A new era will begin in Kansas men’s track and field this school year.

Not a coaching era, mind you.

Stanley Redwine enters his third season as the Jayhawks' track and cross country coach.

Stanley Redwine is firmly implanted as he begins his third season as the Jayhawks’ head track and field and cross country coach.

The change stems from the fact old reliables Scott Russell, Charlie Gruber and Andy Morris, who helped KU to a fourth-place finish at Big 12 Outdoor last spring, have used up their eligibility.

Russell, a six-time Big 12 champion, will be missed, yet will continue in the sport as he pursues the next Olympics in his specialty, the javelin.

The good news is All-Americans Vadim Gvozdetskiy and Leo Bookman are back along with jumper Benaud Shirley.

Gvozdetskiy, a senior pole vaulter from Russia, placed fifth in the pole vault at last year’s NCAA Indoor with a leap of 17-1134. Injury problems hampered him during the outdoor season. Bookman, a junior sprinter from Dickinson, Texas, placed seventh in the 200 at the NCAA Indoor in 21.12.

Shirley, a 6-2 senior from Port Antonio, Jamaica, won the triple jump at the Big 12 Outdoor with a leap of 51-112. He moved up a place from the indoor championships, when he notched second in the triple in 50-712. He was sixth in league indoor long jump (23-712).

“I know I am one of the best triple jumpers in the conference,” Shirley said. “My senior year I am hoping to break the KU record (55-734). I’m excited about our team. We placed fourth in the conference and should have gotten third. I think we can be even better.”

Senior Anson Jackson is back after placing fifth in the 110 hurdles at the league outdoor (14.13) and sixth in the 60 hurdles (8.1) indoors.

A sprinter in track, Leo Bookman also plays defensive back for KU's football team.

Sophomore Brian Franklin returns after notching fourth in the triple jump outdoors (49-5) and seventh indoors (47-5 1/4). He was named the team’s newcomer of the year. Also back is T.J. Hackler, a senior from Olathe who placed 11th in high jump outdoors in 6-934.

Promising sprinters return from the 1,600 relay that placed 10th at the league outdoor (3:17.24) Dorian Jordan, Kerry Crunkleon, Jeremy Mims and Brandon Hodges.

Mims is a sophomore from Iowa City and Hodges a soph from Hot Springs, Ark. Hodges earned Junior All America honors by placing eighth in the 800 in a personal best 1:51.11 at the USA Junior Track and Field championships in June in California.

Mark Menefee, a senior from Buhler, has no eligibility left in cross country, but is back in track after placing third in the 5,000 at the Big 12 Outdoor in 14:21.25.

KU’s men’s cross country team loses six seniors off a team that placed seventh at league and ninth of 24 teams at regionals.

Runners who competed at the league meet who return include Chris Jones, a sophomore from Iowa City who notched 34th at league; Luke Belford, a sophomore from Leavenworth who placed 73rd; and Brian Raggett, a junior from Overland Park who placed 81st.

Jones placed third at the Bob Timmons Invitational, traversing the 8K Rim Rock course in 26:35. He also placed 10th at the league outdoor meet in the 5,000 in 14:47.14.

The list of signees includes middle distance runner Eric Black of Baldwin High, plus cross country runners Abraham Kimeli, a transfer from South Plains College in Texas; Cameron Schwehr of Colbert, Wash.; and Erik Sloan, Glenview, Ill.

“The coaches are bringing together a great group of guys,” said former distance standout Gruber, who will work out at KU this year as he begins graduate school. “We’re cleaning house so to speak with a lot of guys graduating, but also bringing in new guys who can do well.”

Redwine has also signed high jumpers Clark Grisell of Garden City and Brett Terp of St. Charles, Mo. Sprinter Adrian Carey of Nassau, Bahamas, also is joining the program.

“I’m happy with our effort but I want more. We will continue to get better day by day, year by year,” Redwine said.