K-State Concludes Strong Showing at the Nebraska Tune-Up

Friday, February 16

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Nebraska Tune-Up

K-State Concludes Strong Showing at the Nebraska Tune-Up

Feb 16, 2018 | Track & Field

Results (.pdf)

By: K-State Concludes Strong Showing at the Nebraska Tune-Up

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State men's and women's track and field teams wrapped up a strong showing at the Nebraska Tune-Up in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, as the Wildcats totaled three event victories and five personal bests marks.

Friday's meet marked the final competition before the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Ames, Iowa on February 23-24, as K-State prepares to compete amongst the best of the Big 12 Conference.

In the women's weight throw, sophomore Helene Ingvaldsen continued an impressive campaign by winning her sixth weight throw competition of the season. Ingvaldsen, who tossed a winning 20.37m/66-10 on her third attempt, was accompanied by sophomore Ashley Petr and Shaelyn Ward in the event finals, where Petr went on to shatter her personal best with a throw of 18.16m/59-07 to finish fifth, while Ward finished sixth with a throw of 17.85m/58-06.75.

Junior Brett Neelly stands at second in the Big 12 in the men's shot put competition, after throwing a personal best 19.19m/62-11.50 at the Texas Shootout only a week ago. On Friday, Neelly won the men's shot put competition with a throw of 18.34m/60-02, while freshman Kyle Mitchell impressed with a huge personal best of 17.79m/58-04.50 on his final attempt to place third overall. Mitchell's new mark puts him 10^th in K-State Indoor history, surpassing Gene Petersen's mark of 17.75m/58-03 set in 1997.

"We feel we still have some big throws in us, Ashley [Petr] was pretty stoked to set a personal best of over two meters in the weight throw and Kyle [Mitchell] keeps getting better every week," Assistant Coach Greg Watson said. "We have another week for us to prepare for the Big 12 Championships, and I think everyone is excited to get up to Ames and compete."

Senior Mitch Dixon entered Friday's Nebraska Tune-Up undefeated through six collegiate weight throw competitions this season and he would continue his streak at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday. Battling with Olympian A.G. Kruger (unattached), Dixon tossed his best throw of the night on his third attempt, reaching 21.06m/69-01.25 to finish as the top collegian. Kruger would go on to best Dixon's mark on his fourth attempt, before winning the event with a throw of 21.92m/71-11.

In the women's mile, freshman Cara Melgares broke her personal best as well as the 5:00 minute plateau on Friday, as she ran a 4:57.66 in the women's mile, placing her second overall. Fellow freshman Victoria Robinson took a similar stride in the women's 800 meters, where she also finished second overall in 2:16.06.

The Wildcats closed out the day with a pair of solid performances in the men's and women's 4x400-meter relay. In the women's race, the team consisting of Lauren Taubert, Akia Guerrier, Keiteyana Parks and Ranae McKenzie won the event in 3:45.43. The men followed that up with a second-place performance in the men's 4x400, as sophomore Justin Davis led the team with a split of 49.34, as the team finished in 3:21.77.

The Wildcats will depart for Ames, Iowa to compete in the Big 12 Indoor Championships on February 23-24 at the Lied Recreation Center, where both K-State teams placed sixth as a team last season. For ticket information, a schedule of events and more, click here.
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

Nebraska Tune-Up
Bob Devaney Sports Center
Lincoln, Nebraska

Men's Weight Throw
2. Mitch Dixon, 21.06m/69-01.25

Women's Weight Throw
1. Helene Ingvaldsen, 20.37m/66-10
5. Ashley Petr, 18.16m/59-07 (P.R.)
6. Shaelyn Ward, 17.85m/58-06.75

Men's Shot Put
1. Brett Neelly, 18.34m/60-02
3. Kyle Mitchell, 17.79m/58-04.50 (P.R.)

Women's Shot Put
3. Jess St. John, 15.57m/51-01
7. Taylor Latimer, 14.31m/46-11.50

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
3. Ariel Okorie, 8.52
4. Lauren Taubert, 8.65
7. Paige Kimble, 8.84

Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
22. Simone Fassina, 8.65
24. Max Estill, 8.75

Women's Mile Run
2. Cara Melgares, 4:57.66 (P.R.)

Men's Mile Run
20. Sam Oxandale, 4:23.25
34. Noah Stevenson, 4:34.52

Men's Long Jump
3. Tom Pyle, 6.97m/22-10.50 (P.R.)

Women's 800 Meters
2. Victoria Robinson, 2:16.06

Men's Triple Jump
5. Isaac Smallwood, 13.78m/45-02.50 (P.R.)

Women's 4x400m Relay
1. Kansas State 'A', 3:45.43
3. Kansas State 'B', 3:58.91

Men's 4x400m Relay
2. Kansas State 'A', 3:21.77