Editorial: Relays tradition

The Kansas Relays is primed to reclaim its position as one of the nation’s premiere track and field events.

The Kansas Relays are a signature athletic event for Kansas University and Lawrence. They not only seem to guarantee at least one day of rain on an April weekend in Lawrence but they draw thousands of competitors and spectators to the community.

For the last several years, the relays have included one or two events staged in downtown Lawrence, and it’s good news that local organizers have been able to preserve the men’s Olympic shot put competition downtown despite the fact that Kansas Athletics chose not to allocate any funding for the event this year. The shot put, which will draw some of the world’s top competitors to Lawrence is scheduled at 6 p.m. Friday on Eighth Street between Massachusetts and Vermont Streets. It has been a popular event and promoted community interest in the relays. Thanks to the local businesses and government entities that stepped up to keep the shot put competition going.

For the first time, the Kansas Relays will be held this year at the new Rock Chalk Park on the west edge of the city. Organizers have determined that construction at the park is far enough along to allow the relays to be held there, but competitors and spectators may experience some inconvenience because construction still is underway. Hopefully, that inconvenience is minimal and won’t color their impressions of what, when complete, reportedly will be a world-class track and field facility.

With the new venue and KU’s re-energized track and field program, the Kansas Relays is primed to regain some of its traditional prominence. The status of the relays has ebbed and flowed over the years, but it seems the event now has a golden opportunity to re-establish itself as one of the nation’s premiere track and field competitions — one that will draw top athletes from around the world.

Publicity for this year’s Kansas Relays touts “New Home, Same Tradition.” We hope the event’s “new home” will allow KU not only to maintain the “same tradition” but to build an even stronger track and field tradition for KU and the state.