Runners warm up for sunny weather meets

Distance crew heads to Stanford next week seeking faster times

By Taylor Bern

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Despite all the attention focused on the Kansas Relays, distance coach Doug Clark still has his mind set on what’s best for his runners.

With that in mind, several Jayhawks will run in events in an effort to help them get ready for next week’s meets.

“A lot of the races tonight are to prepare us for races later in the year,” Clark said.

pullquote

The relays are great, but it’s really serious training that will get us ready for what’s coming up.

- distance coach Doug Clark

Clark said at next week’s Drake Relays and Cardinal Invitational he expects his runners to go after regional qualifying times.

“The relays are great, but it’s really serious training that will get us ready for what’s coming up,” Clark said.

Clark said less than stellar spring weather is one reason several athletes have been unable to make a legitimate run at a regional qualifying time. He said that’s why he wanted to send runners out to Stanford, where the weather was more predictable.

Junior Paul Hefferon, a 2006 outdoor All-American, will run in the unseeded 1,500-meter run tonight. He will then head out to Stanford next week for the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Hefferon holds the Big 12 Conference’s fourth fastest time this outdoor season in the 5,000 meter with 14:03.50.

He also finished sixth in the mile a year ago at the Relays with a time of 4:12.70

Both junior Jason Schweitzer and freshman Bret Imgrund will compete in tonight’s 1,500. They will then travel to the Drake Relays to compete in the 5,000-meter run.

Junior Colby Wissel will run unattached in the seeded 1,500 at 2:35 p.m. Saturday. Wissel is seeded with the fourth fastest time. He will be joined by All-American Benson Chesang, a fifth seed.

Junior Alicia McGregor and sophomore Hayley Harbert are set to race in the 3,000-meter run tonight. Both will run in the Drake Relays next week for the 5,000.

The distance events start tonight at 5 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.

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

— Edited by Mark Vierthaler

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement