Christian Cantwell, a former University of Missouri standout, broke his own invitational shot put record, tossing 70-feet, 3 3/4-inches – the best throw in the world this year. His previous Relays record was 70-11/2.
“It would have been nice to throw in here before the crowd. Maybe next year, Mr. Perkins?” Cantwell said, making a request of KU athletic director Lew Perkins when interviewed on the loudspeaker.
Cantwell wishes the weight throwers could compete inside the stadium rather than before smaller crowds outside at the shot pit.
“I want to get in the middle of the field like the pole vaulters,” Cantwell added with a smile, noting there was a strong crowd of about 1,500 fans by the shot pit. There were an estimated 26,211 inside the stadium.
“It was a nice day. We had a great crowd, (but) I want to get in the middle of the field like the pole vaulters here : like the Drake Relays,” Cantwell said.
Batman rules: Nike’s Bershawn “Batman” Jackson broke his own Relays record in the 400 invitational hurdles in 48.34 – the third-best mark in the world this year. His previous record was 48.67.
“It’s my goal to be the (fans’) favorite here,” said Jackson, who won at KU a year ago. “I love it here. It’s a great place to run.”
Felix bests friends’ record: Adidas’ Allyson Felix set a Relays record in the 100 in 11.04. She broke the previous mark of 11.1 set by Kansas City, Mo., native Muna Lee in 2005.
“It’s pretty cool. I was not expecting it,” Felix said of setting the record and nudging training partner Lee, second in 11.13.
“I think we’ll have some competitive practices,” Felix said.
Storybook start: Nike’s Leonard Scott won the 200 in 20.48, just ahead of Nike’s Rodney Martin (20.51).
“This is the beginning to a good story,” Scott said.
Cox a winner: HSI’s Crystal Cox took the women’s 200 in 22.85. Nike’s Torrie Edwards was second in 22.89.
“She is phenomenal,” Cox said of Edwards. “It was great to get out and win. A lot of people label me as a 400 (runner). The 400 pays the bills; the 200 is my baby. The crowd was great.”
New mark for Hicks: Nike’s Kevin Hicks won the 800 in a meet-record 1:47.58. The old mark was 1:48.22 by Victory Lacis in 2000.
“It’s the easiest race in track,” the bespectacled Hicks told the crowd.
“I was just kidding,” the former Florida A&M runner said later.
400 record falls: Mary Danner of Nike won the women’s 400 in a meet-record 51.66, bettering the old mark of 52.95, set by Suzanne Reid of Nike in 2005.
Hands of steel: Former KU vaulter Pat Manson placed fifth with a leap of 18-01â2. Defending champ Jacob Pauli won again in 18-4 1/2.
Manson, 38, who has cleared 18 feet for 22 straight years, barely missed at the 18-4 1/2 mark.
Manson, who teaches young vaulters in Boulder, Colo., as well as working for his own “Vault Mortgage Company,” showed signs of recent vault inactivity. Early in the competition, he developed severe blisters on his right hand.
“It’s the first hot, humid day. It made it slippery, harder to jump. I used quite a bit of glue on my hand,” Manson explained. “There was a little too much glue on my hand. I lost a little skin when I pushed off. The guys were kidding me that I have office-worker’s hands now.”
MVP announcement coming: The Relays most valuable performers will be announced Monday.
Second-best crowd: Meet director Tim Weaver on the crowd of 26,211 – the second largest in Relays history behind the 30,000 in 1972.
It surpassed the old No. 2 mark of 24,619 of a year ago.
Weaver had hoped for 30,000.
“Maybe I had a goal that was a bit ambitious,” Weaver said. “We are averaging 25,000 a year the past two years. That’s something to be happy about. The GOLDZONE 2 was great. It went as scripted all the way through. There’s next year (for the record).”
Defending Relays pole vault champ Jacob Pauli will compete against Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong and ex-Jayhawk Pat Manson at 2 p.m. today.
“There are four 19-footers in the field,” Pauli gushed, referring to himself, Hysong, Manson and Russ Buller. “I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody jumped 19-4, which is a world-championship winning mark. It’s going to be a beautiful day, perfect conditions for jumping.”
Pauli likes to play to the crowd.
“My biggest nightmare is watching a pole vault competition and somebody jumps really high and they walk off the field and nobody notices. I like to flex my muscles,” the former Northern Iowa competitor said.
Ex-Jayhawk Manson, who lives in Colorado, arrived Friday in Lawrence. As usual, he was greeted at the airport by Olympic vaulter Scott Huffman, Manson’s former teammate and close friend who makes his home in Lawrence. Manson has cleared 18 feet for 21 consecutive seasons, only vaulter in history to do so.
Batman’s here: Bershawn Jackson, who will headline today’s 400 hurdles race at 4:05 p.m. in GOLDZONE2, goes by the nickname of “Batman.”
He hummed the Batman theme song before speaking at a news conference Friday at Memorial Stadium.
“I got the nickname running summer track in high school,” the Miami native said. “I was a 40 runner and snuck in the 80 hurdles. I had big ears and people said I was flying past ’em. They nicknamed me Batman. It stuck from high school to college.”
He was asked what’s a better nickname, his “Batman” or “Cheetah Man,” the nickname of Olympian Shawn Crawford, who will run in the invitational 400 relay today.
‘”Batman. Batman is legendary,'” Jackson said.
100 field dandy: The women’s 100, set for 2:50 p.m., boasts former K.C. Central standout Muna Lee, as well as Allyson Felix, Rachelle Smith and others.
“I don’t know if I’m a hometown favorite, but it is fun to compete here in front of my family and friends,” Lee said.
Lee trains with Felix.
“I’m just excited,” she said. “It’s our first race and we are anxious to see where we are at. It’s still early, but we are excited to be here. I will be focusing mainly on technical things. It won’t be until alter when you can evaluate (performance).”
“Training with Allyson has been fun so I think I’m pretty ready,” Lee noted.
Friday’s crowd: The crowd was listed at 11,700 by KU officials. Meet director Tim Weaver is hoping for 30,000 for today’s Gold Zone, set to run from 2 to 5 p.m.
