Daniels wins battle of former Jayhawk teammates at KU Relays

It was a battle between former teammates.

Paris Daniels, who helped the Kansas women to the NCAA outdoor championship last year, edged Kansas senior Diamond Dixon in the women’s 400 meters on Saturday at Rock Chalk Park.

Daniels, who finished her KU career last spring, clocked a 53.66 in the 400, while Dixon finished in 54.07.

“It was kind of like a fight to the finish,” Daniels said, “and I ended up having a stronger finish and being able to hold her off in the end.”

Last year, Daniels clinched the NCAA title for KU with a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters on the meet’s final day. Now she has her sights set on the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“2016,” Daniels said. “Get ready for me.”

In Dixon’s first three years at Kansas, she’s won an NCAA indoor championship in the 400 meters, an NCAA outdoor team title and three straight Big 12 outdoor titles in the 400. She also won a relay gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. So there may not be much more to accomplish.

Dixon has big goals for this year’s Big 12 and NCAA meets, but she’s also looking forward to turning professional this summer.

“I’m so ready to start my professional career and see where I go,” Dixon said. “So I’m excited.”

Dixon said she may compete in some international events overseas this summer, but she’s also focused on running in her second Olympic games in 2016.

Maurice Mitchell, a graduate of Raytown South, won the 200-meter title on Saturday with a time of 20.54.

Mitchell, who excelled as a collegian at Florida State, ran in the 200 meters at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Kansas junior hurdler Michael Stigler was selected the Most Outstanding Men’s Performer of the Relays after dominating in the 400-meter hurdles.

The Most Outstanding Women’s Performer went to high school sprinter Ally Watt of Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Watt cruised to a victory in the high school 100 meters.

This story was originally published April 19, 2014 at 7:50 PM with the headline "Daniels wins battle of former Jayhawk teammates at KU Relays ."