Kansas State University Athletics
Thursday, March 22
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Roadrunner Invitational
Wildcats Open 2018 Outdoor Campaign at the Roadrunner Invitational
Mar 21, 2018 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State men's and women's track and field teams will make their 2018 outdoor season debut this week at the Roadrunner Invitational in San Antonio, Texas on March 22-24. The meet marks the first of 11 outdoor meets scheduled for the 2018 season, including the first of four meets in the state of Texas.
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The Wildcats will journey back to the Lone Star state for the Big 12 Championship held in Waco, Texas on May 11-13, where the K-State women look to defend their 2017 outdoor title, the program's first title since 2002. The K-State women's team enters the season ranked No. 7 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll, released on Tuesday.
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"The meet itself is an extension of training at this point. It is a good opportunity to get in work," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said in preparation for the Roadrunner Invitational. "You have some people who are getting to do what they do and are excited to start the season, and also people who are putting in hard work."
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The 2018 Roadrunner Invitational begins with the combined events on Thursday, with the start of the men's decathlon beginning at 12:00 p.m. CT and the women's heptathlon at approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday will mark the conclusion of the combined events and the start of several field events, including the men's and women's hammer throw, shot put and javelin. Friday's competition is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.
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Saturday marks the final day of competition, which includes several field events starting at 11:00 a.m. and the running of track events beginning at 2:00 p.m.
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The Wildcats will return four individual Big 12 Champions and nine All-Americans from a year ago, including Morgan Wedekind  (3000m steeplechase), junior Brett Neelly (shot put), sophomore Nina Schultz (high jump), and junior Shadae Lawrence (discus).
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K-State also returns a number of All-Americans from 2017, including sophomore Helene Ingvaldsen (hammer throw), junior Ranae McKenzie (4x100, 400mH), sophomore Akia Guerrier (4x100), senior A'Keyla Mitchell (4x100), senior Claudette Allen (4x100), sophomore Wurrie Njadoe (long jump), senior Janee' Kassanavoid (hammer throw), Schultz (heptathlon), and NCAA Champion Shadae Lawrence (discus).
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The Roadrunner Invitational marks the first road trip for the Wildcats this season, before sending several distance runners to the San Francisco Distance Carnival on March 30-31 in San Francisco, California, while others will make the trip to the Emporia State Open in Emporia, Kansas on March 31.
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For more information on the Roadrunner Invitational, including a full schedule, meet information and more, click here. Live results will be available throughout the meet's entirety, available 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.
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The Wildcats will journey back to the Lone Star state for the Big 12 Championship held in Waco, Texas on May 11-13, where the K-State women look to defend their 2017 outdoor title, the program's first title since 2002. The K-State women's team enters the season ranked No. 7 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll, released on Tuesday.
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The #KStateTF women's team came in at No. 7 of the @USTFCCCA National Preseason Poll, the best ranking for the team since 2016 ??
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) March 21, 2018
?? ?? https://t.co/2YgA2r4WsD pic.twitter.com/O0K1fon7Cs
"The meet itself is an extension of training at this point. It is a good opportunity to get in work," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said in preparation for the Roadrunner Invitational. "You have some people who are getting to do what they do and are excited to start the season, and also people who are putting in hard work."
Â
The 2018 Roadrunner Invitational begins with the combined events on Thursday, with the start of the men's decathlon beginning at 12:00 p.m. CT and the women's heptathlon at approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday will mark the conclusion of the combined events and the start of several field events, including the men's and women's hammer throw, shot put and javelin. Friday's competition is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.
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Saturday marks the final day of competition, which includes several field events starting at 11:00 a.m. and the running of track events beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Â
The Wildcats will return four individual Big 12 Champions and nine All-Americans from a year ago, including Morgan Wedekind  (3000m steeplechase), junior Brett Neelly (shot put), sophomore Nina Schultz (high jump), and junior Shadae Lawrence (discus).
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K-State also returns a number of All-Americans from 2017, including sophomore Helene Ingvaldsen (hammer throw), junior Ranae McKenzie (4x100, 400mH), sophomore Akia Guerrier (4x100), senior A'Keyla Mitchell (4x100), senior Claudette Allen (4x100), sophomore Wurrie Njadoe (long jump), senior Janee' Kassanavoid (hammer throw), Schultz (heptathlon), and NCAA Champion Shadae Lawrence (discus).
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The Roadrunner Invitational marks the first road trip for the Wildcats this season, before sending several distance runners to the San Francisco Distance Carnival on March 30-31 in San Francisco, California, while others will make the trip to the Emporia State Open in Emporia, Kansas on March 31.
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For more information on the Roadrunner Invitational, including a full schedule, meet information and more, click here. Live results will be available throughout the meet's entirety, available 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.
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