Wildcats Post Strong Performances in Big 12 Championship Tune-up

WARD HAYLETT INVITATIONAL

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State track and field team racked up 13 first-place finishes en route to team victories by both the men and the No. 13 women as the Wildcats finished up Big 12 Championship preparation on Saturday at the Ward Haylett Invitational.

Sophomore Shardia Lawrence posted one of the most impressive results during Saturday's competition, claiming first place in the triple jump with a leap of 13.70m/44-11.50. Her mark is the best in the Big 12 and the third best in Division I this season.

Fellow triple jumper Konstantina Romaiou also finished with a personal best in triple jump, eclipsing the 13-meter mark for the first time this season with a leap of 13.19m/43-03.25 to finish in second place.

The women's long jump also saw multiple quality performances, led by Zanri Van der Merwe's mark of 6.25m/20-06.25 which was good for second place. Freshman Ariel Okorie and sophomore Claudette Allen also jumped over six meters with leaps of 6.20m/20-04.25 and 6.09m/19-11.75 to take third place and fourth place, respectively.

Men's long jumper Tom Pyle jumped over seven feet for the first time in his career, posting a monster personal-best mark of 7.08m/23-02.75 on his final attempt in the series to finish in third place.

Both the men's and women's high jump provided entertainment during Saturday's action. Junior Miles Bearden led the men in the event with an outdoor-best clearance of 2.15m/7-00.50 to win the event, while Rhizlane Siba posted the best women's mark of the afternoon after clearing 1.76m/5-09.25 to finish in third place behind former Wildcats Kim Williamson (1.91m/6-03.25) and Alyx Treasure (1.91m/6-03.25).

The team's throwers also had a strong day, led by a first-place effort in the women's discus throw by Shadae Lawrence. An All-American in the event, Lawrence recorded a toss of 57.69m/189-03 on her third attempt to win her fourth competition of the season. Fellow discus thrower Brett Neelly won the men's event, using a mark of 50.87m/166-11 on his third attempt to claim the title.

Newcomer Gabby Lavington had a big day in the second collegiate shot put competition of her career, taking first place in the event with a career-best toss of 13.62m/44-08.25.

Action on the track was equally as exciting, as the Wildcats racked up eight first-place finishes in running events. The team swept the men's and women's 200-meter dash as Terrell Smith (20.75) and A'Keyla Mitchell (23.65) each won their respective races. K-State saw a similar result in both 1,500-meter runs, as Keegan Donahue ran a career-best 3:58.47 and Morgan Wedekind crossed the finish line in 4:31.77 to each claim the top-spot in the event.

Sophomore Ranae McKenzie recorded a historic effort on the track, winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.64. Her personal-best effort in the event moves her to eighth on the program's all-time list in the event. Senior Kain Ellis also had a strong day, winning his second 800-meter race of the season with a time of 1:50.12.

Sprinters Nick Albus (10.58) and Akia Guerrier (23.91) each recorded silver-medal performance in the 200-meter dash, while freshman Justin Davis used a career-best time of 48.53 in the 400-meter dash to also claim a silver medal.

The Wildcats snared two victories in the women's hurdles events as well. Freshman Nina Schultz won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.60, edging out Okorie (13.61) by one-hundredth of a second. Okorie returned to the track less than an hour later and earned her gold medal, winning the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.94, where she edged out team Lauren Taubert who finished runner-up with a time of 1:02.98.

K-State will look to carry the momentum from this weekend's meet into the Big 12 Championship, which will be held on May 12-14 at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. More information on the meet can be found by visiting the tournament central page 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.

Ward Haylett Invitational

R.V. Christian Track Complex

Manhattan, Kan.

Men's Final Scores

1. Kansas – 54
2. K-State – 50

Women's Final Scores

1. K-State – 78

2. Kansas – 33

100-Meter Dash

2. Nick Albus – 10.58 (PR)

Women's 200-Meter Dash

1. Akeyla Mitchell – 23.65

2. Akia Guerrier – 23.91

Men's 200-Meter Dash

1. Terrell Smith – 20.75

Men's 400-Meter Dash

2. Justin Davis – 48.53

3. Kaneil Harrison – 48.80

Women's 400-Meter Dash

1. Ranae McKenzie – 53.64 (PR)

Men's 800-Meter Dash

1. Kain Ellis – 1:50.12

5. Kurt Loevenstein – 1:52.51

7. Travis Hodge – 1:55.47

Women's 800-Meter Dash

2. Marija Stambolic – 2:10.81

3. Paige Stratioti – 2:12.13

Men's 1,500-Meter Run

1. Keegan Donahue – 3:58.47

2. Sam Oxandale – 4:09.71

3. Chris Sandquist – 4:17.89

Women's 1,500-Meter Run

1. Morgan Wedekind – 4:31.77

2. Kayla Doll – 4:36.24

3. Emma Wren – 4:41.03

4. Katie Condon – 4:46.15

Women's 100-Meter Hurdles

1 Nina Schultz – 13.60

2. Ariel Okorie – 13.61

3. Lauren Taubert – 14.54

Men's 110-Meter Hurdles

3. Simone Fassina - 15.11

4. Max Estill – 15.65

Women's 400-Meter Hurdles

1. Ariel Okorie 1:02.94

2. Lauren Taubert 1:02.98

Men's High Jump

1. Miles Bearden – 2.15m/7-00.50 (PR)

Women's High Jump

3. Rhizlane Siba – 1.76m/5-09.25

4. Morgan Coffman – 1.71m/5-07.25

5. Nina Schultz – 1.71m/5-07.25

6. Shanae McKenzie – 1.66m/5-05.25

Men's Pole Vault

5. Zack Supple – 4.80m/15-09

7. Simone Fassina – 4.35m/14-03.25

Women's Pole Vault

T3. Megan Vanderpool – 3.42m/11-02.50

T3. Erin Smith – 3.42m/11-02.50 (PR)

Men's Long Jump

3. Tom Pyle – 7.08m/23-02.75 (PR)

5. Max Estill – 6.67m/21-10.75

Women's Long Jump

2. Zanri Van der Merwe – 6.25m/20-06.25

3. Ariel Okorie – 6.20m/20-04.25

4. Claudette Allen – 6.09m/19-11.75

5. Lauren Taubert – 5.39m/17-08.25

Women's Triple Jump

1. Shardia Lawrence – 13.70m/44-11.50 (PR)

2. Konstantina Romaiou – 13.19m/43-03.25 (PR)

Women's Shot Put

1. Gabby Lavington – 13.62m/44-08.25 (PR)

2. Nina Schultz – 11.96m/39-03

Men's Discus Throw

1. Brett Neelly – 50.87m/166-11

3. Simone Fassina – 40.77m/133-09

Women's Discus Throw

1. Shadae Lawrence – 57.69m/189-03

Men's Javelin Throw

2. Max Estill - 47.60m/156-02 (PR)

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