Gary Schwartz took a ride down memory lane early Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium.
Schwartz, Kansas University’s 12th-year track coach, who was informed a month ago his contract would not be renewed, hitched a ride on women’s starter Larry Able’s motorbike for a ceremonial victory lap to conclude the 2000 Kansas Relays.
“It was for me,” said Schwartz, a 1966 KU graduate who had just put to bed his final Kansas Relays.
“I waited to make sure the TV cameras were gone and the fans had exited the stadium.
“It accomplished several things on several different levels. The only thing that would have been better is if Larry had let me drive and he wasn’t about to let me do that and I do not blame him,” Schwartz added, laughing.
Able, who drove the Harley Davidson to Lawrence from his Lenexa home Saturday, chauffeured Schwartz on the emotional journey.
“Actually I felt more emotion during the meet. A lot of people came up to me and said some nice things,” Schwartz said. “Some of the parents of our athletes came up and had nice things to say. Billy Mills (ex-Jayhawk/Olympian) said some very nice things to me. I really appreciate it.”
KU’s current athletes provided plenty of memories for Schwartz at the 2000 Kansas Relays, witnessed by 10,500 fans.
Scott Russell won the javelin and hammer throws, while Andrea Branson took the pole vault, Ryan Speers the shot put, Charlie Gruber the mile and Andy Morris the decathlon.
Of course, the major moment of the 2000 Relays came when KC Schlagle grad Maurice Greene’s HSI 400-meter relay team finished first in a Relays- and stadium-record 38.45 seconds.
Greene and his Relays teammates had a great time in Lawrence and promised to return next year.
“Having Maurice and the rest of his HSI group there was special … what they meant to the event,” Schwartz said.
“They said they were impressed with how they were treated and how they were made to feel here. They mentioned the hospitality It’s a simple principle. If you treat people right, they appreciate it. You don’t have to go overboard.”
Decathlon winner: KU junior decathlete Morris said it after winning the 10-event competition on Friday:
“I came here because of the coaching staff. They really care, much more than the coaches at some other schools,” noted the Carmel, Ind., native.
Vaulter deluxe : Schwartz on Branson, who cleared a KU record 13-10 to win the pole vault:
“She’s a unique person, one of those athletes a coach will remember. She had everything going for her Saturday a wind at the back, being the center of attention (with pole vault pit in middle of football field), the crowd into it … still not all athletes can make it happen. She did.”
Entering new era: Schwartz on the future of KU track:
“If we want to improve the program, we need to improve the facility,” Schwartz said.
Indeed, it’s possible a track/soccer facility will be built on campus.
“In my opinion, improving the facility means a stand-alone facility. I would agree, there is no greater setting than being in that stadium looking up the hill. There is no better setting for the Kansas Relays than Memorial Stadium. But the track team needs a place to practice and they’d also like a more intimate setting for football.
“If you could design it, in a perfect world we’d bring in a track and put it down for the Relays, then take it out and put it in the stand-alone stadium. If that was feasible, that would be incredible.”
