LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The 74th running of the Kansas Relays kicked-off today April 18, with the decathlon and heptathlon events. An action-packed day started off at 10:00 a.m. with the running of the men's 100 meter dash and the women's 100 meter low hurdles.
The women competed in three other events including the high jump, shot put and the 200 meter dash. After four events Katherine Livesey of the University of Nebraska led all competitors with 3,286 points, followed by Koya Webb (3,004) and Megan Kosman (2,933). The women will compete tomorrow in the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.
"What I really wanted to do was come out here and put some solid marks down on the first day and have some good scores to go into tomorrow with," Livesey, said. "I really don't think about what position I'm in because it really doesn't make a difference until tomorrow."
Joe Cbulski, a representative of Bell Athletics, grabbed a commanding lead of 3,886 points to finish on top of the first day of competition for the men in the decathlon. Cbulski finished first in ever event but one, as he starked the crowd with a 6-7 high jump mark. Chris Richardson of Nebraska (3,371) and Jon Berg of St. Olaf College (3,370) rounded out the top three.
"The U.S. Championships are in Eugene, Ore., in June, so I'm at the Kansas Relays to qualify for those Championships," Cbulski said. "I'm on pace to qualify and that is what I came here to do."
Day two of the Relays begins tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. with the women's heptathlon long jump. Also on tap tomorrow will be the 10,000 meters, the 5,000 meters, as well as the Bill Penny hammer throw and the unseeded 1,500 meters. (4/18/01)