Kratovil Highlights First Day of Relays
April 15, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Day one of the 2009 Kansas Relays is in the books, with five decathlon and four heptathlon events completed. Corbin Kratovil led the way for the Kansas track & field team Wednesday at Memorial Stadium, as he stands in second place overall in the decathlon with 3,512 points.
“Corbin had an awesome day,” Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. “He performed better in some of his events than he has all year.”
Kratovil took the victory in the men’s shot put, posting a throw of 12.65 meters (41-06.00 ft.). The freshman from Martin, S.D., recorded a fifth-place finish in the 100 meters, finished in third place in the long jump, tied for third in the high jump and took fifth in the 400 meters.
Jacob Breth, the lone other Jayhawk competing Wednesday, stands in fifth place overall with 3,380 points through one day of the decathlon. The junior from Wichita, Kan., won the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 49.52, defeating runner-up Justin Hickey of Wichita State by 1.20 seconds. Breth also recorded a personal-best of 5.94 meters (19-06.00 feet) in the long jump.
“Jacob didn’t do as well in some of the events, but he came back in the 400 and finished really well,” Redwine explained. “Both he and Corbin are doing very well, and that’s very exciting for KU.”
The leader through one day in the decathlon is Minnesota’s Joey Schwecke, who totaled 3,728 points on day one. Arkansas State’s Amy Bowman leads the heptathlon with 3,102 points through four events.
“Both Corbin and Jacob can have a really good day tomorrow,” Redwine said. “Normally one of them does well one day and the other one the other day, but they should both have a really good day tomorrow. I think if they do, both of them can finish just about where they are now. In the 1,500, Jacob can do really well. Corbin is still developing in some of those areas but I think both of them can do a pretty good job tomorrow. We’re looking forward to great things.”
Day two of the Kansas Relays begins Thursday at 8:30 a.m. CDT, kicking off with the decathlon’s 110-meter hurdles. Live results can be found for the 2009 Kansas Relays at www.kuathletics.com, www.kansasrelays.com or http://www.deltatiming.com/results/events_byschedule.aspx?yf=2009&mf=kansas_relays.
