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Sacramento, Calif.
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NCAA West Preliminary
Seven Wildcats Qualify for NCAA Championship on Final Day of West Prelims
May 27, 2018 | Track & Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, California on Saturday, the Kansas State track and field team qualified seven more individuals to increase the total to 15 individuals who will make the trip to Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Championship meet on June 6-9.
Among Saturday's qualifiers, senior Janee' Kassanavoid (hammer throw), Helene Ingvaldsen (hammer throw), Tejaswin Shankar (high jump), Brett Neelly (shot put), Shardia Lawrence (triple jump), Konstantina Romaiou (triple jump) and Terrell Smith (200 meters) all punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships. The 15 individuals qualified marks the second-consecutive season the Wildcats have qualified 15 individuals for the NCAA Championships.
"This meet is a very, very high pressure meet. For every team there will be things that happen well and things that do not happen as planned," Assistant Coach Vincent Johnson said on Saturday. "Our group did a very good being composed as a unit. Those who are going to the next level and those who are not, represented K-State very well."
The Wildcats got off to a quick start in the women's hammer throw, where they were just one of two teams in the West Preliminary to qualify two individuals in the event. Kassanavoid, a native of Lawson, Missouri, took an early advantage in the event by throwing 67.10m/220-02 on her first attempt to jump into first place.
After Kassanavoid's strong start, Ingvaldsen found her NCAA qualifying throw on her second attempt, where she recorded a throw of 62.03m/203-06, which placed her ninth overall and clinched her second career NCAA Championship bid. At last year's NCAA Championship, Ingvaldsen earned second team All-American honors by placing 15th with a throw of 62.30m/204-05.
In the third round of the hammer throw, Northern Arizona's Brooke Andersen took over the lead on her final attempt. Kassanavoid finished on a high note by improving upon her initial mark by throwing 67.94m/222-11 on her final attempt, which kept her in second overall and earned her third NCAA Outdoor Championship appearance.
Later in the day, the Wildcats had their second duo punch their tickets to Eugene in the same event. In the women's triple jump, Lawrence marked her best jump of 13.24m/43-05.25 on her second attempt, which was good enough to qualify her in ninth place.
Joining Lawrence, Romaiou used an opening jump of 13.08m/42-11 on her opening jump to put herself in good position through round one. On her final attempt, Romaiou improved upon her opening mark by jumping 13.11m/43-00.25 to make the last qualifying mark in 12th place. The Wildcats' triple jump tandem was only one of two programs to send two individuals through to the NCAA Championship from the West Preliminary.
"Both their first jumps did not go as we wanted, but they did not get rattled and knew what they had to do to advance," Johnson said of the triple jumpers. "We are going to continue to keep working and I know they look forward to representing at the next meet."
While Lawrence and Romaiou earned their bids in the triple jump, freshman sensation Shankar was battling in the field of men's high jumpers. Shankar entered with his opening height at 2.06m/6-09, before going on to clear each of his three heights of the day, ending at 2.16m/7-01, which was good enough to qualify him for the men's high jump final in Eugene. Shankar enters the NCAA Championships with the leading jump in the country this season, clearing 2.29m/7-06 at the Texas Tech Corky/Crofoot Shootout in April.
Also in the men's events, Neelly secured his third NCAA Championship bid of his career in the men's shot put. On his opening attempt, Neelly laid out a throw of 18.85m/61-10.25 to put him in a good position going into his next two throws.
Neelly was unable to improve upon his initial mark in the final two rounds, though his throw of 18.85m/61-10.25 was enough to place him ninth overall and secure a spot in what will be his third career NCAA Championships.
In the men's 200 meters, Smith took to the quarterfinals of the event, needing to place in the top three to advance to Eugene. Positioned in lane five, Smith used a solid run of 20.64 to place second in his heat and fourth overall to earn a qualifying bid to the NCAA Championships.
In the final race of the day, senior A'Keyla Mitchell took to the women's 200 meters, looking to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships. Out of heat two, Mitchell clocked a 23.50 to place fifth in her heat and 18th overall, falling short of qualifying for Eugene. Mitchell goes down as one of the most decorated sprinters in K-State history, owning three school records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meter relay.
The seven Wildcat qualifiers on Saturday becomes the latest to join the group that will compete for K-State in Eugene on June 6-9, including Shadae Lawrence (discus), Ranae McKenzie (400-meter hurdles), Morgan Wedekind (3,000-meter steeplechase), Jess St. John (shot put), Mitch Dixon (hammer throw) Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Ariel Okorie (heptathlon) and Aaron Booth (decathlon).
The 15 NCAA Championship qualifiers will set their sights on Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on June 6-9, where they will have the opportunity to cement themselves in track and field history. Tickets for the NCAA Championship will be available on an all-meet and single-session basis and can be purchased here. Fans who cannot travel to Eugene can watch the K-State action on the ESPN Network throughout the meet.
For more information on the meet, including ticket information, a full schedule of events and more, click here.
NCAA West Preliminary (Day Three)
Hornet Stadium
Sacramento, California
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Janee' Kassanavoid, 67.94m/222-11 (NCAA Qualifier)
9. Helene Ingvaldsen, 62.03m/203-06 (NCAA Qualifier)
Men's Javelin
16. Derek Selk, 65.17m/213-09
43. Logan Wolfley, 57.19m/187-07
Men's High Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.16m/7-01 (NCAA Qualifier)
17. NaTron Gipson, 2.06m/6-09
Men's Shot Put
9. Brett Neelly, 18.85m/61-10.25 (NCAA Qualifier)
Women's Triple Jump
9. Shardia Lawrence, 13.24m/43-05.25 (2.5) (NCAA Qualifier)
12. Konstantina Romaiou, 13.11m/43-00.25 (2.0) (NCAA Qualifier) (P.R.)
Men's 200 Meter Quarterfinals
4. Terrell Smith, 20.64 (.9) (NCAA Qualifier)
Women's 200 Meter Quarterfinals
18. A'Keyla Mitchell, 23.50 (1.1)
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Among Saturday's qualifiers, senior Janee' Kassanavoid (hammer throw), Helene Ingvaldsen (hammer throw), Tejaswin Shankar (high jump), Brett Neelly (shot put), Shardia Lawrence (triple jump), Konstantina Romaiou (triple jump) and Terrell Smith (200 meters) all punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships. The 15 individuals qualified marks the second-consecutive season the Wildcats have qualified 15 individuals for the NCAA Championships.
"This meet is a very, very high pressure meet. For every team there will be things that happen well and things that do not happen as planned," Assistant Coach Vincent Johnson said on Saturday. "Our group did a very good being composed as a unit. Those who are going to the next level and those who are not, represented K-State very well."
The Wildcats got off to a quick start in the women's hammer throw, where they were just one of two teams in the West Preliminary to qualify two individuals in the event. Kassanavoid, a native of Lawson, Missouri, took an early advantage in the event by throwing 67.10m/220-02 on her first attempt to jump into first place.
After Kassanavoid's strong start, Ingvaldsen found her NCAA qualifying throw on her second attempt, where she recorded a throw of 62.03m/203-06, which placed her ninth overall and clinched her second career NCAA Championship bid. At last year's NCAA Championship, Ingvaldsen earned second team All-American honors by placing 15th with a throw of 62.30m/204-05.
In the third round of the hammer throw, Northern Arizona's Brooke Andersen took over the lead on her final attempt. Kassanavoid finished on a high note by improving upon her initial mark by throwing 67.94m/222-11 on her final attempt, which kept her in second overall and earned her third NCAA Outdoor Championship appearance.
Janee' Kassanavoid and Helene Ingvaldsen both qualify for the NCAA Championships in the women's hammer!
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2018
That brings the #KStateTF qualifier tally ?? to 10! ???? pic.twitter.com/6sQo2cfExH
Later in the day, the Wildcats had their second duo punch their tickets to Eugene in the same event. In the women's triple jump, Lawrence marked her best jump of 13.24m/43-05.25 on her second attempt, which was good enough to qualify her in ninth place.
Joining Lawrence, Romaiou used an opening jump of 13.08m/42-11 on her opening jump to put herself in good position through round one. On her final attempt, Romaiou improved upon her opening mark by jumping 13.11m/43-00.25 to make the last qualifying mark in 12th place. The Wildcats' triple jump tandem was only one of two programs to send two individuals through to the NCAA Championship from the West Preliminary.
"Both their first jumps did not go as we wanted, but they did not get rattled and knew what they had to do to advance," Johnson said of the triple jumpers. "We are going to continue to keep working and I know they look forward to representing at the next meet."
While Lawrence and Romaiou earned their bids in the triple jump, freshman sensation Shankar was battling in the field of men's high jumpers. Shankar entered with his opening height at 2.06m/6-09, before going on to clear each of his three heights of the day, ending at 2.16m/7-01, which was good enough to qualify him for the men's high jump final in Eugene. Shankar enters the NCAA Championships with the leading jump in the country this season, clearing 2.29m/7-06 at the Texas Tech Corky/Crofoot Shootout in April.
Freshman Tejaswin Shankar is going to Eugene! ??
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 27, 2018
Shankar qualifies by clearing 2.16m/7-01 in the high jump to book his first NCAA Championship bid! He enters Eugene with the top mark in the country this season (2.29m/7-06) pic.twitter.com/T9iZl2SFqT
Also in the men's events, Neelly secured his third NCAA Championship bid of his career in the men's shot put. On his opening attempt, Neelly laid out a throw of 18.85m/61-10.25 to put him in a good position going into his next two throws.
Neelly was unable to improve upon his initial mark in the final two rounds, though his throw of 18.85m/61-10.25 was enough to place him ninth overall and secure a spot in what will be his third career NCAA Championships.
?? Brett Neelly is headed to Hayward!
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 27, 2018
Neelly advances to the NCAA Championships in the shot put, throwing 18.85m/61-10.25 to place ninth in the West Prelims! pic.twitter.com/gxfhdueJ1z
In the men's 200 meters, Smith took to the quarterfinals of the event, needing to place in the top three to advance to Eugene. Positioned in lane five, Smith used a solid run of 20.64 to place second in his heat and fourth overall to earn a qualifying bid to the NCAA Championships.
Next stop for Terrell Smith? ?? Tracktown, USA
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 27, 2018
Smith runs a speedy 20.64 in the men's 200 meters to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene on June 6-9! pic.twitter.com/XCd4F5kgm9
In the final race of the day, senior A'Keyla Mitchell took to the women's 200 meters, looking to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships. Out of heat two, Mitchell clocked a 23.50 to place fifth in her heat and 18th overall, falling short of qualifying for Eugene. Mitchell goes down as one of the most decorated sprinters in K-State history, owning three school records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meter relay.
The seven Wildcat qualifiers on Saturday becomes the latest to join the group that will compete for K-State in Eugene on June 6-9, including Shadae Lawrence (discus), Ranae McKenzie (400-meter hurdles), Morgan Wedekind (3,000-meter steeplechase), Jess St. John (shot put), Mitch Dixon (hammer throw) Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Ariel Okorie (heptathlon) and Aaron Booth (decathlon).
The 15 NCAA Championship qualifiers will set their sights on Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on June 6-9, where they will have the opportunity to cement themselves in track and field history. Tickets for the NCAA Championship will be available on an all-meet and single-session basis and can be purchased here. Fans who cannot travel to Eugene can watch the K-State action on the ESPN Network throughout the meet.
For more information on the meet, including ticket information, a full schedule of events and more, click here.
NCAA West Preliminary (Day Three)
Hornet Stadium
Sacramento, California
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Janee' Kassanavoid, 67.94m/222-11 (NCAA Qualifier)
9. Helene Ingvaldsen, 62.03m/203-06 (NCAA Qualifier)
Men's Javelin
16. Derek Selk, 65.17m/213-09
43. Logan Wolfley, 57.19m/187-07
Men's High Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.16m/7-01 (NCAA Qualifier)
17. NaTron Gipson, 2.06m/6-09
Men's Shot Put
9. Brett Neelly, 18.85m/61-10.25 (NCAA Qualifier)
Women's Triple Jump
9. Shardia Lawrence, 13.24m/43-05.25 (2.5) (NCAA Qualifier)
12. Konstantina Romaiou, 13.11m/43-00.25 (2.0) (NCAA Qualifier) (P.R.)
Men's 200 Meter Quarterfinals
4. Terrell Smith, 20.64 (.9) (NCAA Qualifier)
Women's 200 Meter Quarterfinals
18. A'Keyla Mitchell, 23.50 (1.1)
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
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