Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoOlympian Robert Howard received no money for participating in the 2001 Kansas Relays.
Competing for free, it seems, is just the way the 25-year-old former University of Arkansas All-American likes it.
“I have a contract with nobody. I’m with nobody. It feels like college again,” said Howard, who won the Relays Most Outstanding Male Performer Award after claiming the long jump and triple jump titles.
He skied 26-7 in the long jump Friday and 56-63/4 in the triple on Saturday.
Both victories came against star-studded fields.
“Every time I jump for money, it doesn’t work out well,” noted Howard, who is working 50 hours a week as a tutor in physics, biology and chemistry at his alma mater.
“I’m jumping for fun and prestige. My message to all the kids: ‘Forget about money. Forget about all that. Jump and have fun. I don’t care if you are going 13 feet or 11 feet, just have fun.'”
Howard has designs on being a medical doctor.
“I’ve got, what, nine years of school ahead of me?”’ he said. “I’ve got to be a doctor. I’ve got to be a doctor.”
He had the time of his life at the Kansas Relays.
“I can’t believe we never came up here in college to run,” said Howard, a 2000 Olympian in the long and triple jump who placed seventh in the triple jump at the Sydney Games after winning the 2000 Olympic Trials.
“This is the best place to jump. They’ve got to have the NCAAs here. Look at this stadium. This is great. Where else do you see a pole vault pit in the middle of a football field?’ I love this place.”
Aleen Bailey of Barton County CC won the Women’s Most Outstanding Performer Award. The Jamaica native finished the 200 in a Relays-record 22.59. She also anchored Barton County’s victorious 400 and 800 relay teams.
The old 200 meet record was 22.61, set by fellow Jamaican Merlene Ottey in 1981.
“She is my role model,” Bailey said of Ottey. “I grew up trying to be like her.”
KU’s Charlie Gruber failed in his bid for a sub 4-minute mile. He did win the competition in 4:04.73.
“It was a little windy, but it’s the same for everybody,” said Gruber, who was competing unattached in this, his red-shirt junior season at KU. “I’m still in good shape, but this being my first outdoor race, I don’t quite have all the speedwork in. This is a good starting point.”
Gruber run a personal-best time of 3:58.51 during the indoor season.
“It’s something I’ve already done. Breaking 4 minutes is only a beginning,” Gruber said. “I’d like to have done it today, but there will be other meets.”
He’s shooting for the U.S. championships June 21-24 in Eugene, Ore.
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Trecia Smith of the Nike Atlantic Coast Club won the women’s triple jump in an American-record 47-31/2. One problem: The leap was wind-aided, meaning it will only stand as a Relays, not a U.S., record. … Yolanda McCray of Vector Sports Management won the women’s 100 hurdles in a Memorial Stadium-record 13.08.
Andy Bloom of Nike Athletics won the shot put in 65-101/2. He beat Kevin Toth of Nike, who threw 64-01/2.
“I felt I had another two feet in me,” Bloom said. “I’ve only been training for a couple of weeks outdoors. It’s a good solid opener for me.”
KU’s Ryan Speers was fourth in 61-01/4.
“It was a lot of fun,” Speers said of competing against some famous foes. “It hasn’t brought me to the next level yet, but it was still a lot of fun. Andy Bloom was a great guy, cheering everyone else. He’s a great competitor.”
KU assistant coach Doug Reynolds won the discus in 207-3. He beat Bloom, who was second in 203-4.
Olympian Nathan Leeper of Nike Athletics won the high jump in 7-33/4. He barely missed on his third try at a Relays-record 7-7.
“It’s something you have to deal with. It’s not something I prefer,” Leeper said of a rain delay that interrupted the competition for an hour. “With 35, 36 people entered, there are some long delays anyway.
“Seven-foot-seven is my comfort zone right now. No matter what, I feel I should be able to clear that height. I’m looking for some big jumps the next couple weeks.”
KU’s Brian Blachly, a junior from Paola, won the men’s 1,500 in 3:50.42. KU’s Keith Wellman notched third in 3:52.01.
“In high school and last year, I didn’t have a lot of luck at the Relays,” he said. “It was a great feeling to win this because a bunch of family and friends came to watch me run. I finally have something to show for it.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to finish strong in the conference meet because that’s what I’m going to have to do to move on to nationals. My time was good. I ran a personal best today, but the win was what I was working for and what I got.”
KU greats Jim Ryan and Wes Santee ran a quarter mile together to the delight of the 2,000 fans. … Former KU coaches Bob Timmons and Gary Schwartz were in attendance. … KU’s video board was a big hit again Saturday. A highlight was the replay of Friday’s women’s steeplechase, in which one of the runners slipped on the hurdle and was completely buried under the water in the upper-left corner of the pit. She escaped the pit, only to stumble again. Amazingly, the runner did finish the race. … It rained just once at the 2001 Relays. A downpour hit at midafternoon Saturday, delaying the field events for about an hour.
