Doll, Stambolic Pace Distance Runners at ESU Relays

ESU RELAYS

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Junior Kayla Doll recorded a new personal best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while senior Marija Stambolic won her first competition of the season in the 800-meter run to lead an overall strong effort by Kansas State track and field’s distance group on Saturday at the ESU Relays.

Competing with just a handful of athletes, the Wildcat women finished in ninth place with a total score of 37 points, while the men claimed 12th place with a final score of 14 points.

“We had a few things go pretty well today,” distance coach Ryun Godfrey said about his group’s performance on Saturday. “For the most part, the team gave a good effort and competed well. Kayla had a nice race in the steeplechase, running a personal best. Blake [Goodin] ran well in the 1,500-meter run in his first race in many months, while Bryan [Zack] also added a nice personal-best in the 5,000-meter run.”

Doll led the charge for the Wildcats, claiming the team’s first first-place finish of the day in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, just under 21 seconds faster than her teammate Emma Wren, with a personal-best time of 10:38.03. Wren, who took second place in the race, finished with a personal-best mark of 10:59.02, a full 26 seconds faster than the third-place finisher, Jordan Maestas of Wichita State.

Senior Jeff Bachman finished in the top-three in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, taking third place after crossing the finish line in 9:27.34 in the first meet of his 2017 campaign.

K-State’s women in the 800-meter run followed Doll’s and Wren’s lead, taking the top-two spots in the race after Stambolic crossed the finish line in 2:11.77 to claim first place, her first first-place finish of the season. Senior Paige Stratioti, competing in her second 800-meter race of the season, finished 22-hundredths of a second behind Stambolic with a time of 2:11.99 to finish runner-up.

Racing for the first time outdoors as a Wildcat, newcomer Katie Condon finished in the top-10 of the women’s 1,500-meter run, placing eighth with a career-best time of 4:54.95. Goodin recorded the top men’s time in the same event, crossing the finish line in 3:56.61 to take fifth place in what was his first meet in months after not having indoor eligibility in his final season.

All three Wildcats in the men’s 5,000-meter run recorded personal bests, led by junior Colton Donahue, who took fifth place in the race with a time of 14:44.70. Zack also finished in the top-10, taking 10th place with a time of 14:55.24, while fellow junior Brett Bachman came in 15th place after crossing the finish line in 15:10.48.

K-State returns to action next week as the team travels to the state of Arizona for two meets. The Wildcats’ combined eventers will head to Tucson for the Jim Click Combined Events on April 6-7, while the rest of the team heads to Tempe for the Sun Angel Classic on April 7-8.

For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

ESU Relays

Fran Welch Stadium

Emporia, Kan.

Men’s 800 Meter Run

12. Chris Sandquist – 1:55.34

27. Sam Oxandale – 1:59.56

29. Blake Goodin – 1:59.92

35. Keegan Donahue – 2:01.67 (PR)

Women’s 800 Meter Run

1. Marija Stambolic – 2:11.77

2. Paige Stratioti – 2:11.99

Men’s 1500 Meter Run

5. Blake Goodin – 3:56.61

21. Sam Oxandale – 4:07.30

23. Keegan Donahue – 4:08.40 (PR)

Women’s 1500 Meter Run

8. Katie Condon – 4:54.95 (PR)

Men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase

3. Jeff Bachman – 9:27.34

Women’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase

1. Kayla Doll – 10:38.03 (PR)

2. Emma Wren – 10:59.02 (PR)

Men’s 5000 Meter Run

5. Colton Donahue – 14:44.70 (PR)

10. Bryan Zack – 14:55.24 (PR)

15. Brett Bachman – 15:10.48 (PR)

Women’s 5000 Meter Run

20. Anna Keeley – 19:02.14 (PR)

Kansas State University Athletics

ESU RELAYS

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