100th Anniversary of KU Relays: What to watch for on Friday

The Kansas Relays will be hosted for the first time since 2019 this weekend in Lawrence, Kansas.

The event started on April 13, but high schoolers will compete on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 14 at Rock Chalk Park. This marks the 100th anniversary of the event.

There is a new meet director this year in Tim Byers, a former Baker University director of cross country and track and field from 2014-2022. He's a college graduate of Park University in Parkville, Missouri and later assisted with the Pirates. 

Schedule | Results | Meet Records

We broke down Friday's events and either highlight the final heat or notable Missouri athletes to watch on Friday. 

9:00 a.m. -- Girls 4x1600-meter relay

9:30 a.m. -- Boys 4x1600 meter relays

9:55 a.m. -- Girls 100-meter hurdles prelims (5 heats)

Heat 5: Jazymn Washington (Neosho), Emily Wright (Hillsboro), Grace Parsons (Rock Bridge) and Grace Hill (Warrensburg)

9:55 a.m. -- Boys 100-meter hurdles prelims (5 heats)

Heat 5: Montarion McAfee (Blue Springs), Asher Buggs-Tipton (Green City), James Watkins (Baytown South); Jacobi Oliphant (SLUH), Colin Madison (Liberty North)

10 a.m. -- Boys Pole Vault (1 flight)

Notable: Grayson Smith, Webb City, defending Class 4 champion

10 a.m. -- Girls javelin (2 flights)

Notable: Jennifer Hinkle, Knox County (Missouri signee); Morgan Cannon, Liberty (Missouri signee, Class 5 champion); Male Taula, William Christian (Emporia State signee)

10 a.m. -- Boys discus (2 flights)

Notable: Zach Grace (Kearney); Brennan Boord (Staley); Jackson Cantwell (Nixa); Javon Smith (Liberty North); Jayce Farrell (Smithville)

10 a.m. -- Girls shot put (2 flights)

Notable: Makenzie Garr (St. Joseph Central); Reagan Kimrey (Pleasant Hill)

10 a.m. -- Boys high jump (1 flight)

Notable: Jesus Flores-Hernandez (Maryville), Kendrick Bell (Park Hill); Zach Proctor (Kearney)

10:35 a.m. -- Girls 100-meter dash prelims (5 flights)

Heat 5: No Missouri runners

10:35 a.m. -- Boys 100-meter dash prelims (5 flights)

Notable: Driven Seamon (Rock Bridge); Calen Wright (Grandview); Daeton Hayslett (William Christian); Tory Lanham (Oak Park)

11 a.m. -- Boys triple jump (2 flights)

Notable: Josh Manning, Lee's Summit; Cole Bruenderman (Cape Girardeau Notre Dame); Isaiah Green (Neosho); Darin Conley (Pembroke Hill)

11 a.m. -- Girls triple jump (2 flights)

Notable: Jenna Givens (Cape Girardeau Notre Dame); Sunday Crane (Rock Bridge); Taylor Mayo (Kickapoo); Ava Lawless (Kearney); April Phillips (Summit Christian)

11:45 a.m. -- Girls 400-meter dash prelims(4 heats)

Heat 4: Karina Griffin (Ladue Horton Watkins); Zaya Akins (Raytown South); Lindsay Ramsey (North Platte); Jadyn Barnes (Kearney)

12:05 p.m. -- Boys 400-meter dash prelims (4 heats)

Heat 4: Eric Lewczyk (Liberty North); August Jones (Park Hill); Ty Carman (Warrensburg)

12:55 p.m. -- Girls 3200

Notable: Lauren Eftink (Cape Girardeau Notre Dame); Elsa Henry (St. Michael the Archangel); Natalie Gerdes (Park Hill); Ashlyn Smith (Ray-Pec); Abi Street (Webb City)

1:10 p.m. -- Boys 3200

Notable: Bryce Gentry (Jackson); Evan Stevens (Webb City); Peyton Willbanks (Liberty); Henry Acorn (Rockhurst); Sage Wilde (Liberty North); Tyler Harris (Kickapoo)

2:05 p.m. -- Girls 300-meter hurdles (5 flights)

Heat 5: Judy Elful (Park Hill South); LaNicia Parker (Minnetonka); Grace Parsons (Rock Bridge); Kennedy Herrig (Liberty North)

2:25 p.m. -- Boys 300-meter hurdles (5 flights)

Heat 5: Luke Furnell (Lee's Summit West); Daniel Williams (Ruskin); Jeremiah Kelley (Staley); Derek Grubb (Sedalia Smith-Cotton)

3:18 p.m. -- Boys Distance Medley (2 flights)

Heat 2: Liberty North, Jackson, Joplin, SLUH, Grain Valley

4:50 p.m. -- Girls 4x100 relay prelims (9 heats)

Heat 9: Lee's Summit West, North Platte, Sedalia Smith-Cotton

5:10 p.m. -- Boys 4x100 relay prelims(10 heats)

Heat 10: KC Central, Ruskin, Kickapoo, Raytown

5:42 p.m. -- Girls 800 (4 heats)

Heat 4: No Missouri runners

5:57 p.m. -- Boys 800 (4 heats)

Heat 4: Andrew Hauser (Rock Bridge); Josh Allison (Hillsboro); Grayson Tapp (Liberty North)

6:12 p.m. -- Girls 2,000-meter steeplechase

Notable: Ava Sullivan (Park Hill); Chloe Smith (Clever); Ellie Barker (Ray-Pec)

6:25 p.m. -- Boys 2,000-meter steeplechase

Notable: Matthew Martin (Nixa); Grey Edwards (Joplin); Gabe Voelker (Ray-Pec)

7:20 p.m. -- Girls 4x400-meter relay prelims(8 heats)

Heat 8: Lawson, Park Hill, Lee's Summit West, North Platte, Cape Girardeau Notre Dame

8:10 p.m. -- Boys 4x400-meter relay prelims (10 heats)

Heat 10: West Platte, Rockhurst, Kearney, Grandview