Power Outage Can't Slow 'Cats
Dec 13, 2009 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State track and field team completed its opening weekend of competition with strong showings from a number of Wildcats highlighted by the low light in Ahearn Field House and an NCAA provisional qualifying mark by freshman Erik Kynard. The event also had two meet records broken by competitors.
A power outage over much of K-State's campus forced a number of the field events and early running events to rely on the ambient light provided by the windows of Ahearn for the athletes to see, but the KSU All-Comers would continue on as the field was significantly larger than in previous years.
Kynard made his K-State debut in the high jump leaping 7-02.25 to post an NCAA provisional qualifying mark and win his first meet. Fellow high jumper Michael Healey finished third with a jump of 6-08.25. Freshman Derek Jerde also jumped 6-08.25 but placed fourth based on number of attempts. In the women's high jump, Cassie Styers tied for third as the top four competitors all jumped the same height going to attempts to place them.
The Wildcats again proved to be strong in the throwing events with Eric Thomas throwing a personal best 64-01.25 to win the men's weight throw and post another NCAA provisional mark. Cole Zenisek finished fourth for the men, and the women had three of the top four finishers. Chelsie Bonds took first while Amanda Boor also marked a personal best throw at 57-01.00. Bonds throw was 57-06.25. Joy Rolfe finished second for the Wildcats in the women's shot put as well.
On the sand TiAra Walpool won the women's triple jump with her leap of 39-07.75, and Kim Haberman finished second in the long jump with a new personal record of 18-09.00.
K-State swept the pole vault titles with sophomore Meriel Harwood vaulting a personal best 11-07.75. Newcomer Dezso Szabo won the men's competition at 16-00.75.
The Wildcats again showed its strength in the mid-distance events with three of the top four finishers in the men's 1,000 meters. Armando Del Valle ran away from the field to win the race in 2:26.21 with Jack Sachse following at 2:28.67. Sam James ran in competition for the first time in over a year finishing fourth in 2:30.60. For the women Boglarka Bozzay improved her personal best time to 2:53.01 to finish second. She improved her best time by more than eight seconds.
Coach Cliff Rovelto has added a number of sprinters and hurdlers to this year's team through recruiting to add more depth in the events with returners Jason Coniglio, Gus Vazquez-Milan and Denise Baker. The new additions proved to show K-State is stronger in the events with Coniglio finishing third in the 60 meters with a personal best 6.90 seconds. Freshman Samantha McKnight finished second in the women's sprint at 7.84. Newcomer Balazs Baji finished fourth in the men's 60 meter hurdles while Denise Baker won the women's race at 8.88 seconds.
The Wildcats again showed their speed in the 4X400 relay as the men's team of Moritz Cleve, Rok Derzanic, Mantas Silkauskas and freshmen Isaac Mallory finished first with a time of 3:20.31. The women's tandem of Lekesha Pointer-Allen, Sara Stoakes, Samantha Cooper and Bozzay finished second.
The Wildcats will not return to action until January 16 when they host the Wildcat Invitational at Ahearn Field House.
K-State Top Finishers and Notable Marks
Weight Throw
Men
1: Eric Thomas 64-01.25^ PR
4: Cole Zenisek 55-05.50
Women
1: Chelsie Bonds 57-06.25
2: Amanda Boor 57-01.00 PR
4: Ali Pistora 53-10.25
Shot Put
Women
2: Joy Rolfe 44-06.25
High Jump
Men
1: Erik Kynard 7-02.25^
3: Michael Healey 6-08.25
4: Derek Jerde 6-08.25
Women
T3: Cassie Styers 5-05.00
Long Jump
Women
2: Kim Haberman 18-09.00 PR
Triple Jump
Women
1: TiAra Walpool 39-07.75
Pole Vault
Men
1: Dezso Szabo 16-00.75
Women
1: Meriel Harwood 11-07.75 PR
1000M
Men
1: Armando Del Valle 2:26.21
2: Jack Sachse 2:28.67
4: Sam James 2:30.60
Women
2: Boglarka Bozzay 2:53.01 PR
60M
Men
3: Jason Coniglio 6.90 PR
Women
2: Samantha McKnight 7.84
60M Hurdles
Men
1: Jeffrey Julmis 7.81# Unattached
4: Balazs Baji 8.20
Women
1: Denise Baker 8.88
600 Yard Run
Women
1: Jennifer Mace 1:22.30# Tulsa
3: Lekesha Pointer-Allen 1:24.93
4: Sara Stoakes 1:25.87
300M Run
Men
1: Julian Frazier 34.72# Tulsa
2: Jason Coniglio 35.21 PR
5: Gus Vazquez-Milan 3.585 PR
4X400 Relay
Men
1: K-State 'A' 3:20.31
Cleve-Derzanic-Silkauskas-Mallory
Women
2: K-State 'A' 3:54.40
Pointer-Allen-Stoakes-Cooper-Bozzay
4: K-State 'B' 4:03.07
Walpool-Garrott-Haberman-Baker
^ denotes NCAA Provisional mark
# denotes Meet Record
PR denotes Personal Record
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