Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoAndrea Bulat prefers not to be bothered during the javelin throw.
“I am competing, so it is kind of a personal thing,” said Bulat, who won the two-hour Kansas Relays women’s javelin event in an NCAA-qualifying 154-feet, 1 inch on Friday afternoon outside Memorial Stadium.
Bulat, a 5-foot-8 Kansas University junior from Windsor, Ontario, was a picture of solitude, not even chatting with long-time track nemesis/buddy Dominique Bolideau of Quebec between throws.
Bolideau, who beat Bulat at last summer’s Canadian Olympic Trials, placed second in 152-3.
“We talked a lot before, not during (the competition),” said Bulat, who received a big hug from Bolideau after the event.
“Tonight we’ll go out to celebrate.”
Bulat spent most of the actual competition either warming up or sitting under a tree with her headphones, listening to music.
“Actually I had ‘We are the Champions’ and ‘We Will Rock You,'” Bulat said. “Then some disco dance music kind of stuff.”
Bulat now has beaten her Quebec rival in five of seven career competitions.
Bolideau and her coach flew in from Canada on Thursday, just in time to watch two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuriy Syedikh win the hammer heave.
“That was exciting,” Bolideau said.
They return to Canada today.
“I came because she’s my friend,” Bolideau said in broken English. “I like to throw against Canadian people. We are friendly rivals.”
Mandy Beck of the University of Iowa, another Canadian, placed seventh in 139-2.
“This is my first competition outdoors, so it is a good start for me,” Bolideau noted.
Bulat, one of the favorites to win the Big 12 Outdoor title, was ecstatic to win her second straight Kansas Relays crown. Her parents were on hand for the competition.
“I don’t like losing at home,” said Bulat, whose first of six throws was her finest. “It’s a matter of pride.”
Olympian Robert Howard won an exciting long jump competition, leaping 26-7 to runnerup Melvin Lister’s 26-61/4.
Lister, who like Howard attended the University of Arkansas, hails from Leavenworth.
“My approach was totally off. I finally got it right,” said Howard, who won on his next to last leap. “Melvin Lister is a great, great competitor. I practice against him every day.”
Howard and Lister, who also competed in the Olympics, will join several other elite competitors in today’s triple jump at noon at Memorial Stadium.
Howard has the best triple jump in the country this year at 56-11/2.
Kansas State’s Rebekah Green won the women’s shot put in a Relays and Memorial Stadium record 56-0. She surpassed the old mark of 55-41/4, set by former KSU thrower Pinkie Suggs in 1987. Shelia Burrell of Nike Athletics won the long jump in 20-8. KU’s Peter Prince placed fourth in the steeplechase in 9:38.57. … Jeremy Hull of KU placed fourth in the pole vault in 15-11.
Eight meet records fell Friday: Green in the shot put; Nebraska in the men’s 4×110 shuttle relay (59.1); Nebraska in the women’s 4×100 shuttle relay (54.02); Wecker in the javelin; Manhattan High’s Julie Curtis in the 300 hurdles (43.26); Jenks (Okla.) High in the girls distance medley relay (12:29.29); SW Missouri State in the women’s sprint medley relay (3:50.74); and Leslie Bourne of Joplin, Mo., in the girls pole vault (11-11 3/4).
