Jayhawks off to fast start at Kansas Relays

By Steve Vockrodt     Apr 22, 2005

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University's Sheldon Battle concentrates as he throws the hammer. He finished second in the competition with a toss of 56.77 meters (194-8 feet) during the first day of the Kansas Relays on Thursday morning.
photo Photo Gallery: 2005 Kansas Relays -- Thursday Events

The 2005 Kansas Relays started with a thud — the sound of the hammer hitting the ground in the men’s hammer-throw competition, which signaled the start of the 78th incarnation of the track meet at Memorial Stadium.

Even though he finished second, it wasn’t a banner day for Kansas University junior Sheldon Battle.

He came close to not advancing beyond his flight when his first two throws sailed straight into the netting, resulting in a pair of scratches. His third throw earned him the second-best distance of the preliminary round, but in the finals, he threw two more fouls before finally tossing the hammer 56.77 meters or 194 feet, 8 inches.

It wasn’t enough for him to move ahead of ex-Stanford thrower Nick Welihozkiy, who won with a throw of 63.26 meters (207-6).

“I don’t know what I was doing. I wasn’t executing so I got a little sloppy, but I put together an OK throw on my last throw and made it into finals,” Battle said. “But after that point, once again, I got back to not executing.”

Jared Soares/Journal-World Photo
Bryan Niewald of Overland Park races during the men's Masters Mile. Niewald broke his own record in the event Thursday during the Distance Carnival at the Kansas Relays.
photo Photo Gallery: 2005 Kansas Relays -- Thursday Events

KU throws coach Doug Reynolds said it wasn’t the day he was hoping his athletes would have. Battle was the only hammer-thrower to advance to the final round.

“I think a lot of it was nerves, and we just got to keep working through it and look ahead to conference,” Reynolds said.

KU did tally a few victories on the track in the Distance Carnival. Erik Sloan earned a decisive victory in the unseeded 1,500-meter run, winning with a time of 4:00.00. Sloan stayed back in fourth place, within striking distance of the lead pack. Sloan, who normally is a steeplechaser, got impatient and pulled ahead with 700 meters to go and didn’t look back until he crossed the finish line in first place.

“I knew the victory was mine. I wasn’t going to let go in front of the Memorial Stadium crowd,” Sloan said.

The Jayhawks picked up another victory in the women’s 3,000 when senior Paige Higgins took an early lead and did not let up the whole way, cruising to a winning time of 10:05.35. She finished 13 seconds ahead of the next finisher.

But it wasn’t just a day for college athletes. Bryan Niewald broke his own Kansas Relays record in the master’s mile with a 4:53.75 finish, less than a second under his 2003 mark.

The 45-year-old runner from Overland Park tore around the track by himself for the most part. He said that at least having the record to run after made up for not having anyone to push him to a faster time.

“A little bit, it helps, it’s better than nothing at all. At least it’s something to compete against,” Niewald said.

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More Mo: Maurice Greene is going to run his specialty — the 100 dash.

Olympic champion Greene announced Thursday he would compete in the invitational 100 at 3:20 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. He also will anchor the HSI team in the Invitational 4×100-meter relay.

“It is quite rare that an athlete on the level of Maurice Greene would race an open event this early in the season,” KU meet director Tim Weaver said.

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This ‘n’ that: Citing injury concerns, pole vaulter Stacy Dragila has withdrawn from the meet as well as hurdler Allen Johnson and pole vaulter Tye Harvey. … Charlie Tidwell, a sprinter for the Jayhawks who set four world records, will be inducted into the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame at this year’s event. … More than 300 media credentials have been issued, with the London Times expected to be on hand.

Jayhawks off to good start

By Gary Bedore     Apr 20, 2000

Earl Richardson/J-W Photo
KU decathlete Andy Morris competes Wednesday morning in the Kansas Relays decathlon long jump.

Andy Morris is where he wants to be after Day One of the Kansas Relays decathlon.

In first place.

“It’s always nice to get off to a good start, but I try to not look too far ahead. In the decathlon you cannot do that,” said Morris, Kansas University’s junior multi-events competitor from Carmel, Ind.

Morris placed first in the 100 and 400, second in the shot put, third in the high jump and sixth in the long jump, good for 3,798 points and a 114-point lead over Oklahoma senior Justin Conkling halfway through the decathlon at Memorial Stadium.

Garden City CC’s Pat Pyle stood in third after Day One with 3,661 points, followed by Wichita State’s Jens Lukoschat (3,413), St. Olaf’s Jon Berg (3,400), Cloud County CC’s Joe Peppers (3,365) and KU’s Dorian Jordan (3,333).

Earl Richardson/J-W Photo
KU's Erika Hamel clears the high jump Wednesday during the Kansas Relays heptathlon.

Baldwin’s Michael Curran, who attends Wichita State, held eighth with 3,269 points.

It was a good showing for Morris, not overconfident with a whopping five events remaining in the grueling event.

“I am pleased but there were a lot of ups and downs. I’d like to do well in all five events but that’s a lot to ask in the decathlon.”

Andy Morris

“In the past it’s been a bad day,” Morris said of Day Two, which includes the hurdles, discus, javelin, pole vault and 1,500.

“For me, the discus and javelin are my two weakest events. I should do better than I have in the past. I have grown a lot. I understand the technique a lot better.”

Earl Richardson/J-W Photo
KU decathlete Dorian Jordan soars Wednesday morning in the Kansas Relays decathlon long jump.

Morris has yet to win a decathlon in college.

Until Wednesday, he’d yet to compete in a home meet. Memorial Stadium renovations kept the Jayhawks off the track the past two years.

“It feels good getting to stay at home, not in a hotel, going home and getting to sit on the couch,” Morris said.

Morris threw the shot put a personal-best 40-31/2. He also had his best time in the 100 (11.16). He blitzed to a first-place clocking in the 400 (48.17), ahead of runnerup Jordan (49.18).

“I am pleased but there were a lot of ups and downs,” Morris said. “I’d like to do well in all five events but that’s a lot to ask in the decathlon.”

Earl Richardson/J-W Photo
KU's Ashley Pyle tries to get over the bar Wednesday during the Kansas Relays heptathlon.

University of Oklahoma freshman Lindsay Cobbs scored 2,747 points to top the six-person heptathlon field after four events. KU’s Ashley Pyle tallied 2,576 points, Western Kentucky’s Holly Wilder 2,572 and KU’s Erika Hamel 2,534.

Cobbs won the 100 low hurdles in 14.94 and was second in the high jump, shot put and 200. Pyle won the shot put in 36-31/2 and KU’s Erika Hamel the 200 in 26.19.

“In high school I ran the 400, the mile relay, discus and long jump. The hurdles, high jump, javelin and shot put are new to me,” said Cobbs, a native of Houston. “I’m still learning right now.

“I thought I’d be close to the end. I surprised myself,” Cobbs added. “I had no idea I’d do this well. Now I’d like to win it.”

The heptathlon resumes at 9:30 a.m. today with the decathlon to start at 10 a.m. The heptathlon should end about noon and the decathlon 3 p.m. Track events will run until 8 p.m.

Gary Bedore’s phone number is 832-7186. His e-mail address is gbedore@ljworld.com.

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