That’s where a pair of Kansas University’s men’s track and field athletes came from last year, making names for themselves at the Big 12 Conference championships.

For instance. …

Buhler junior Mark Menefee entered the Big 12 Outdoor ranked ninth in the 5,000. He won the event in 14:20.3.

Menefee, who will run both cross country and track this season he red-shirted in CC a year ago also won last year’s 5,000 at the Kansas Relays.

“The 5K is shaping up as my bread and butter event. I’ll do the 1,500 and 5,000 and be ready to go during cross country,” Menefee said, adding, “I think I’m in the best shape of my life. There’s not much better than winning the Big 12 championship, but I am not stopping here. Maybe I won’t get the element of surprise anymore, but that’s OK, too.”

Carmel, Ind., senior Andy Morris, who entered the season with no major collegiate victories, claimed both the Kansas Relays decathlon and Big 12 Outdoor decathlon titles.

Morris totaled 7,315 points at Big 12s. He bested runner-up Guy Emry of Nebraska, who tallied 7,183 points. Dorian Jordan, a junior from Fort Wayne, Ind., placed ninth with 6,612 points.

Morris had personal best marks in the hurdles, pole vault, discus 100, long jump, shot and high jump.

“My goal is to be an All-American. That’s what I came to college for,” Morris said.

In addition to those surprises, Kansas had many solid efforts from some old reliables.

Scott Russell, a senior from Ontario, Canada, won track’s triple crown in the javelin and also the Big 12 Outdoor javelin and hammer throws. He hurled 240-3 to win the Outdoor javelin crown.

Russell shrugged off a case of tendinitis in both knees to claim the Big 12 Outdoor hammer crown in 195-1, outdistancing Nebraska’s Jeff Armitage (193-7). KU’s Chris Dunback placed fifth in 186-11.

“This is a great conference. To win in it is special,” said Russell. “My big thing is scoring as many points as possible for the team.”

Charlie Gruber, a senior from Arvada, Colo., returns after claiming his second straight 1,500 crown at the Big 12 Outdoor (3:46.33).

Gruber held on last spring to beat Daniel Kinyua of Iowa State by .06 of a second. Gruber, who has won four straight conference titles, edged Kinyua by .02 of a second in the Big 12 indoor meet.

“I guess I’m widening the gap, slowly but surely,” said Gruber, who took the lead with little over a lap to go.

Ryan Speers, a junior from Sabetha, placed fourth in the shot put at the league outdoor meet in 57-91/2.

Also, Benaud Shirley, a sophomore from Jamaica, placed fifth in the triple jump and seventh in the long jump. And Jerreme Jackson, a junior from Lawrence, notched ninth in the long jump.

Returning members of KU’s fifth-place 1,600 relay team are Kevin Lewis (sophomore, Houston); Jordan, Gruber and Jabari Wamble (senior, Oklahoma City).

Wamble placed seventh in the 400 at league.

Returning members of the eighth-place 400 relay include sophs Mike Walker, Anson Jackson, Lewis and Wamble.

Pole vaulter Vladim Gvozdetskiy, a soph from Russia, also returns.

At midsummer, new coach Stanley Redwine had not announced any signees.