Student-athletes Support the 83rd Annual Kansas Relays

April 19, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan.– –

The University of Kansas Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) attended the 83rd annual Kansas Relays to spend time with some kids as well as to support fellow student-athletes.

SAAC hosted a Kid’s Fun Zone which featured inflatable toys to jump and race on, a bean bag toss, hula-hoops, coloring books and Jayhawk tattoos.

“I went one time with a little girl through the Fun Zone, but she beat me,” Justin Springer football player said. “I kind of let her beat me though, to make her feel happy.”

Sixty student-athletes volunteered and interacted with over 400 kids at the Fun Zone. The entire men’s basketball team, the entire men’s golf team and members of the swimming and diving team, the football team and rowing team came out to support the event.

“I love interacting with kids and I think it is a good opportunity to let kids have positive interactions with student-athletes,” Meg Proehl diver said.

One little girl said, “I have been hula-hooping and doing a lot of fun stuff all day.”

The student-athletes at the Fun Zone also planned on watching the Kansas Relays after the event was over.

“My brother Shawn (Proehl) is on the track team and I also have a lot of friends on the track team,” Proehl said. “So I have been watching the relays since Thursday.”

Chris Harris football player and Springer were most looking forward to watching the 100 and 200 meter dash.

“Right after I get done here I am going to go over to the relays and watch all the athletes compete,” Springer said.

“It’s good to support fellow student-athletes,” Harris said.

Next up for SAAC is a Habitat for Humanity community build scheduled for Saturday May 1.

For more information, please contact Mike Harrity, Assistant Athletics Director at mharrity@ku.edu