Friday, April 17, 2009
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The four-day track meet started on Wednesday and runs through Saturday. The event gives high school, college and Olympic athletes the chance to compete. The Kansas Relays started in 1923 and the University has hosted the event at Memorial Stadium every year.
The Kansas Relays have maintained a tradition of featuring Olympic athletes in competition, and this year is no different.
“It gives our fans the opportunity to see someone at the Olympic level compete,” coach Stanley Redwine said.
This year’s Relays bring the return of Bershawn Jackson, better known as “Batman,” who took the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the Beijing Olympic Games. Jackson is a popular athlete of the Relays; he has won the 400- meter hurdles five times at the Relays, including a four-year streak from 2005-2008. Jackson will be looking for a fifth-straight victory at this year’s Relays.
“He’s definitely capable of doing that,” Redwine said. “He’s a crowd favorite and a fan favorite, so hopefully with everyone screaming for him, he’ll do well.”
American mile record holder Alan Webb is slated to compete in the mile event. It’s been six years since Webb last competed at the Relays.
Freshman distance runner Austin Bussing thinks it’s fitting that Webb is competing at the Relays.
“Kansas has such a great tradition with the mile with Glenn Cunningham, Jim Ryun and Wes Senti. It’s definitely exciting to see that,” Bussing said.
Bussing said that the mile event will be interesting with Christian Smith competing along with Webb. Smith, a 2006 graduate of Kansas State, made the Olympic team qualifying in the 800-meter run.
Also slated to compete at the Relays is Kansas City, Mo., native Muna Lee, whom senior sprinter Victoria Howard has been following since she was in high school.
“It’s a great showing for her every year,” Howard said. “A lot of people look up to her because she’s a Kansas native. It’s good to see her run.”
Two Canadian athletes, KU hall of famer Scott Russell and hurdler Perdita Felicien will compete as well.
Redwine said it was hard to pick a favorite Olympic athlete who he’s seen compete at the Relays.
“Anytime you’re an Olympian, it’s an honor. All of them are really good and we’re happy to have all of them,” Redwine said.
The Olympic athletes will begin completing on Saturday with the Glenn Cunningham Mile Invitational, which starts at 12:55 p.m.
— — Edited by Casey Miles
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