Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan had a chance to catch up with several of the men competing in today’s shot put event (6 p.m. on 8th Street between Mass and New Hampshire) in downtown Lawrence, which kicks off the 85th edition of the Kansas Relays.
Here are a few clips from Keegan’s conversations with the men who will set downtown on fire in less than 90 minutes.
**Cory Martin** talks about the Lawrence nightlife after last year’s shot-put event.
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**Ryan Whiting** talks about the possibility of college towns as hosts of downtown shot-put events.
http://twitpic.com/9bdqkm
Former OU basketball and track and field standout **Kevin Bookout** discusses the difference between the 2 sports.
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Shot putter **Dan Taylor** talks about the atmosphere at last year’s downtown event.
http://twitpic.com/9bdknk
A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.
