Jordan Scott redshirting, wins Kansas Relays

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http://www.kansascity.com/sports/colleg ... 48552.html

KU pole vaulter comes out on top after just missing career best

By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star

JILL TOYOSHIBA
KU’s Jordan Scott, who had to compete as an independent because he is redshirting, won the men’s pole vault.
Photos | Kansas Relays
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LAWRENCE | There’s no hiding the pole vault at the Kansas Relays.
The runway stretches like a fly pattern down middle of the football field, right over the Jayhawk at the 50-yard-line. And when the competition is down to one against the height, everybody in Memorial Stadium locks in.

Jordan Scott, a Kansas junior, rested the pole on shoulder and started the clapping. The few thousand joined him.

At several heights, the enthusiasm got Scott over the bar. Finally at 5.73 meters — 18 feet, 9 ¾ inches — Scott missed.

It would have been a career best for Scott, who won the event at 18-0 1/2. The precise height was chosen because a rival, Jason Colwick of Rice, had cleared 5.72 at the Texas Relays two weeks ago.

“It was a great day, great wind, great crowd and I just wanted to try and take advantage of it,” Scott said.

Great wind?

“You had to wait on it,” Scott said. “When you wait on it and it becomes a tailwind it’s amazing.”

Scott’s only regret, besides not topping a rival, was his outfit. He was wearing a USA top because he wasn’t competing for the Jayhawks. He’s taking a redshirt season, which will give him two more years of eligibility and allow him to compete with a young, talented team.

“I wish I could have been in a Kansas uniform in front of this crowd,” Scott said.

Scott’s performance wasn’t the only highlight in the pole vault. Finishing eighth was Paul Babits, who is 48 and has some dome showing on top.

But the competitor old enough to be every other competitor’s father, has got game. He cleared 15-7 and was disappointed not to go higher. Babits first competed in the Kansas Relays in 1984 and has seen some of the Relays’ best ever.

“It was a thrill to walk in the stadium again,” said Babits, who last competed in 1995.