Maurice Greene — the Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire of track and field — is the headline performer at this year’s Kansas Relays.
“He will bring the casual fan to the meet,” noted Tim Weaver, event coordinator of the 2000 Relays, set for Wednesday through Saturday at Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium.
“The rest of the action will keep people coming back.”
Greene, better known as “The world’s fastest human,” has entered both the 400 and 800 relay races, to be held Friday and Saturday.
The former Kansas City Schlagle standout’s presence should more than offset a college field that isn’t thought to be as strong as some Relays of the past. Some colleges had forgotten the Relays after erasing them from the schedule the past two years.
“Coaches I’ve talked to are excited about the return of the Relays,” Weaver said, noting Memorial Stadium renovations forced the event’s cancellation the past two Aprils. “I’ve heard positive comments from coaches all over the country. Schedules have been set, so certain teams that would like to be here won’t be here. Most of the coaches I’ve talked to said, ‘We’ll definitely be back next year.'”
Athletes from Kansas State, Missouri and Oklahoma will represent the Big 12. Several of the other league schools long ago signed up for the National Team Invitational this weekend in Austin, Texas.
Various other meets nationwide conflict with the Relays, as well.
Other schools competing include the University of Washington, Western Kentucky, Western Illinois, SW Missouri State, Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Baker, North Dakota State, William Jewell, UMKC and Graceland. Barton County’s nationally acclaimed junior college team also has entered.
Meanwhile, the high school portion of the Relays figures to pick up where it left off three years ago. That’s because the high school portion of the Relays never stopped.
“Olathe East held a meet the past two years and called it the ‘Kansas Relays’ with our permission,” Weaver said. “Mike Wallace of Olathe East deserves all the credit in the world. We owe him a lot. He will be the honorary girls referee this year.”
The Relays has long been known as a strong high school meet.
“It’s tremendous on the high school level. It’s a very special event,” Weaver said. “At the Relays, kids from Kansas not only compete against the best athletes in this state, but from Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Texas.
“In some respects it is stronger than the state meet because here athletes compete regardless of class. Kids from smaller schools compete against the larger schools.
“The high school student-athletes are thrilled beyond belief to be here. It is a thrill to watch the world’s fastest man run, but there is also tremendous joy in seeing a high school girl place fifth in the high jump with a personal-best mark,” Weaver added.
KU’s Mega Vision video board also will add to this week’s festivities.
“If Scott Russell wings a big throw in the javelin and people are in the stadium, they will see the throw shortly after,” Weaver said of Russell, KU’s javelin thrower who will throw outside the stadium. “It’s really going to add something. Track and field is like a circus. There’s so much going on. This will help people be involved in all the action.”
— Gary Bedore’s phone number is 832-7186. His e-mail address is gbedore@ljworld.com.
