Russell Looks to Add Another Kansas Relays Championship to His Collection
April 15, 2005
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas Relays meet director Tim Weaver announced Friday that Jayhawk legend Scott Russell will throw the javelin at this year’s Kansas Relays. Russell, a native of Ontario, Canada, competed for Kansas from 1998 to 2002. He hopes to follow up his 2004 victory in the javelin throw with another win in front of a big crowd.
Russell is one of Kansas’ most decorated throwers, joining the likes of Bill Alley, Al Oerter, Karl Salb, and Bill Nieder. Karl Salb (1969-73) won three NCAA Outdoor shot put titles and three indoor shot crowns. Al Oerter (1957-58) claimed two outdoor discus titles, and Bill Alley (1959-60) won two outdoor javelin crowns. Russell was a two-time NCAA champion in 2002, winning the weight throw and the javelin. That double had never been accomplished before, and no once has matched it since. Russell set the NCAA record in the weight throw that year with a toss of 81-1 ¼. He won an amazing nine Big XII Conference titles (3 indoor, 6 outdoor), the weight throw conference crown in 1999, 2001, and 2002; the hammer throw in 1999, 2000, and 2002; and the javelin in 1998, 2000, and 2002. Russell is the Kansas school record holder in the weight throw, hammer, and javelin as well as the Big XII meet record holder in the weight throw. Russell has also won Kansas Relays titles in 2000, 2002, and 2004 in the hammer; he won the javelin in 2000 and 2003.
“Scott has been a champion at every level of competition. He’s won NCAA titles, conference titles, Canadian titles, and the Triple Crown of Relays victories,” Weaver said. “When my wife was pregnant a few years ago, I told her that if we had a son, how I’d love for him to turn out like Scott Russell. She read me the riot act about not forcing our children into track and having realistic expectations and not pushing my dreams on our kids. I let her go on, then told her how I hoped my son would be kind, considerate, well-spoken, and moral. It’s probably the only time I’ve won an argument in my married life. As great of an athlete as he is, Scottie is an even better person. If you want to come to the Kansas Relays and cheer for someone who is a hero on and off the field, be sure to stop by the javelin runway and give a loud yell for Scott.”
Russell continues to live and train in Lawrence under the coaching guidance of Kansas throws coach Doug Reynolds. He also helps out as a volunteer assistant coach for the Jayhawks.
“Every athlete loves a big crowd,” Russell said. “Each year the group surrounding the throws field gets bigger and bigger, and I can’t imagine what is will look like this year with all of the Olympians and World Champions who will be in town. I’ll do my part to put on a good show for the fans and, of course, I always have room for one more relays medal in my collection.”
In addition to his success in collegiate competition, Russell was the 2001 Canadian national champion in the javelin. Later that year at the World Championships he finished 13th and set the Canadian record of 267-11. In 2002 he won the silver medal in the javelin at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. In 2004, he was the Canadian Olympic Trials javelin champion.
“Scott is a KU legend, and he’s excited and loves to compete at the Relays,” Kansas coach Stanley Redwine said, “We will see big things start to happen for Scott this year beginning with the Kansas Relays, and leading up to the World Championships this summer.”
The 78th Kansas Relays will run from April 21-23; the GOLD ZONE is Saturday, April 23 from 2:00 – 5:00 pm. For more information about the Kansas Relays, a complete GOLD ZONE schedule, and ticket information, please visit http://kuathletics.collegesports.com/sports/c-relay/
