Rare weather, performances lift 77th annual Relays

KU's Erin Wessley cleard the bar during the pole vault at the Kansas Relays Saturday morning. Wessley finished sixth. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC

Sixteen records were broken or tied over three days of outstanding competition at the 77th annual Kansas Relays April 16-18. The amazing weather and record-breaking performances made way for one of the most exciting weekends the Relays have ever seen.

Nathan Leeper and Austra Skujyte were named most outstanding performers of the meet. Leeper recorded a first-place finish in the men's high jump with a mark of 7-05.75, which stands as the second-best in the world this year. Skujyte won the women's long jump with a mark of 20-04.25 and took home the shot put title with a throw of 52-01.25.

Trisa Nickoley, the outstanding runner from Topeka Shawnee Heights, anchored her team's meet record in the sprint medley relay and broke her own record in the 800. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC

Fort Collins high school senior Sarah Stevens and KC Central high school senior Julius Jiles were named most outstanding high school performers of the meet. Stevens set two Kansas Relays records in the shot put and discus with marks of 48-08.25 and 156-06, respectively. Jiles tied the Kansas Relays record in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.42 and won the 110-meter hurdles title with a time of 14.23. After the meet, Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine announced that Jiles had signed and would compete in the KU track and field program next year.

"We had a meet full of amazing performances," said meet director Tim Weaver, "so many, in fact, that the only reasonable choice was to name four athletes as our outstanding performers. Both on the track and in the field, they have helped make the 2004 Kansas Relays a success."

Three-time NCAA champion Leo Bookman, left, won the 100 meter dash at the Kansas Relays Saturday in a wind-aided 10.04, the best mark ever at the Relays. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC

Leo Bookman won the invitational 100-meter dash in a Kansas Relay record time of 10.04. The time ranks as the fifth-fastest wind-aided performance in the world this year. KU junior Jeremy Mims won the 800-meter run in a time of 1:50.82, while Kansas assistant head coach Doug Reynolds won the men's discus with a throw of 197-02.

"From the competition, to the crowds, to the weather and to the atmosphere, I am so pleased with the 77th edition of the meet," Weaver added. "I am indebted to the hundreds of officials, volunteers and KU staffers who have made this tremendous weekend possible. As crazy as this sounds I'm already excited about the 2005 event!"

The weekend also included the induction of the inaugural class to the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame: Glenn Cunningham, d'34; Bill Easton, e'42; Wes Santee, d'54; Bob Timmons, d'50, g'50; Al Oerter, '58; Billy Mills, d'62; and Jim Ryun, j'70.

KU throws coach and world-ranked disucss thrower Doug Reynolds won his event Saturday on the final day of the Kansas Relays. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC

"Since 1923 the Kansas Relays has given track and field fans some amazing stories, and this Hall of Fame is meant to give those stories and the athletes who made them a vehicle to be remembered for years to come," Weaver said. "The all-star nature of this first class of inductees speaks to the depth and breadth of our tradition and history."

The inaugural class was selected by the vote of alumni, the media, and the Kansas Relays' Greater Relays Committee. Each year, the Kansas Relays will induct five living members and two posthumous selections. Any athlete, coach, official, sponsor, or individual associated with the event is eligible for selection.

Inaugural members of the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame gathered at the Kansas Union. Back frow from left: Wes Santee, Jim Ryun, Billy Mills and Al Oerter. Front row from left: Ada Easton, the wife of inductee Bill Easton and Bob Timmons. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC