Gwen Wentland-Mikinski (2006) - K-State Athletics Hall of Fame

Gwen Wentland-Mikinski

Induction:
2006
Class:
1995

The Kansas State women’s track and field program has developed an outstanding reputation for developing some of the nation’s top jumpers. And it was Gwen Wentland-Mikinski who put the Wildcats’ women jumpers on the map.

A four-time letterwinner in both indoor and outdoor track and field during her Kansas State career, Wentland-Mikinski competed in the heptathlon, pentathlon, long jump, triple jump and her flagship event, the high jump. She produced a pentathlon high jump World Record of 6-4.25 and tied Jackie Joyner-Kersee for heptathlon high jump American Record of 6-4. She was also named K-State’s Athlete of the Year and was a candidate for NCAA Division I Woman of the Year Award, which recognizes those with athletic excellence, academic achievement, service and leadership.

In all, Wentland-Mikinski was an eight-time All-American and earned four outdoor and four indoor certificates in the high jump in 1991-92-93-95. She also and set three school records, including a clearance of 6-4.25 during the 1995 New York Games to claim the K-State outdoor high jump mark.

But it was at the biggest meets where Wentland-Mikinski was at her best. The Grand Blanc, Mich., native, won two Big Eight Indoor Championships in 1993 and 1995, and claimed an outdoor conference title in 1995. She also took home first place honors at the 1993 and 1995 NCAA Indoor Championships, as well as the 1995 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

For her career, Wentland-Mikinski captured six victories, three second-place finishes, three Big Eight Conference high jump titles and was named the Big Eight Track and Field Athlete of the month three times.

One of the world’s premier high jumpers to this day, Wentland-Mikinski continues to compete at both the national and international level. And she has found just as much success in some of the world’s biggest competitions as she did during her career at K-State.

Wentland-Mikinski burst on the national scene in 1995, winning the high jump at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championship with a clearance of 6-5. The runner-up at the 2002 US Outdoor Nationals, she claimed her second national title just last year when she was once again victorious at the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a jump of 6-2.75.