KU’s Chesang wins mile

One of the best long-distance runners in the country proved Saturday at the Kansas Relays he’s an elite miler, too.

Benson Chesang, KU’s compact 5-foot-4, 115-pound junior dynamo from Kenya who won the Big 12 Conference cross-country championships last fall, conquered a strong field and stiff wind at Memorial Stadium in winning the Relays mile in a time of 4:05.63 on Saturday.

Former KU standout Charlie Gruber, who competed in the 2004 Olympics, placed third in 4:08.66, right behind Kansas State’s Christian Smith, runner-up in 4:07.73.

“I didn’t expect to win,” said Chesang, school-record holder in the 3,000. “My strategy was to be in second or third position, but I ended up winning, which was a big surprise.”

Chesang grabbed the lead from Smith on the third of four laps to the delight of 24,200 pro-KU fans who made up the second-largest crowd in Relays history.

“I was going to go with everybody else. It started slowing down, so I decided to take the lead,” Chesang said. “I’m not a miler. I’m a 5,000 runner. This was part of my weekend workout.”

Gruber is a miler, one who hoped to cross the tape in under four minutes Saturday.

“We were on pace for a while,” Gruber said. “I lost focus from the 800 to 1,200 mark. That’s the toughest area for me. I didn’t have it today.

“Physically I felt good. Emotionally I was a little low today, not as fired up as I needed to be, going through the motions,” Gruber added. “I couldn’t get the adrenaline going at the end. That was the most disappointing to me.”

He was happy for Chesang.

“Like I said earlier this week, there’s a lot of good young guys on the team,” Gruber said. “I’m glad Benson was able to get the victory. He’s having a great year.”

Chesang wasn’t the only Jayhawk to win Saturday.

Senior Jeremy Mims won the 800 in 1:50.0, barely clipping Dmitrijs Milkevics of Nebraska (1:50.29).

“This is the Kansas Relays, one of our two home meets all season, so I’m pretty excited being able to win in front of the home fans,” Mims said. “We didn’t have the best conditions today for a fast race. It was windy, but in the race you can’t even tell.”

Ex-Jayhawk Leo Bookman won the 200 in 20.52, clipping Nebraska’s Nate Probasco and Nike’s Leonard Scott, who were timed in 20.74 and 20.85.

“I’m disappointed with the time. The wind really got us,” said Bookman, who runs for Nike. “It was a really strong headwind. I’ll take the victory and build on it.”

Bookman, who placed eighth in the 100 in 10.32, said he was energized by the large home crowd.

“I love the crowd. The more the merrier,” he said. “They are cheering for me, so I’ve got to get them a victory. It’s the best crowd I’ve seen here by far.”

KU senior Brooklyn Hann won the triple jump in 43-3 3/4. Runner-up was Nebraska’s Vanitta Kinard (41-1 3/4).

“I didn’t do as well as I wanted, but you can’t be mad about a win,” Hann said. “I was so excited to win at home. I just wanted to win at home my senior year.”

KU junior Abby Emsick won the discus in 168-8 despite fouling on four of six throws. Southwest Missouri State’s Keisha Walkes notched second in 154-6.

KU senior Amy Linnen was second in the pole vault in 13-11 1/4. April Steiner, an unattached athlete, had the same height, but fewer misses.