Kansas Relays
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Tournament information | |
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Location | 1651 Naismith Drive Lawrence, Kansas |
Dates | Third Thursday in April–Third Saturday in April |
Established | 1923 |
Administrator | University of Kansas |
Format | Track and Field |
The Kansas Relays are a three-day track meet every April, held at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Since 1923, the Kansas Relays have attracted runners, throwers, and jumpers from all over the United States of America, bringing in athletes ranging from Olympians to high-schoolers. Olympians such as Marion Jones and Maurice Greene compete in the Gold Zone portion of the meet, which attracts thousands of spectators every year.[1] Competitors have also broken world records at the meet. The 2004 Olympic champion, Justin Gatlin, was a prominent athlete to fail a doping test at the Kansas Relays.
History
The Kansas relays were founded by John H. Outland, the head football coach at the University of Kansas, in 1923. He got the idea for the Kansas Relays from the Penn Relays. The Penn Relays are held at the University of Pennsylvania and is the oldest and largest track meet in the United States. Outland attended the University of Pennsylvania for medical school and where he first saw the Penn relays. John Outland thought that there should be an event like the Penn relays in Kansas so in 1920 he approached Kansas basketball coach Forrest Clare Allen, also known as Phog Allen, who was also the athletic director and football coach at the University of Kansas. Three years later in 1923 the Kansas relays were founded.[2]
More than 600 athletes participated in the 1st annual Kansas relays on April 20, 1923.[3] During the relays early years the meet featured collegiate athletes in track and field such as Tom Poor, Ed Weir, and Tom Churchill were some of the athletes who later competed in the Olympics.[1][3] Tom Poor was the first to win the high jump event in Kansas Relays, with a jump of six feet and a quarter inch.[3] He later went on to place fourth in the 1924 Olympics. Ed Weir set a world record for the 120 meter high hurdles at the Kansas Relays in 1926. With world-class athletes competing in the relays, the first decade of the relays paved the way for the Kansas Relays to be a major event in the track and field event in the Mid-West.
1962 was the first year that female athletes were able to compete in the Kansas Relays and by 1976 women were competing in a number of different events.[3] In 1996 a new event was added for women, the pole vault. Stacy Dragila was the first women to win this event and set an American record at the Kansas Relays. In 1997 the Kansas Relays added the 3000 m steeplechase to the women's events.
The Kansas Relays have been held every April with the exception of 1943, 1944, and 1945 because of World War II. After World War II, Memorial Stadium, where the Kansas Relays are held, was used as housing for students. Since then, the Kansas Relays were held every year until 1998 and 1999, when the relays were cancelled because Memorial Stadium was being renovated.[3] The last time the relays were cancelled was in 2002. The officials were forced to cancel the last day due to severe weather.[1]
The Gold Zone
In 2005, the Kansas Relays added a new section: the Gold Zone. The Gold Zone was created because the relays started to lose the interest of spectators and athletes. Tim Weaver, then the meet director, created the Gold Zone to bring in more interest for the Relays[1] and create a three-hour meet-within-a-meet. The Gold Zone was a part of the meet that features some of the best athletes in track and field in the top events. 24,000 spectators came to see former American Olympians, world champions, and top NCAA athletes compete in various events in the first Gold Zone.[4] The events included in the Gold Zone include finals for all the dashes (100m, 400m, hurdles, etc.), 4x100 meter relay, 4x400 meter relay, the high jump, pole vault, the women's 3000 meter steeplechase and the men's one mile run.[5] Marion Jones, Maurice Greene, Jearl Miles-Clark, Amy Acuff, and Nick Hysong are some of the Olympians and world record holders that have competed in the Gold Zone. Gold Zone II drew over 26,000 fans in 2006 making the track meet one of the top ten largest in the world.
Justin Gatlin doping test
Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meter Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone at the Kansas Relays 2006. On April 22, 2006 Justin competed with his teammates, Sprint Capitol, in the 4x100 meter race at the Kansas Relays. Justin and his team took first place with a time of 38.16 seconds.[6]
On July 29, 2006, Justin Gatlin announced to the media that he had tested positive for high levels of testosterone at the Kansas Relays. Justin Gatlin was facing a lifetime ban from track and field, because he had already tested positive for an amphetamine 2001 at the Junior Olympics. It was determined that the amphetamine came from a prescription he had been taking for years.[7] Justin avoided the lifetime ban by cooperating with doping authorities. On December 31, 2007 it was announced that Gatlin would be banned from track for four years, which made him ineligible to compete in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.[8]
Meet records
Men
Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Ref | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 m | 9.95 (+0.8 m/s) | Ivory Williams | ![]() |
17 April 2010 | [9] | |||||||||||||||||||
200 m | 20.15 | James Mallard | ![]() |
19 April 1980 | [10] | |||||||||||||||||||
400 m | 45.12 | Devon Morris | ![]() |
19 April 1986 | [10] | |||||||||||||||||||
800 m | 1:48.22 | Viktors Lācis | ![]() |
15 April 2000 | [10] | |||||||||||||||||||
Wes Santee 1500 m | 3:38.62 | Rick Wohlhuter | ![]() |
17 April 1976 | [10] | |||||||||||||||||||
Glenn Cunningham Mile | 3:54.70 | Jim Ryun | ![]() |
15 April 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||
5000 m | 13:40.35 | Kipsubai Koskei | ![]() |
19 April 1980 | [10] | |||||||||||||||||||
10000 m | 28:56.90 | Simon Kilili | ![]() |
15 April 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||
110 m hurdles | 13.26 | Antwon Hicks | ![]() |
19 April 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||
400 m hurdles | 48.20 | Bershawn Jackson | ![]() |
21 April 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3000 m steeplechase | 8:33.70 | Randy Smith | ![]() |
17 April 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||
High jump | 2.31 m (7 ft 6 in) | Hollis Conway | ![]() |
18 April 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pole vault | 5.91 m (19 ft 4 in) | Joe Dial | ![]() |
16 April 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Long jump | 8.14 m (26 ft 8 in) | Kenny Harrison | ![]() |
18 April 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Triple jump | 16.08 m (52 ft 9 in) | Adams | ![]() |
2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shot put | 22.67 m (74 ft 4 in) | Kevin Toth | ![]() |
19 April 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Discus throw | 67.13 m (220 ft 2 in) | Mason Finley | ![]() |
19 April 2019 | [11] | |||||||||||||||||||
Hammer throw | 78.04 m (256 ft 0 in) | Gleb Dudarev | ![]() |
20 April 2018 | [12] | |||||||||||||||||||
Javelin throw | 79.31 m (260 ft 2 in) | Rice Karakolis | ![]() |
2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Decathlon | 8380 pts | Steve Fritz | ![]() |
1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 × 100 m relay | 38.16 | Sprint Capitol Dwight Thomas Rodney Martin Shawn Crawford Justin Gatlin |
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22 April 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 × 400 m relay | 3:03.67 | Philadelphia Pioneers Tim Dale Fred Taylor Herman Frazier Tony Darden |
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19 April 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 × 800 m relay | 7:21.20 | 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance medley relay | 9:20.10 | University of Arkansas Reuben Reina Charles Williams Robert Bradley Joe Falcon |
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15 April 1989 |
Women
Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Ref | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 m | 11.04 | Allyson Felix | ![]() |
22 April 2006 | [13] | |||||||||||||
200 m | 22.32 (+0.9 m/s) | Veronica Campbell-Brown | ![]() |
17 April 2010 | [14] | |||||||||||||
400 m | 51.19 | Mary Wineberg | ![]() |
21 April 2007 | [13] | |||||||||||||
800 m | 2:01.30 | LeAnn Warren | ![]() |
18 April 1981 | [10] | |||||||||||||
1500 m | 4:08.94 | Nadezhda Ralldugina | ![]() |
16 April 1983 | [10] | |||||||||||||
5000 m | 15:42.76 | Sharon Lokedi | ![]() |
20 April 2018 | ||||||||||||||
10000 m | 34:41.33 | Amber Anderson | ![]() |
15 April 1995 | ||||||||||||||
100 m hurdles | 12.72 | Nichole Denby | ![]() |
21 April 2007 | [13] | |||||||||||||
400 m hurdles | 55.67 | Nawal El Moutawakel | ![]() |
21 April 1984 | [10] | |||||||||||||
3000 m steeplechase | 10:07.30 | Trina Cox | ![]() |
21 April 2007 | ||||||||||||||
High jump | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄4 in) | Julieanne Broughton | ![]() |
21 April 1990 | [13] | |||||||||||||
Pole vault | 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in) | Kylie Hudson | ![]() |
16 April 2011 | [13] | |||||||||||||
Long jump | 6.68 m (21 ft 10+3⁄4 in) | Elva Goulbourne | ![]() |
19 April 2008 | [10] | |||||||||||||
Triple jump | 14.88 m (48 ft 9+3⁄4 in) | Trecia Smith | ![]() |
20 April 2002 | [10] | |||||||||||||
Shot put | 17.39 m (57 ft 1⁄2 in) | Kearsten Peoples | ![]() |
21 April 2012 | [10] | |||||||||||||
Discus throw | 60.94 m (199 ft 11 in) | Penny Neer | ![]() |
20 April 1991 | [10] | |||||||||||||
Hammer throw | 69.66 m (228 ft 6 in) | Amber Campbell | ![]() |
20 April 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Javelin throw | 58.73 m (192 ft 8 in) | Dana Olson | ![]() |
17 April 1982 | [10] | |||||||||||||
Heptathlon | 5740 pts | Liz Roehrig | ![]() |
2008 | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
4 × 100 m relay | 43.94 | University of Nebraska Janet Burke Rhonda Blanford Angela Thacker Merlene Ottey |
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16 April 1983 | [10] | |||||||||||||
4 × 400 m relay | 3:31.87 | University of Kansas Denesha Morris Paris Daniels Shayla Wilson Diamond Dixon |
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21 April 2012 | [10] | |||||||||||||
4 × 800 m relay | 8:46.62 | Villanova University | ![]() |
1984 | ||||||||||||||
Distance medley relay | 11:32.61 | University of Michigan Jessica Kluge Richelle Webb Karen Harvey Molly McClimon |
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17 April 1993 |
References
General
Specific
- ^ a b c d "Kansas Relays History". www.kuathletics.com. 2006. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013.
- ^ "Unforgettable Hawks". www.kusports.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Kansas Relays History". www2.kusports.com.
- ^ "U.S. stars to headline GOLDZONE II at Kansas Relays". www.coolruning.com.
- ^ "2005 Gold Zone". www.kusports.com.
- ^ "Kansas Relays Results". KUJH online. April 21, 2006. Retrieved April 21, 2006.
- ^ "Sprinter Gatlin fails doping test". www.rediff.com. July 30, 2006. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
- ^ "With four-year doping ban, Justin Gatlin won't be eligible to defend Olympic 100-meter title". www.encyclopedia.com. January 1, 2008.
- ^ "Jamaican sets 200 record at Kansas Relays". www2.kusports.com. April 18, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/kuathletics.com/documents/2016/4/23/Compiled_Results.pdf
- ^ "Lawrence -KS- (United States), 17-20.4.2019 -Kansas Relays-". trackinsun.blogspot.com. April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ Chris Duderstadt (April 20, 2018). "Dudarev delivers record-breaking performance for KU in men's hammer throw". kusports.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e http://www2.ljworld.com/track_field/kansasrelays/2009/records/
- ^ "Jamaican sets 200 record at Kansas Relays". www2.kusports.com. April 18, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2004.