Kansas Relays Part Of adidas Golden Stripes Tour

April 13, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Opportunities to qualify for the prestigious adidas Grand Prix Track and Field Meet in New York await high school boys and girls competing in the 100 meters and mile-run events at the 2011 Kansas Relays.

Those races are part of just three national qualifying events in the country as part of the adidas Golden Strips Tour. Other qualifying meets include the Meet of Champions, held in Azusa, Calif. March 26 and the Golden South Classic in Orlando, Fla. May 28.

“adidas is extremely excited to be partnering with the Kansas Relays as part of the Golden Stripes Tour to help bring a new level of excitement to the event and create an atmosphere that encourages young athletes to compete to the best of their abilities,” said Chris Hollis, the Next Generation Manager at adidas.

The Kansas Relay races will bring in some of the top high school sprinters and milers from within a 500-mile radius of the state of Kansas.

The winners of the races, who meet qualifying times, will receive invitations to compete in the prestigious adidas Grand Prix in New York City June 11. The longer race in New York, the adidas Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile, is named after the former University of Kansas standout. Ryun was a three-time Olympian and the world record holder in the mile.

Invited qualifying athletes will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete in the event. The adidas Grand Prix is one of the nation’s premier track and field invitationals and features Olympic stars from around the world.

“It is exciting to have adidas come in and promote the Golden Stripes Tour at the Kansas Relays,” said Relays meet director . “It is important to high school track and field to bring attention to two of the sports’ premier events.” Milan Donley

Ryun and Maurice Greene, a Kansas City, Kan. native, who won four Olympic medals and five world championships, while also holding the 100-meter world record, will be in attendance at the Kansas Relays.

“The goal of the Golden Stripes Tour is to create events that embody the true spirit of track and field,” Hollis said. “We want to create arenas for young athletes to strive for greatness and follow in the footsteps of the sports pioneers like Jim Ryun and Maurice Greene.”

The winners of the races must meet the qualifying standards of a 10.54 boys and 11.70 girls marks in the 100 and a 4:11 boys and 4:50 girls mile times to be invited to New York City.

“If the student-athletes have a great performance at the Kansas Relays, it gives them an opportunity to run against some of the nation’s best competition later this summer,” Donley said.

The girls’ 100-meters is scheduled for Friday at 11:25 a.m. with the boy’s 100 at 11:40 a.m. The mile races (1,600 meters) will take place Saturday with the girls running at 3:30 p.m. and the boys immediately after.

“We are excited to be connecting the long standing tradition and partnership that the University of Kansas, Jim Ryun and adidas have had in a manner that encourages young athletes to strive for greatness,” Hollis said.

The Relays will take place Wednesday, April 20 through Saturday, April 23. Ticket information and event schedules are available on the Kansas Relays Home Page. The Kansas Relays link is available through the Jayhawk Fans listing at the top of the Kansas athletic department home page.