Kansas athlete on the fast track

Shawnee (Kan.) Mill Valley cornerback/running back Justin Woods has been battling Olathe East running back Demetrius Bell for the honor to be called fastest guy in Kansas City for the past few weeks. Both have taken turns at beating each other and now a showdown could be looming a few weeks out with the regional track meet on the horizon.

"That's next Friday," Woods, who is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, said. "I beat Dee at the KU Relays and then he beat me at the Shawnee Mission North Relays. My fastest time of the year is 10.55 seconds, and I'm hoping that's fast enough to win state."

He also hopes he's fast enough to grab an early scholarship offer.

Woods has received a May phone call from K-State assistant Raheem Morris, plus Missouri assistant coach Andy Hill has been by the school. He also mentioned that Kansas assistant Clint Bowen has been writing him.

"I saw coach Hill at my track practice and all he said he could do was say 'hello,' " Bell said. "I knew he couldn't really talk to me. I also liked talking to coach Morris at K-State. He's a real cool guy and down to earth. I haven't heard yet from KU on the phone, so that would be a good thing, too."

At this point, Woods said K-State appears closest to offering a scholarship, but he said he's not going to get any offers until he takes his SAT or the ACT here in the next couple of weeks. Colorado is also scheduled to visit his school either today or some time this week.

So what type of player is Woods?

"I'm a true all-purpose guy," he said. "I'll play where ever the coaches ask me to. I think some of my biggest strengths are running the ball to the outside and catching the ball. I'm also a very good kickoff return specialist. I had five brought back for touchdowns."