LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The 2001 Kansas Relays "An Olympic Return" will feature some of the world's top track and field athletes, including Passion Richardson, Robert Howard, Melvin Lister and Brian Lewis. All in all, 21 Olympians will be in attendance, along with 91 other elite athletes from the track and field community. Meet Director Tim Weaver indicates that the college and high school fields are the deepest in years. Over 3,000 athletes will compete in the 2001 Kansas Relays, including 120 collegiate teams and 252 high school teams. Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Kansas will represent the Big 12 in this year's Relays.
Last year's Kansas Relays highlighted current world record holder in the 100-meter-dash, Maurice Greene, who will not compete this year due to a prior commitment.
"Maurice does not plan on being here next week," Weaver said. "Unfortunately he has another commitment. It was fantastic having him here in 2000. I've never seen a more gracious athlete in dealing with the mob of fans and autograph seekers. I hope to have the entire HSI crew return to the Kansas Relays in the near future."
The Relays will begin next Wednesday, April 18, at 9:30 a.m. with the men's and women's decathlon and heptathlon and end Saturday, April 21 at 6:10 p.m. with the men's Special Invitational Relay.
Olympians competing in the 2001 Kansas Relays:
Melvin Lister - Triple Jump, Long Jump
LaTasha Colander-Richardson - 200 meters
Ken Brokenburr - 100 meters, 200 meters
Brian Lewis- 100 meters
Michelle Collins - 100 meters, 200 meters
Clement Chukwu - 200 meters, 400 meters
Tonja Buford-Bailey - 400 Hurdles
Benjamin Youla - 400 meters
Sandra Farmer Patrick - 400 Hurdles
Fabian Rollins - 200 meters, 400 meters
Robert Howard - Triple Jump, Long Jump
Jerome Young - 200 meters, 400 meters
Passion Richardson - 100 meters
Sheila Burrell - Long Jump
Calvin Davis - 400 Hurdles
Dinsdale Morgan - 400 Hurdles
Ian Weakley - 400 Hurdles
Paul Tucker - 400 Hurdles
Andy Bloom - Discus, Shot Put
Verneta Lesforis - 400 meters
Nathan Leeper - High Jump
(4/12/01)