KU Relays

From what I have seen their was a direction in the past five years towards making it a pro meet inside a high school meet with a bit of college and just enough competition for the home team to win a few events. With the big crowds of the past five years there must be a good reason why they turned the back on what had been the direction. Anyone on the inside have the scoop? Is there a plan for the future? What is Donly like? So what did they spend the money on this year?

SWEDES wrote:

Actually my daughter and I were right there. He used his hands to stabilize the bar which is now illegal. Hence, they said that the jump was disallowed. He knew it, but hoped they wouldn't call him on it.

Thanks, I thought that might have been the case.

RA62 wrote:

From what I have seen their was a direction in the past five years towards making it a pro meet inside a high school meet with a bit of college and just enough competition for the home team to win a few events. With the big crowds of the past five years there must be a good reason why they turned the back on what had been the direction. Anyone on the inside have the scoop? Is there a plan for the future? What is Donly like? So what did they spend the money on this year?

Donley is in outstanding couch. He was hired, but had to do double duty this year. He is still coaching the horizontals. Two guys in the NCAA top Ten in long jump. He should be able to do alot with the relays both on the pro side, and the college level. He knows people all over the country, and will be able to pull them in. I think things will definately get better.

That is very encouraging to hear. KU came back from the dead in the 90s. It deserves to keep growing. Sounds like the coach has the right experience to make it better. If he has the personality and drive to be such a great college recruiter and coach, then he's probably the right guy to take KU Relays to the next level. I didn't know he was that good. Too bad about the rough first year.

That is exactly why they should not use him. If they continue to call on him to do both then both will suffer and why would KU or anyone want that. Drake Relays is not directed by one of their coaches, at least it wasn't in the not so distant past, so it can continue to stay great. Double duty will be the down fall of the event and I think it took a step that way this year. It was not just a small number of fewer fans it was a significant number. According to the KC Star the three day total for the event was less than half of the last day total last year. Plenty of people know people in track and field. They need someone who knows people, can get sponsors, and will devote 100% to the success of the meet. Anything less will be a failure and it will go back to being a good high school meet.

Donley is serving as coach and relays director for one year only. Beginning next year, he will only be relays director.

I believe this is his final season coaching athletes.

That is good. I am sure it was hard for him to do both. I think people get caught up in to saying well he knows a lot of people in Track and Field. Many people do. I hope he can reach sponsors as well and be able to talk the corporate lingo. I know some people who have given to the relays and were not even approached this year to sponsor. That is facinating to me. But taking off a hat will help and I wish him and the meet the best.

In the weeks leading up to the Kansas Relays our high school coach would always threaten us with "going to the Sterling Relays" instead of KU, if we didn't start running better. (thankfully, it never happened).

Any of you guys on the inside know who else KU considered for the job? Do these things usually go to current / former coaches? It sounds like the advertsiing for the meet was bad, and now somone says that the sponsorships were not continued. Donley must have a number of things going for him since they picked him.

Or lets open it up to something bigger -- what should a good meet director be able to do? If you were the AD at KS, is there someone specifically you'd hire? If not someone specifically, what sort of characteristics would you look for?

KU people could have and should have spoon fed feature stories about the meet, who was running, some 'up close and personal' profiles to the KC Star and the JO. Co. papers every day leading up to the meet.

WOW...the Sterling Relays that is a blast from the past...I use to go and sit in the stands at the Sterling relays and watch the meet...my mom saw someone get speared by a bamboo polvault pole at that meet and I also remember that the Sterling Relays had a straight 220 yd dash...classic!!!

I wonder why "Jayhawk" poster hasn't weighed in on the meet? He's usually 'in the know' on these things in Kansas. (unless he was a part of the clusterf**k this year, and is keeping quiet).

couldn't make it to Lawrence?

I lived 8 miles from Sterling...

did the wind hurt the distance races in your opinion, timewise?

Thursday night for the distance carnival they had absolutely perfect conditions. I'd say it play a bit of a factor on Saturday.

Wyco Loco wrote:

Thursday night for the distance carnival they had absolutely perfect conditions. I'd say it play a bit of a factor on Saturday.

you think they'd figure it out by now, that "it is windy during the day, during the springtime in the great plains!"

and have the premier distance races, or at least the 10k, 5k, steeple after sunset.

I got the sense that they moved all the races over a mile to Thursday nite to create more room for sprints and the all-important gold zone events on Saturday. I don't think KU was trying to create better conditions for the 10k.