Track team prepares for Kansas Relays

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

After a fruitful beginning to the 2007 outdoor track and field season, the Jayhawks return home for the 80th Kansas Relays April 18 to 21 at Memorial Stadium.

First-year meet director Milan Donley has nearly 200 students, volunteers and coaches helping the stadium take on a new look for the weekend.

“As the next couple of days go on, you’ll see it develop from a football-track facility to a track facility,” Donley said.

The Kansas Relays welcome a plethora of the top college teams and world-class athletes. However, this year, unlike past years, there are few household names.

“Depth-wise, the field is very good but there aren’t as many big names coming” Donley said. “We’re seeing a changing of the guard, because the people that are coming will be in the Olympics in ’08 and ’12, and the World Championships in between.”

The coaches focus in preparation for this year’s meet was to bring in more high-quality collegiate teams, and Donley’s familiarity with other school’s track and field programs helped achieve that goal.

“We have to thank coach Donley because he knows a lot of the coaches out there and was able to bring some of those teams in,” head coach Stanley Redwine said.

After dealing with wind and rain for much of the outdoor season, the coaches and athletes are excited about the forecast and possibility of clear skies.

“This is going to be the best weekend of the spring in that regard. I don’t know if that’s luck or if Mother Nature decided we need some good weather too,” Donley said.

As the meet approaches, Donley and his staff are making the final preparations.

“The last minute details are the big thing,” Donley said. “It’s sort of like a small tidal wave, there’s a little water at first and a lot of water at the end, and we just need to make sure all the little things get done.”

The Kansas Relays officially begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.

Kansan sportswriter Taylor Bern can be contacted at tbern@kansan.com.

— Edited by Katie Sullivan

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