US leader Ferguson wins SP at Kansas Relays

By Alicia York for DyeStat

A wide-array of talented high school and college athletes from the midwestern region gathered for the 87th Kansas Relays this weekend. And for the 4,000 athletes from 11 states who competed it was a chance to break in the new 9,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility at Rock Chalk Park that opened exclusively for the Kansas Relays. RESULTS

For one athlete in particular the meet was a bit of a homecoming. Just down the road from KU, Kord Ferguson of Ottawa was surrounded by family and friends when he claimed the boys high school shot put championship on Saturday morning. The win was unlike most. While other athletes at Rock Chalk Park were setting the new facility marks by default, or breaking Kansas Relays records, Ferguson was dominant. He won the high school competition with 62-9.50. 

DyeStat was onsite at Rock Chalk Park all week for the Kansas Relays and had the chance to catch up with Ferguson after his throw. Although Kord claimed he didn't have anything to comment on in regards to post-competition rituals or secrets, he was able to elaborate on the Kansas Relays experience and his future athletic and academic plans.

At a towering 6-foot-6, Ferguson maintains a commanding presence for a high school senior. Mild-mannered and easy to speak with, Kord noted Rock Chalk Park's facility as beautiful, and described this meet and the shot put and discus field as more competitive than his Kansas state championship in a month.

Although he wasn't quite satisfied with his winning mark, it was good enough to keep him on track for his plans for the rest of the season, which include an impressive laundry list that begins with defending his state titles and breaking the Kansas state all-time shot put record. (Clint Johnson from Shawnee Mission South threw 69-1.50 in 1980).

From there, the senior hopes to qualify for the USA Junior Team at Eugene, Ore. and compete at the World Junior Championships in Eugene this July. Having never competed for the national team, earning a spot would be the end trophy for the reputable two-sport athlete from a little town in Kansas.

Ferguson has committed to Wichita State, and cited a few reasons for wanting to become a Shocker. Primarily, it's about family. Wichita State is nearby Ottawa and he likes the team camaraderie and "the way they treat each other."

"Track can be really boring, so it was nice to see everyone interested in what you're doing. You know, the long distance runners cheering for the throwers and vice versa," he said.

Having witnessed first-hand Monday's construction site at Rock Chalk Park that was riddled with everything from cable wires to dirt mounds to Saturday's sparkling debut weekend, it's safe to say the Kansas Relays will only get bigger and better with the new venue. The Saturday lineup included a TV broadcast, former KU track all-stars/Olympians handing out medals, and even KU cheerleaders and mascot dancing and tossing shirts into an excitable crowd. As long as the venue continues to attract hometown heroes like Ferguson, the Kansas Relays will continue to flourish.