Chris Redden said he wasn’t bothered at all by the weather Friday. Not so teammate Johnny Brackins.
Redden, a Kansas University sophomore, won the college division of the shot put at the Kansas Relays Friday, while Brackins, a red-shirt senior, finished third in the long jump.
“No, it didn’t really bother me,” said Redden of the cool, humid and intermitently wet weather. “Lately, I’ve been throwing at night and in the rain and in the cold and stuff. I’m used to it. In fact, I thought this seemed warm compared to what I’ve been throwing in.”
It wasn’t the temperature, though, that troubled Brackins. It was the short but intense rain shower that fell just before the start of the college long jump competition.
Brackins’ best jump, 24-0 , came in the prelims. He twice broke 23 feet in the finals, but on his last attempt, he fouled after stepping on the board, slipping and landing on his back in the pit.
“The rain sure affected some people,” he said, “but it wasn’t that bad. The runway was kinda wet. I almost broke my neck.”
BRACKINS IS no stranger to injury. He was a medical hardship for last year’s outdoor and this year’s indoor seasons after suffering a stress fracture in his ankle. Friday’s appearance was his fourth of the year.
“I feel pretty good,” said the Brooksville, Fla., native. “This was my best mark of the year. I guess I was seeded to place either seventh or eighth. I just came here to do my best. I didn’t come here expecting to beat these guys. I just wanted to compete with ’em.”
Kansas State’s Clifton Etheridge won with 25-0, while Butler County CC Dedric Jones was second at 24-9.
Brackins was also to compete today in the triple jump.
“A goal of mine is to win first place in this meet and win a Kansas Relays watch,” Brackins said. “The triple jump is my event.”
Redden, on the other hand, had to share the shot put limelight. Though his toss of 54-2 sufficed for first in the college division, former Arkansas standout Marty Kobza won overall with 58-10 .
“I THINK he (Kobza) really helped me,” said Redden, a Plymouth, Minn., native. “We’re really good friends. I’ve competed against him a lot, but I’ve never beaten him. Just once, I want to beat him.”
Redden conceded Kobza, who also won last year’s shot put competition, might have had an advantage Friday.
“My back was really sore tonight,” Redden said. “About a week and a half ago, I was doing some really heavy squats. It’s been really tight since then. I didn’t know what to expect tonight. That was the best first throw I’ve had. I thought maybe I could stick the second or third one.
“I really wanted to throw good at this meet,” Redden continued. “But I was pleased. I would have liked to have thrown farther, but maybe when my back’s better. Maybe this weekend or next weekend.”
