Hammer Throw Records Crumble on Day One of Texas Invitational

TEXAS INVITATIONAL

AUSTIN, Texas – Kansas State’s men’s hammer throw school record was up for grabs on Friday as all three of the Wildcat men competing in the event eclipsed the program’s top mark before junior Janee' Kassanavoid claimed the women’s hammer throw school record on day one of competition at the Texas Invitational.

Junior Mitch Dixon, who held the school record in the hammer throw entering Friday’s meet, emerged with the top mark once again after chucking the hammer 65.42m/214-07 to take second place overall, while Kassanavoid claimed the women’s school record with a toss of 66.97m/219-08. Seniors Kyle Smith and Brady Grunder also broke the previous school record with tosses of 64.74m/212-05 and 64.55m/211-09 to finish in fourth place and fifth place, respectively.

“It was a pretty outstanding day for our hammer throwers,” throws coach Greg Watson said about his athletes’ performances. “All five of them set new personal records today. We made the choice to stay home the last couple of weeks and get some quality training in. Obviously that paid off. It was a pretty special moment to see all of them perform the way they did today.”

Grunder was the first Wildcat to break the school record on Friday, using a mark of 64.51m/211-07 on his second attempt to leap frog Dixon in the record book. It was not until the finals that the record was broken once again when Smith posted his series-best mark of 64.74m/212-05 to cement himself as the school’s hammer throw leader.

Not to be outdone by the two seniors, Dixon used his clutch toss of 65.42m/214-07 on his final attempt of the event to reclaim his spot on the top of the school’s all-time list. The three Wildcats now hold the top-three marks in program history with their personal-best performances.

Kassanavoid wasted no time breaking the women’s hammer throw school record as she posted the record-setting mark on her first attempt with a toss of 66.97m/219-08, the fourth-best mark in Division I this season. Her winning mark was over 13 feet farther than Auburn’s Jasmine Manigault, who finished in second place with a mark of 62.78m/206-00.

Entering the competition with the fourth-best mark in program history, the Lawson, Missouri, native leapt K-State greats Renetta Seiler, Loren Groves and Sara Savatovic to claim top honors in the event. The throw marks the second school record Kassanavoid has broken this season after she broke the school weight throw record with a mark of 21.81m/71-06.75 at the Steve Miller Open in February.

There were also plenty of impressive results outside of the Wildcats’ school-record performances. Newcomer Helene Ingvaldsen finished in third place in the women’s hammer throw with a personal-best throw of 61.94m/203-02, 36 centimeters better than her previous personal best. The team’s final two throwers were javelin throwers Ally Zerbe and Haley Pitko. Zerbe took fourth place in the event with a throw of 46.04m/152-05, while Pitko finished in fifth place with a toss of 44.59m/146-03.

Outside of the throws, sophomore Shardia Lawrence fell just 10 centimeters short of the school record in the women’s triple jump after leaping 13.66m/44-09.75 to win the event. Her mark is good for the third-farthest leap in program history behind Chaytan Hill and record-holder Vanitta Kinard. Freshman Konstantina Romaiou also broke into the school’s top-10 in triple jump, recording a mark of 12.92m/42-04.75 in her first outdoor collegiate triple jump to move to seventh on the program’s all-time list.

Senior Zack Supple recorded K-State’s final first-place finish of the day in the field, using a season-best clearance of 5.01m/16-05.25 to claim the spot in the ‘B’ section of the men’s pole vault. Supple came into the competition 4.81m/15-09.25 and went perfect on his first three bars before passing at 5.06m/16-05.25 and missing all three of his attempts at 5.11m/16-09.25.

The Wildcats were also successful on the track during day one of the Texas Invitational. Junior Kayla Doll posted the Wildcats’ best finish on the track, claiming first place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 10:35.03. She was followed by senior Morgan Wedekind, who finished runner-up in the same event after crossing the finish line in 10:39.27. Sophomore Emma Wren took sixth place with a time of 11:18.83. Junior Colton Donahue was the only male runner in action on Friday, claiming third place in his first 3,000-meter steeplechase of the season with a time of 9:16.47.

Through five events in the Texas Invitational, both the Wildcat women and men lead with 62 points and 23 points, respectively.

“The biggest thing is that as a team we performed well today,” Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. “Everybody really took care of business in their respective events. Really, everyone who competed today did a nice job. Hopefully we can do the same tomorrow.”

K-State resumes action at the Texas Invitational on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. when Brett Neelly and Colin Echols compete in the men’s discus throw. Live results for the meet will be provided by PT Timing and can be located here. More information on the meet, including a full schedule, can be found on the Texas track and field website 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.

Texas Invitational

Mike A. Myers Stadium

Austin, Texas

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

3. Colton Donahue – 9:16.47

Women’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

1. Kayla Doll – 10:35.03 (PR)

2. Morgan Wedekind – 10:39.27

6. Emma Wren – 11:18.83

Men’s Pole Vault

1. Zack Supple – 5.01m/16-05.25

Women’s Triple Jump

1. Shardia Lawrence – 13.66m/44-09.75 (PR)

5. Konstantina Romaiou – 12.92m/42-04.75 (PR)

Women’s Javelin Throw

4. Ally Zerbe – 46.04m/152-05

5. Haley Pitko – 44.59m/146-03

Men’s Hammer Throw

2. Mitch Dixon – 65.42m/214-07 (PR, School Record)

4. Kyle Smith – 64.74m/212-05 (PR)

5. Brady Grunder – 64.55m/211-09 (PR)

Women’s Hammer Throw

1. Janee’ Kassanavoid – 66.97m/219-08 (PR, School Record)

3. Helene Ingvaldsen – 61.94m/203-02 (PR)

Schedule