Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoOlympian Calvin Davis was born and raised in Eutan, Ala.
He attended college in Fayetteville, Ark.
The world-class hurdler has now found his way to Kansas living in Lawrence as a 29-year-old pupil of Kansas University men’s track instructor Stanley Redwine.
“I will stay with Stanley for the duration until I retire. I’ll be here as long as it takes,” says Davis, who has dreams of winning the Olympics in the 400 hurdles.
The 6-foot, 175-pound Davis worked with former Arkansas assistant Redwine during Davis’ two years at UA.
He didn’t follow Redwine to Tulsa in 1994, when the first-year Jayhawk coach took over the Hurricane program.
“When he left Arkansas, he said, ‘I want you to come, but Tulsa doesn’t have the facilities Arkansas does,'” Davis said. “Last summer I was in North Carolina and heard he had gotten the job at Kansas.
“Kansas has an indoor facility to use as well as outdoor. He knows my strengths and weaknesses and what I need to do.”
Davis, who was a two-time NCAA 400 champion, taking up the hurdles in 1995 and winning bronze at the 1996 Olympics, will headline a stellar Kansas Relays 400 hurdles field on Saturday.
He’ll be representing Adidas in the race, set for 5:06 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Two-time Olympian Dinsdale Morgan of Kansas City will compete for Nike Central. Also entered is Olympian Paul Tucker, plus Iowan Joey Woody, who is a former winner at the World Championships.
In all, 25 Olympians will compete at the Kansas Relays, many in the sprint events on Saturday.
“My training is going very well,” said Davis, who placed fifth at the 2000 Olympic Trials, failing to qualify for the Games because of his slow recovery from a high ankle sprain.
“I hope to run a decent time. You don’t want to start peaking too early. Our season ends in August.”
Davis is a late bloomer in the hurdles.
A standout 400 runner, but ranked 49th in the country, he was approached by Arkansas assistant coach Steve Silvey in 1995 about trying the 400 hurdles. Davis rejected the idea.
In the winter of ’95, Davis finally made the switch.
“The United States is really, really deep in 400 runners,” Davis said. “Coach Silvey said, ‘Your 400 speed is so good, why don’t you get in the 400 hurdles, run it to see what happens?’
“I picked up the hurdling fast,” added Davis, who trained with Arkansas great Samuel Matete. “Samuel said, ‘In three years, you’ll probably be a good hurdler.”’
He was a great hurdler quicker than that.
“I ran a race to see how my body runs over hurdles. I tinkered with it. The first time I ran it, I automatically qualified for the Olympic Trials,” he said.
Davis placed third at the 1996 Trials, then third at the Olympics.
He’s hoping the best is yet to come. He still is in his prime.
“Generally mid to early 30s,” he said of a hurdler’s prime. “People hurdling usually start young. It puts a lot of wear and tear on your joints. I just started four or five years ago.”
Joe Cbulski of Bell Athletics is first-day leader of the Relays decathlon. Cbulski finished first in four of five events and scored 3,886 points, well ahead of Nebraska’s Chris Richardson (3,371).
Cbulski, 24, cleared 6-foot-7 in the high jump.
“The U.S. Championships are in June in Eugene, Ore., so I’m at the Kansas Relays to qualify for those Championships,” said Cbulski, a former baseball player at Taylor University in Upland, Ind. He didn’t take up track until his junior year in college. “I’m on pace to qualify and that is what I came here to do.”
Michael Curran of Wichita State is sixth at 3,300, while Baker’s Levi Broeckelman and Jerry Baker are 11th and 12th respectively in the 14-man field.
Nebraska junior Katherine Livesey leads the heptathlon with 3,266 points. Wichita State sophomore Koya Webb is second at 3,004. Baker’s Candace Fortney is 12th of 12 competitors entering the final day. Webb is a transfer from Tennessee-Martin.
Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison has been added to the 100 hurdles lineup for the Relays. Morrison, who placed third in the 2000 Olympics, will run at 12:54 p.m. Saturday.
Morrison, whose personal best time of 12.53 in the 100 hurdles is second among Americans behind only Gail Devers, is a three-time U.S. Indoor champion.
The Columbia, S.C. native bounced back from a severely sprained ankle prior ot the Olympics to capture bronze in Sydney.
Wednesday at Memorial Stadium
1. Katherine Livesey, Nebraska, 3,266. 2. Koya Webb, Wichita State, 3,004. 3. Megan Kosman, Marquette, 2,933. 4. Taylor Cates, Unattached, 2,916. 5. Kristy Naef, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2,906. 6. Jessica Walters, Unattached, 2,808. 7. Alissa Koerner, Nebraska, 2,703. 8. Stephanie Kenesie, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2,621. 9. Margaret Cropp, Concordia College-Moorhead, 2,374. 10. Angie Strom, Concordia College-Moorhead, 2,350. 11. Amy Merrill, Marquette, 2,300. 12. Candace Fortney, Baker, 2,260.
1. Joe Chulski, Bell Athletics, 3,886. 2. Chris Richardson, Nebraska, 3,371. 3. Jon Berg, St. Olaf, 3,370. 4. Adam Strainer, Concordia College-Moorhead, 3,356. 5. Andy Basler, Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 3,319. 6. Michael Curran, Wichita State, 3,300. 7. Kelly Chanca, Cloud County CC, 3,275. 8. Joe McCarney, St. Thomas, 3,220. 9. Dan Culp, Missouri Southern, 3,214. 10. Jesse Colburn, Nebraska, 3,196. 11. Levi Broeckelman, Baker, 3,142. 12. Jerry Baker, Baker, 3,004. 13. Jeff Hertel, Concordia College-Moorhead, 2,966. 14. Shane Loschen, Cloud County CC, 2,605.
