Kansas State University Athletics
Thursday, May 24
Sacramento, Calif.
All Day
Kansas State University
at
NCAA West Preliminary
Wildcats Seek NCAA Championship Bids at West Preliminary
May 23, 2018 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Following historic efforts from the K-State Track and Field men's and women's teams at the Big 12 Championship, the Wildcats will look to continue the momentum at the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, California on May 24-26, as individuals seek bids to the NCAA Championship.
Â
K-State is one of over 120 Division I programs competing at the West Preliminary, with 27 Wildcat student-athletes and 32 entries competing in their respective events. To qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 6-9, individuals must place in the top-12 of their event.
Â
"It is really about getting people to the final weekend in a state where they can possibly do something (at NCAA Championships)," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "I expect us to do really well, there are a number of people who are capable of scoring, but it is very competitive, and they will have to compete at a high level, but I think we have people that can score."
Â
The No. 15 K-State women are coming off their second consecutive Big 12 title in Waco, Texas on May 11-13, where the team racked up a program-best 135 points behind three days of thrilling competition. Headlining the performances, senior Janee' Kassanavoid secured her second-straight Big 12 title in the women's hammer throw, where she threw a school and facility record 68.21m/223-09.50, while junior Ranae McKenzie captured her first Big 12 title by running a 56.06 in the 400-meter hurdles to also set a new facility record.
Â
Entering the weekend's West Preliminary, the K-State women will be represented by 18 individuals with 20 total event entries, while the K-State men will be represented by nine individuals in 12 event entries.
Â
Of the entries on the women's team, seven currently rank in the top-12 of the respective event, including McKenzie's leading entry of 56.06 in the women's 400-meter hurdles. The Wildcats have two individuals ranked amongst the top-12 in two events, including the triple jump (Shardia Lawrence, Konstantina Romaiou) and the hammer throw (Kassanavoid, Helene Ingvaldsen)
Â
On the men's team, sophomore Jullane Walker and junior Brett Neelly will compete in multiple events this weekend, as Walker will represent the Wildcats in the 100 meters and long jump, while Neelly will throw in both the shot put and discus. In the men's high jump, freshman Tejaswin Shankar enters the meet with the top mark of 2.29m/7-06 in the NCAA.
Â
In addition to those competing in the preliminary events this weekend, three Wildcats have already secured NCAA Championship bids in the combined events, as the heptathlon and decathlon events are not held in the preliminary rounds. Sophomores Nina Schultz and Ariel Okorie will both compete at the NCAA Championships after scoring amongst the top-24 in the country in the heptathlon this season, with Schultz entered as the third best in the NCAA with 6,018 points. Okorie earned a bid into the Championship with the 21st best score in the country, after scoring 5,632 points at the Big 12 Championship to place third at the meet.
Â
In the men's decathlon, sophomore newcomer Aaron Booth will compete in his first NCAA Championship after scoring 7,508 points at the Big 12 Championship to place second at the meet. Booth enters the NCAA Championship with the 21st best score in the NCAA.
Â
The NCAA West Preliminary is set to begin at 2 p.m., CT with the men's hammer throw, while the men's discus begins the second day of action at 12 p.m., CT on Saturday. The final day of competition will begin on Sunday at 12 p.m., CT.
Â
Tickets for the NCAA West Preliminary will be available on an all-meet and single-session basis and can be purchased here. Fans who cannot travel to Sacramento can watch the live stream with a paid subscription available via FloTrack, here, while live results will be available throughout the meet's entirety by clicking here.
Â
For more information on the meet, including ticket information, heat sheets and a full schedule of events, click 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.
Â
Â
K-State is one of over 120 Division I programs competing at the West Preliminary, with 27 Wildcat student-athletes and 32 entries competing in their respective events. To qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 6-9, individuals must place in the top-12 of their event.
Â
"It is really about getting people to the final weekend in a state where they can possibly do something (at NCAA Championships)," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "I expect us to do really well, there are a number of people who are capable of scoring, but it is very competitive, and they will have to compete at a high level, but I think we have people that can score."
Â
The No. 15 K-State women are coming off their second consecutive Big 12 title in Waco, Texas on May 11-13, where the team racked up a program-best 135 points behind three days of thrilling competition. Headlining the performances, senior Janee' Kassanavoid secured her second-straight Big 12 title in the women's hammer throw, where she threw a school and facility record 68.21m/223-09.50, while junior Ranae McKenzie captured her first Big 12 title by running a 56.06 in the 400-meter hurdles to also set a new facility record.
Â
Entering the weekend's West Preliminary, the K-State women will be represented by 18 individuals with 20 total event entries, while the K-State men will be represented by nine individuals in 12 event entries.
Â
Of the entries on the women's team, seven currently rank in the top-12 of the respective event, including McKenzie's leading entry of 56.06 in the women's 400-meter hurdles. The Wildcats have two individuals ranked amongst the top-12 in two events, including the triple jump (Shardia Lawrence, Konstantina Romaiou) and the hammer throw (Kassanavoid, Helene Ingvaldsen)
Â
On the men's team, sophomore Jullane Walker and junior Brett Neelly will compete in multiple events this weekend, as Walker will represent the Wildcats in the 100 meters and long jump, while Neelly will throw in both the shot put and discus. In the men's high jump, freshman Tejaswin Shankar enters the meet with the top mark of 2.29m/7-06 in the NCAA.
Â
In addition to those competing in the preliminary events this weekend, three Wildcats have already secured NCAA Championship bids in the combined events, as the heptathlon and decathlon events are not held in the preliminary rounds. Sophomores Nina Schultz and Ariel Okorie will both compete at the NCAA Championships after scoring amongst the top-24 in the country in the heptathlon this season, with Schultz entered as the third best in the NCAA with 6,018 points. Okorie earned a bid into the Championship with the 21st best score in the country, after scoring 5,632 points at the Big 12 Championship to place third at the meet.
Â
In the men's decathlon, sophomore newcomer Aaron Booth will compete in his first NCAA Championship after scoring 7,508 points at the Big 12 Championship to place second at the meet. Booth enters the NCAA Championship with the 21st best score in the NCAA.
Â
The NCAA West Preliminary is set to begin at 2 p.m., CT with the men's hammer throw, while the men's discus begins the second day of action at 12 p.m., CT on Saturday. The final day of competition will begin on Sunday at 12 p.m., CT.
Â
Tickets for the NCAA West Preliminary will be available on an all-meet and single-session basis and can be purchased here. Fans who cannot travel to Sacramento can watch the live stream with a paid subscription available via FloTrack, here, while live results will be available throughout the meet's entirety by clicking here.
Â
For more information on the meet, including ticket information, heat sheets and a full schedule of events, click 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.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
K-State T&F | Gear Reveal
Saturday, August 30
K-State TF | NCAA Championship Recap
Tuesday, June 17
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Women's Finals
Monday, June 16
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Men's Finals
Saturday, June 14