Wildcats Overcome Poor Weather, Post Strong Results in Arkansas

JOHN MCDONNELL INVITATIONAL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Delayed, but not done in, Kansas State track and field shrugged off a postponement and condensed competition schedule to claim six first-place finishes and 32 top-five marks at the John McDonnell Invitational on Saturday.

Severe storms wiped out the first day of competition at Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field Friday evening and forced a jam-packed, 12-hour competition in cold, soggy conditions Saturday, but the Wildcats found a way to persevere.

“Overall, I thought most of the team did a good job of competing,” Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said about his team’s efforts. “The conditions this weekend were not good at all. It rained for most of the day and the temperature was in the 40s.”

Sophomore Brett Neelly provided a successful bookend in the field events, starting the day with a first-place finish in the discus throw after a toss of 52.52m/172-04 on his first attempt in the series, then recording his second first-place finish of the day in the shot put, the meet’s final field event, with a season-best throw of 18.43m/60-05.75.

Neelly was followed by an impressive showing by the women’s javelin throwers, who all finished in the top-five. Ally Zerbe led the way for the Wildcats, posting a mark of 44.81m/147-00 on her third attempt in the series, followed by Haley Pitko's 43.49m/142-08, her opening mark in the event. Newcomers Nina Schultz and Ariel Okorie also had quality marks, taking fourth place (35.85m/117-07) and fifth place (32.15m/105-05), respectively.

In high jump, sophomore Shanae McKenzie missed her personal best by one centimeter en route to winning her first collegiate competition with a mark of 1.70m/5-07. Fellow high jumper Rhizlane Siba also posted a mark of 1.70m/5-07 to finish in third place on attempts missed.

K-State’s long jumpers continued to impress this season, led by Zanri Van der Merwe's second-place finish after a leap of 5.88m/19-03.50 (1.4) on her third attempt in the series for her best finish this season. Schultz and Okorie once again finished in the top-five, as Schultz claimed third place (5.86m/19-02.75 (2.0)) and Okorie came in fifth place (5.55m/18-02.50 (2.8)).

On the track, K-State’s distance crew saw numerous Wildcats post strong results in Arkansas. Senior Marija Stambolic continued her consistent performances in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:11.82. In the men’s 800-meter run, newcomer Travis Hodge recorded the first top-five finish of his career, taking fifth place with a time of 1:54.32, while junior Sam Oxandale recorded a personal best in the event after crossing the finish line in 1:55.81.

Senior Blake Goodin had a personal-best performance in the 1,500-meter run, taking ninth place in the race with a time of 3:50.47 to lead the Wildcats in the event. Freshman Katie Condon, competing in just her second 1,500-meter run of her career, recorded a personal best with a time of 4:47.41 to take 12th place overall.

The Wildcats posted a clean sweep of the 3,000-meter steeplechase, taking the top-three spots in the women’s race and the top mark in the men’s race. Senior Morgan Wedekind used a personal-best effort in the event, a time of 10:24.24, to top her previous best of 10:28.61 by over four seconds to win, while junior Kayla Doll also recorded a personal-best time to finish runner-up with a time of 10:32.30. Fellow junior Colton Donahue won the men’s race with ease, topping runner-up Carter Persyn by 13 seconds with a time of 9:15.96.

Both of the Wildcats’ male hurdlers had personal-best performances in the 110-meter hurdles. Freshman Simone Fassina finished in second place in the event after crossing the finish line in 15.13 (1.4). Junior Max Estill also finished in the top-five, recording a time of 15.86 (1.4) to finish in fourth place.

The team’s sprinters posted strong marks on Saturday as well despite the blustery conditions. Junior Terrell Smith finished in fourth place in the men’s 200-meter dash with a wind-aided mark of 21.00 (2.6). Newcomers Wurrie Njadoe and Akia Guerrier also found success on the track, running times of 11.76 (3.2) and 11.98 (3.3) in the 100-meter dash to take fourth place and sixth place, respectively.

K-State returns to action on April 26-29 as it heads to Des Moines, Iowa, for the 108th running of the historic Drake Relays. More information on the meet, including a full schedule and start lists, can be found on the Drake Relays homepage by clicking 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.

John McDonnell Invitational

John McDonnell Field

Fayetteville, Ark.

Men’s 100-Meter Dash

9. Nick Albus – 10.81 (2.5)

Women’s 100-Meter Dash

4. Wurrie Njadoe – 11.76 (3.2)

6. Akia Guerrier – 11.98 (3.2)

Men’s 200-Meter Dash

4. Terrell Smith – 21.00 (2.6)

9. Devie Freeman II – 21.88 (1.7)

11. Kaneil Harrison – 21.99 (1.6)

16. Justin Davis – 22.29 (1.7)

Women’s 200-Meter Dash

14. Zanri Van der Merwe – 25.73 (3.5)

Men’s 800-Meter Run

6. Travis Hodge – 1:54.32

8. Sam Oxandale – 1:55.81 (PR)

11. Chris Sandquist – 1:57.96

Women’s 800-Meter Run

5. Marija Stambolic – 2:11.82

8. Paige Stratioti – 2:13.91

Men’s 1,500-Meter Run

9. Blake Goodin – 3:50.47 (PR)

13. Kain Ellis – 3:51.67

14. Lukas Koch – 3:52.05

16. Kurt Loevenstein – 3:52.69

Women’s 1,500-Meter Run

12. Katie Condon – 4:47.41 (PR)

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

1. Colton Donahue – 9:15.96

Women’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

1. Morgan Wedekind – 10:24.24 (PR)

2. Kayla Doll – 10:32.30 (PR)

3. Emma Wren – 11:14.63

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles

2. Simone Fassina – 15.13 (1.4)(PR)

4. Max Estill – 15.86 (1.4)(PR)

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles

4. Nina Schultz – 13.97 (2.8)

5. Ariel Okorie – 14.26 (2.8)

9. Lauren Taubert – 14.47 (4.2)

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles

4. Ranae McKenzie – 59.84

6. Lauren Taubert – 1:03.94

Men’s 4x100 Meter Relay

3. Albus-T. Smith-Davis-Harrison– 41.53

Women’s 4x100 Meter Relay

2. Mitchell-Guerrier-R. McKenzie-Njadoe – 45.21

Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay

1. Harrison-Davis-Freeman II-Albus – 3:15.39

2. Estill-Fassina-Hodge-Koch – 3:25.48

Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay

4. Mitchell-Guerrier-R. McKenzie-S. McKenzie – 3:51.39

Men’s High Jump

4. Miles Bearden – 1.96m/6-05

Women’s High Jump

1. Shanae McKenzie – 1.70m/5-07

3. Rhizlane Siba – 1.70m/5-07

Men’s Pole Vault

- Zack Supple – NH

Women’s Pole Vault

8. Megan Vanderpool – 3.30m/10-10

9. Erin Smith – 3.10m/10-02

Men’s Long Jump

5. Max Estill – 6.72m/22-00.75 (1.6)

6. Simone Fassina – 6.71m/22-00.25 (0.9)

Women’s Long Jump

2. Zanri Van der Merwe – 5.88m/19-03.50 (1.4)

3. Nina Schultz – 5.86m/19-02.75 (2.0)

5. Ariel Okorie – 5.55m/18-02.50 (2.8)

Men’s Shot Put

1. Brett Neelly – 18.43m/60-05.75

Women’s Shot Put

2. Jess St. John – 14.82m/48-07.50

5. Gabby Lavington – 12.90m/42-04 (PR)

Men’s Discus Throw

1. Brett Neelly – 52.52m/172-04

Women’s Javelin Throw

1. Ally Zerbe – 44.81m/147-00

2. Haley Pitko – 43.49m/142-08

4. Nina Schultz – 35.85m/117-07

5. Ariel Okorie – 32.15m/105-05

Kansas State University Athletics

Wildcats Overcome Poor Weather, Post Strong Results in Arkansas

JOHN MCDONNELL INVITATIONAL

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