#KUinTAIWAN: Jayhawks have landed
CHIAYI, Taiwan – The Kansas baseball team, representing the United States via USA Team at the Sixth World University Baseball Championships, reached their final destination in Chiayi City, Taiwan, Wednesday, July 4, at 11 a.m. (CT), with just enough time to celebrate the Fourth of July.
The Jayhawks left Hoglund Ballpark at 3:20 a.m. (CT) for the Kansas City International Airport. There, the squad hopped a 6 a.m. (CT) flight to Denver before an 8:45 a.m. (CT) connection to San Francisco. Following a five-hour layover, it was smooth sailing for 13.5 hours to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport where KU landed at 5:40 a.m. (CT) July 4.
Kansas decided to be efficient and eat at the airport following a trek through customs, before loading a bus for a 2.5-hour ride through the country to reach its final destination in Chiayi City.
In total, the Jayhawks covered 8,854 miles in the air, spanning 17 hours and 11 minutes of flight time. Take into account travel to and from the airport, and layovers, KU spent 31 hours traveling from 3:30 a.m. (CT) July 3 to 11 a.m. (CT) July 4, to get to its hotel in Chiayi City.
Kansas will endure a quick turnaround before its first practice at 1 a.m. (CT) July 5.
With a 13-hour time difference in Taiwan ahead of the Central Time Zone, Kansas opens against Hong Kong at 8 p.m. (CT) on July 5. The second game of pool play takes place July 8 at 12 a.m. (CT) against Japan, with Russia to follow on July 9, also at 12 a.m. (CT).
The games will all be live streamed in some facet on a combination of sources, with more information to follow.
A total of 22 student-athletes are allowed to participate for each team, and for Kansas, only U.S. citizens can compete, with incoming freshmen and transfers qualifying. An official USA Team roster will be released prior to the start of the competition on Wednesday, July 4.
The United States holds more medals – three gold and two silver – in the event than any other participating country, including taking home the crown in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Japan is second on the list with four medals – two silver and two bronze – while Cuba is third with three medals – two gold and one bronze.
This trip marks the second foreign tour for the Jayhawks in less than a two-year span, as they trekked to the Dominican Republic in November of 2016.
FOLLOW /KansasBaseball
@KUbaseball
@KUbaseball
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
