The prestigious Kansas Relays will be hosting its 90th edition of the meet this weekend. For the fifth year, the meet will be a qualifier for the Adidas Dream Mile.
Springfield Catholic’s Stephen Kielhofner, Webb City’s Ryan Riddle and Glendale’s Luke Miller are all scheduled to run in final 10-runner heat of the event. The winner of the race earns an automatic berth to race in the Dream Mile in June just outside of Boston.
The field includes the following athletes in order of seed time.
Kyler True – Olpe (Kan.): He holds a personal best of 1:49.87 in the 800, which is No. 2 All-Time in Kansas. Also holds a personal best of 4:10.99 in the 1600 for No. 12 all-time in Kansas.
Dylan Brenneman – Spring Hill (Kan.): He is the defending Kansas Class 4 3200-meter champion. Holds season bests of 4:24.14 in the 1600 and 1:58.62 in the 800.
Ryan Parson – Farmington: He holds a best of 4:16.84 this season and was fourth at the distance in Class 4 last season.
Matt Frazier – Dowling Catholic (Iowa): He was third in the 1600 at the Class 4 Iowa State Meet last season with a time of 4:17.47. He posted a 1:54.16 in the 800 at the same meet.
Clayton Adams – Kearney: He is the defending Class 4 Missouri Champion in the 1600 with a best of 4:17.10 this season.
Stephen Kielhofner – Catholic: The junior is the defending Class 3 champion in the 1600 with a 4:17.97 best in the event.
Ryan Riddle – Webb City: Riddle was fifth in the 1600 in Class 4 this year with a season-best of 4:18.40.
Luke Miller – Glendale: This will be his third time at the KU Relays, but first time in the championship heat of the 1600. He holds a best of 4:19.22.
John Luder – Rockhurst: He was sixth in Class 5 last year with a best of 4:19.56 in the 1600.
Alex Gill – St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.): Comes in with a 4:25.42 best on the season.
Adams, Parson, Brenneman, Luder, True and Miller all ran this event at the KU Relays last season though not all were in the final heat where the winner is sure to come out of.
Dowling Catholic’s Ryan Schwiezer ran a time of 4:18.36 to win the event last season. The time illustrates the tactical nature of the race.
“I have heard it is more of a tactical race. I don’t think I will be aiming for time too much,” Kielhofner said. “Hopefully I can PR, but if not I am hoping to get a good race in; get a good kick in especially. I have been doing more speed work lately. It will help me out hopefully.”
Glendale’s Spencer Haik is the only local to win the event in its four-year history. He won with a time of 4:15.30 back in 2014. He would go on to compete in the Adidas Grand Prix Dream Mile that June and finish 10th of 14 with a time of 4:10.21.
The race is scheduled for 2:50 in the afternoon on Saturday. The weather is forecasted to be overcast and in the low 60’s.
Dana Harding contributed to this report.
