Former Wildcat Balazs Baji Wins Bronze in IAAF World Championships
Aug 07, 2017 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former K-State student-athlete Balazs Baji finished third in Monday’s 110-meter hurdles finals to earn his first IAAF World Championships medal, taking home the bronze with a time of 13.28.
Baji, a Hungary native, qualified for the hurdles finals after two successful performances on Sunday, where he placed second in the preliminary round and first in the semifinals. Situated in lane 5 of the finals, Baji broke through after the final hurdle to continue the momentum from Sunday, and earn his first spot on the World Championship podium.
“This means a lot to me, this is way beyond what I was dreaming about. I still can’t believe it, I am so speechless,” Baji said in excitement after his bronze medal finish. “After I finished that race I just sat down and watched around, this is a perfect atmosphere and this is a perfect moment.”
With finish on Monday, Baji becomes the first Hungarian to medal in a World Championship individual track event in the country’s history. He also holds the 110mH national record for Hungary (13.15) that he set earlier this year.
Baji competed for the Wildcats in 2010, in which, he placed seventh in the Big 12 Championships in the 110mH. He posted a tie for the fourth-best time in school history in the event with a time of 13.79 at the 2010 Ward Haylett Invitational. Since leaving K-State, Baji has gone on to represent Hungary in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
Live results for the 2017 IAAF World Championships can be found here. More information on the competition, including a full schedule of events, news, and more can be found on the IAAF website by clicking here.
IAAF World Championships – 110mH Final Results
1. Omar McLeod (Jamaica) 13.04
2. Sergey Shubenkov (Authorized Neutral Athlete) 13.14
3. Balazs Baji (Hungary) 13.28
4. Garfield Darien (France) 13.30
5. Aries Merritt (USA) 13.31
6. Shane Brathwaite (Barbados) 13.32
7. Orlando Ortega (Spain) 13.37
8. Hansle Parchment 13.37
For the latest on K-State track and field, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter using the hashtag #KStateTF or on the team’s Facebook page.
K-State Track & Field | Uniform Reveal
Tuesday, November 11
K-State T&F | Broad Jump Competition
Tuesday, September 30
K-State T&F | Gear Reveal
Saturday, August 30
K-State TF | NCAA Championship Recap
Tuesday, June 17
