World-class athletes, crowds—and weather—sparkle at Relays

The 78 th running of the Relays was filled with drama, enthusiasm and featured some of the top track and field athletes in the world.

“This is a banner day for the Kansas Relays and the University,” Kansas Relays Meet Director Tim Weaver said. “To have 20,000 thousand people share your vision for three hours is a remarkable feeling. The performances on the track and the turnout in the stands were equally phenomenal. This was exactly what we wanted to show everyone how entertaining this track meet can be. Someone told me yesterday that there is a page on the Internet calling me the Don King of track and field. Well, if that's the case then all I can say is ‘only in America, only in America.’”

Several Kansas athletes competed well on the last day of the meet. Junior thrower Abby Emsick achieved a regional qualifying mark in the women's discus with a toss of 168-08, while junior thrower Sheldon Battle placed second in the men's discus and was the top collegiate finisher in the event.

Senior Brooklyn Hann won the women’s triple jump with a mark of 43-03.75. Senior Jeremy Mims won the men's 800 meter with a regional qualifying time of 1:50.00. Junior Benson Chesang won the men's mile going away with a time of 4:05.63 as former Jayhawk Charlie Gruber finished third with a time of 4:08.66.

The second-largest crowd in Kansas Relays history watched as several world-class athletes performed at the highest level in the GOLD ZONE—a three-hour window in the meet that featured more than 30 former Olympians.

Muna Lee bolted to the 100-meter dash title in a time of 11.10—the fastest mark in the history of the meet. Meanwhile, Dominique Arnold (Nike) brought the crowd to its feet by logging the fastest time in the world this year by clocking a 13.33 in the men's 110-meter hurdles.

Former Olympian Amy Acuff finished second in the invitational high jump to Gwen Wentland who leaped 6-00.75.

Marion Jones competed in the women's 4x200-meter relay, but a bad handoff between her teammates caused the team's winning time of 1:34.56 to be disqualified. Kansas City native Maurice Green finished third in the men's 100-meter dash with a time of 10.15. The winner of that event, John Capel, ran a time of 10.10.