RCW: Bird's Eye View 3.33
Each week the Bird’s Eye View captures some of the best moments for Kansas Athletics. From the playing field, practice gym or behind the scenes, don’t miss this exclusive perspective into the Kansas Jayhawks.
Sky-Rider – KU’s Dylan Poirier launched himself into the sky over Rock Chalk Park during the pole vault competition on the second day of the 10-event open decathlon on Thursday, April 20. The senior vaulted a personal best of 5.00 meters (16-4¾) to win the event and finished with 6,633 points to finish as the top collegiate competitor and in third place overall at the 90th edition of the Kansas Relays.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Caged Ballet – KU discus thrower Nicolai Ceban began his spin through the ring with a balletic leg kick during the Kansas Relays at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday, April 22. The junior’s throw of 59.58 meters (195-6) was good for second place in the quadrangular event.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Contemplation – During the discus competition at the Kansas Relays, junior Nicolai Ceban rested inside a tent near the throwing cage at Rock Chalk Park as he prepared himself mentally for his next throw in the quadrangular competition on Saturday, April 22.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Brilliant Start – In front of a brightly-colored banner and with the setting sun illuminating Isaiah Cole, the freshman exploded out of the blocks to start his Kansas Relays quadrangular 200-meter dash at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday, April 22.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Alley Cat – Professional shot putter Tim Nedow used an alley south of 7th Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets in downtown Lawrence as his warmup area before the Downtown Shot Put as part of the Kansas Relays on Friday, April 21. Nedow finished in seventh place with a mark of 19.98m (65-6½).
Photo by Laura Jacobsen
Chalk It Up – Professional shot putter Josh Freeman chalked up his taped and gnarled throwing hand during the Downtown Shot Put as part of the Kansas Relays on Friday, April 21. Freeman finished in second place with a throw of 20.91 meters (68-7¼).
Photo by Laura Jacobsen
Jayhawk In Flight – Allegedly, a Jayhawk cannot fly, but don’t tell that to KU sophomore Nicole Montgomery who did her best to fly around the Rock Chalk Park track during the Kansas Relays’ quadrangular 400-meter dash on Saturday, April 22. Montgomery finished in third place in the 400 and later anchored KU to victory in the quadrangular 4×400-meter relay.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
New Heights – Sophomore Alexis Romero pumped her fists after claiming second place in the women’s quadrangular pole vault with a personal best of 4.17 meters (13-18¼) at the Kansas Relays on Saturday, April 22 at Rock Chalk Park.
Photo by Laura Jacobsen
Glowing – As former Jayhawk Michael Stigler autographed a sweatshirt, his face still seemed to glow with the joy the 400-meter hurdler showed after easily winning the open race in a time of 49.38 for his fourth event title at the Kansas Relays on Saturday, April 22 at Rock Chalk Park.
Photo by Laura Jacobsen
Helping Hands – KU student trainers helped untie the spikes of Tiana Valentine after the senior gave her all running the opening leg of the quadrangular 4×100-meter relay and then cramping after the team finished in fourth place during the Kansas Relays on Saturday, April 22 at Rock Chalk Park.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Revved – Hammer thrower Gleb Dudarev, in just his second collegiate outing, again turned in a collection of some of the top hammer throw marks in program history during the quadrangular competition at the Kansas Relays on Friday, April 21 at Rock Chalk Park. On his third attempt, the freshman flung the implement 72.65 meters (238-4), a mark that was just two inches short of his week-old school record.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
The Neighborhood – Beginning early Friday morning through late Saturday afternoon, April 21-22, tents popped up along the edges of the KU soccer field at Rock Chalk Park just east of the track facility creating a unique neighborhood filled with high school teams that use the soccer field for warmups.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Vintage Vault – The setting sun at the Kansas Relays on Saturday, April 22, silhouetted the winning quadrangular vault mark of 5.34m (17-6¼) by KU sophomore Hussain Al Hizam in front of some relaxed pole vault fans at Rock Chalk Park.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Water Wings – Junior Ben Burchstead flew off the Rock Chalk Park water jump barrier on his way to finishing in second place in the quadrangular 3,000-meter Steeplechase at the Kansas Relays on Saturday, April 22.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Aftermath – KU junior Talia Marquez, sophomore Morgan Griffiths and other competitors tried to recover on the Rock Chalk Park track following the 800-meter run, the final event of the two-day, seven-event open heptathlon at the Kanas Relays on Thursday, April 20. Marquez finished in fourth place and Griffiths in seventh place.
Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
