LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) _ Michael Cox became the first runner since Jim Ryun to break 4 minutes in the mile at the Kansas Relays, and Stacy Dragila set an American record in the women's pole vault to highlight the final day of the 71st annual meet.
Bill Deering cleared 18 feet 10 1/4 inches to win the men's invitational pole vault Saturday over former Kansas vaulter Pat Manson, who cleared 18-6 1/2.
Deering's mark was his best ever and qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
"My goal was to qualify for the Olympics," Deering said. "I was very pleased with the great field of competition."
Cox ran 3:59.20 in the invitational mile, the best since Ryun ran 3:57.1 in 1972 while preparing for the Munich Olympic Games.
Cox just missed the mark last year, running 4:00.93 with little competition.
Dragila, of Idaho State, cleared 13-6 1/2 to break her own record of 13-5 1/4, set in March at the U.S. Indoor Championships.
"I was shooting for 14 feet, but it's coming," Dragila said.
Dragila and Cox were named the outstanding performers in the meet, the third time Cox has won the honor.
Kwani Stewart of Nike Central set a Relays record in the women's university/open 100-meter hurdles. She ran a personal best of 13.28 to break the previous record of 13.44 set by Dianne Rose of Barton County Community College in 1991.
"I didn't feel good before the race, but that is when I have some of my best runs," Stewart said.
Maurice Greene of Nike Central blazed to a 10.23 in the invitational 100 meters. Tim Hardin of Kentucky was second in 10.29, a provisional qualifying time for the NCAA Championships, and Marcel Carter of Nike Central was third at 10.34.
Sam Hill of Arkansas State leaped 52-11 to win the university triple jump, also a provisional qualifier, as was the winning 110-meter hurdle time of 13.95 run by Neil Gardner of Michigan.
Hill also finished second in the open high jump at 7-1 3/4, and Clint Panek of Wichita State was second in the open discus at 180-6, with both marks being provisional qualifiers.
Cameron Wright won the high jump at 7-5 1/4, and Dave Rodely won the discus at 186-10, both men competing unattached.
In invitational events, Kevin Toth of Nike International won the shot put at 67-0, and Marcel Carter of Nike Center won the 200 meters at 20.64, edging out David Oaks and Wendell Gaskin.
In women's events, Shelly Greathouse of Colorado State won the university discus at 175-1, which automatically qualified her for the NCAA meet.
Provisional qualifiers included Vanitta Kinard of Kansas State with 42-5 1/4 in the triple jump; Sue Hoesli of Eastern Michigan with a 9:39.55 in the 3,000-meter run; and the top three in the high jump.
Wanita Dykstra won the university high jump at 6-0 1/2, ahead of Nicole Forrester and Monika Black of Michigan.
In the invitational 400, Nicki Green ran 52.19 to edge out Natasha Kaiser-Brown.
Karissa Stewart won the university 100 meters and led off for Kansas State as the Wildcats won the 400-meter relay, and the Missouri women won the 2-mile relay and distance-medley relay.
In women's college competition, Emporia State won the distance-medley relay and 2-mile relay, and Barton County's Jenell Ali took the 100 meters and Kyla Shoemake won the 100-meter hurdles.
"I ran a personal best today," Ali said. "I'm satisfied, but it could have been better."
On the men's side, Barton County's Tim Rusan won the triple jump at 49-6 1/4 and James Ballard took the high jump at 7-1.
Copyright 1996 By The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.