Kansas Relays to showcase student, professional athletes

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Track and Field athletes kicked off the 81st annual Kansas Relays Wednesday in Memorial Stadium. The meet, considered the fourth-largest in the country, will run through Saturday.

Meet director Milan Donley said the quality of competition at this year’s meet was very high.

“The level of competition across the board is better this year at high school and collegiate level,” Donley said.

He said about 5,000 athletes, including high school and college students and elite performers, were scheduled to compete at the meet.

Athletes from about 150 colleges and universities participate in the Kansas Relays, including four schools from the Big 12.

The most popular event at the Kansas Relays is the Gold Zone, which features elite track and field athletes. The Gold Zone will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Donley said that about 60 Olympic athletes, including national record-holders and world champions, were scheduled to participate in the Gold Zone this year.

Kristen Rash, co-chair of the Student Relays Committee said that work for the meet began in September.

“We started planning in the fall,” Rash, Lee’s Summit, Mo., senior, said. “Our work really picked up in February when we were finding sponsors.

Rash said the hardest part in the beginning was lining up promotions and finding volunteers for the meet. She said this year’s committee was smaller than in previous years, and now they’re focused on spreading the word and encouraging students and others to go to the meet.

“Most students don’t know about the Relays unless they competed in it in high school,” Rash said.

Donley said promotions included a raffle for tickets and a ride in the pace car at an Indy Racing League race at Kansas Speedway.

Donley said attendance at the relays dropped last year, but he hoped that fans would come out again this year.

“We’re hoping to draw a good, strong crowd,” Donley said. “Weather looks like it will be fine. It would be a great time for people to come and watch.”

Admission is free with a KUID, and $10 for the general public. Events will begin around 8 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will continue through the evening.

—Edited by Madeline Hyden

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Kansas Relays to showcase student, professional athletes

Tell your Student Senator.... Cut the UDK's funding from student fees! It's not fair! I shouldn't pay for it!

Kansas Relays to showcase student, professional athletes

I love the Kansas Relays. too bad the weather is going to be bad this year, but it's always nice to go watch the different races. It's free for KU students too! I'd encourage you to go, there are always Olympic level athletes there and it's very exciting to watch.

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