stadium from 2 to 5 p.m.

“It’s time to take off the practice clothes, and put on the competition outfits,” Weaver said.

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