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Wildcats Add Three More All-Americans on Final Day of NCAA Championships
Jun 10, 2018 | Track & Field
Wildcats Add Three More All-Americans on Final Day of NCAA Championships
EUGENE, Ore. – The Kansas State women's track and field team added three more All-Americans on a rainy final day of the NCAA track and field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, as the Wildcat women finished in a tie for 17th with 16 points in the final team standings.
Sophomore Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Shadae Lawrence (discus) and Ranae McKenzie (400-meter hurdles) all earned All-American honors on Saturday, adding to the combined total of nine individuals between the men's and women's teams who earned All-America status this weekend.
In the team standings, the K-State men finished tied for 27th with 10 points during the men's finals competitions on Friday, while the women rounded out the NCAA track and field Championships on Saturday, tying for 17th place with 16 points. The Georgia men claimed the men's team title with 52 points, while the USC women won the women's team title with 53 points in thrilling fashion.
In the women's discus competition, last year's NCAA Champion in the event, Shadae Lawrence, looked to defend her title against a competitive field on Saturday.
With the rain pouring down on the ring, Shadae Lawrence found a throw of 57.70m/189-04 on her second attempt, which put her in third through the preliminary round of the competition. Entering finals, Shadae Lawrence's second throw fell behind only Valarie Allman of Stanford and Maggie Ewen of Arizona State.
In the finals, Shadae Lawrence improved upon her preliminary mark on her fifth throw, where she produced a mark of 58.24m/191-01 that kept her in third. Entering the final round of throws in third, Shadae Lawrence sought a big mark on her final attempt.
That is when Lawrence unleashed an exciting throw of 59.68m/198-05 to take over the lead in the discus with only Ewen and Allman remaining. Despite Shadae Lawrence's big throw, Ewen was able to respond by throwing 60.48m/198-05 to win the national title, while Shadae Lawrence fell to second.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, McKenzie also had to bear the harsh conditions going into the finals race. Coming out of lane seven, McKenzie used a concerted effort to run a 57.67 to place fifth overall. The finish by McKenzie earned her first team All-American honors for the second time in her career, with the first coming in the 4x100 meter relay in 2017.
The final day of the NCAA track and field Championships also marked the second and final day of the women's heptathlon for two Wildcats, as Ariel Okorie and Schultz battled through the seven-event championship. Entering the final day of competition, Schultz sat in seventh place overall with 3,452 points, while Okorie was in 23rd with 3,102 points through four events.
On Saturday, Okorie and Schultz took part in the final three events of the heptathlon, the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.
Okorie and Schultz got started with the women's heptathlon long jump with a light drizzle of rain on Saturday, where the sophomore duo posted nearly identical marks with Schultz jumping 5.87m/19-03.25 and Okorie marking 5.85m/19-02.50. Their marks in the long jump pit were good to place Schultz eight and Okorie ninth in the event.
In the javelin, Schultz unleashed her best throw on her second attempt, where she threw the javelin 40.55m/133-00 to earn 678 points. Through seven events, Schultz was placed in seventh overall with one event to go, while Okorie threw 33.35m/109-05 in the javelin to up her total to 4,446 points through six of seven events.
In the final event of the heptathlon, the 800 meters, Schultz and Okorie pushed through to complete the heptathlon, adding to Schultz's final score of 5,778 points, earning her first team All-America honors for the second time in her outdoor career. Meanwhile, Okorie went on to score 5,189 points in her NCAA Championship debut, placing 20th overall.
In the women's triple jump, the Wildcat duo of Shardia Lawrence and Konstantina Romaiou competed at the Championships together for the second-consecutive year, where they were just one of four teams to have two individuals entered this season.
Throughout the three preliminary jumps, Romamiou and Shardia Lawrence were both consistent out of flight two, recording similar marks on all three of their attempts. On Shardia Lawrence's second attempt, she extended to reach 12.93m/42-05.25, while Romaiou marked her best attempt on her third attempt of 12.91m/42-04.25. Shardia Lawrence went on to place 18th in the event, while Romaiou placed 19th.
The conclusion of the NCAA Championships marks the end of the 2017-18 season for the Wildcats, as both the men's and women's teams ended on historic seasons. For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
NCAA Championships (Day Four)
Hayward Field
Eugene, Oregon
Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
8. Nina Schultz, 5.87m/19-03.25 (-.7) (810 pts.)
9. Ariel Okorie, 5.85m/19-02.50 (.8) (804 pts.)
Women's Heptathlon Javelin
11. Nina Schultz, 40.55m/133-00 (678 pts.)
19. Ariel Okorie, 33.35m/109-05 (540 pts.)
Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
8. Nina Schultz, 2:18.95 (838 pts.)
16. Ariel Okorie, 2:26.09 (743 pts.)
Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
7. Nina Schultz, 5,778 points (First Team All-America)
20. Ariel Okorie, 5,189 points
Women's Discus Final
2. Shadae Lawrence, 59.68m/195-09 (First Team All-America)
Women's Triple Jump Final
18. Shardia Lawrence, 12.93m/42-05.25 (1.6)
19. Konstantina Romaiou, 12.91m/42-04.25 (2.9)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles Final
5. Ranae McKenzie, 57.67 (First Team All-America)
Women's Final Team Standings
T-17. Kansas State, 16 points
Sophomore Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Shadae Lawrence (discus) and Ranae McKenzie (400-meter hurdles) all earned All-American honors on Saturday, adding to the combined total of nine individuals between the men's and women's teams who earned All-America status this weekend.
In the team standings, the K-State men finished tied for 27th with 10 points during the men's finals competitions on Friday, while the women rounded out the NCAA track and field Championships on Saturday, tying for 17th place with 16 points. The Georgia men claimed the men's team title with 52 points, while the USC women won the women's team title with 53 points in thrilling fashion.
In the women's discus competition, last year's NCAA Champion in the event, Shadae Lawrence, looked to defend her title against a competitive field on Saturday.
With the rain pouring down on the ring, Shadae Lawrence found a throw of 57.70m/189-04 on her second attempt, which put her in third through the preliminary round of the competition. Entering finals, Shadae Lawrence's second throw fell behind only Valarie Allman of Stanford and Maggie Ewen of Arizona State.
In the finals, Shadae Lawrence improved upon her preliminary mark on her fifth throw, where she produced a mark of 58.24m/191-01 that kept her in third. Entering the final round of throws in third, Shadae Lawrence sought a big mark on her final attempt.
That is when Lawrence unleashed an exciting throw of 59.68m/198-05 to take over the lead in the discus with only Ewen and Allman remaining. Despite Shadae Lawrence's big throw, Ewen was able to respond by throwing 60.48m/198-05 to win the national title, while Shadae Lawrence fell to second.
First team All-American! ????????????
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 10, 2018
Junior Shadae Lawrence is a first team All-American for the third time in her career, finishing as the runner-up in the women's discus with a throw of 59.68m/195-09! pic.twitter.com/YyRXt9LV5u
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, McKenzie also had to bear the harsh conditions going into the finals race. Coming out of lane seven, McKenzie used a concerted effort to run a 57.67 to place fifth overall. The finish by McKenzie earned her first team All-American honors for the second time in her career, with the first coming in the 4x100 meter relay in 2017.
Ranae McKenzie is a first team All-American! ????
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 10, 2018
The K-State junior ran a 57.67 in pouring rain ??? to place fifth overall! McKenzie becomes the first, first team All-American since Ryann Krais placed third in 2011! pic.twitter.com/nLxkcLBIBd
The final day of the NCAA track and field Championships also marked the second and final day of the women's heptathlon for two Wildcats, as Ariel Okorie and Schultz battled through the seven-event championship. Entering the final day of competition, Schultz sat in seventh place overall with 3,452 points, while Okorie was in 23rd with 3,102 points through four events.
On Saturday, Okorie and Schultz took part in the final three events of the heptathlon, the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.
Okorie and Schultz got started with the women's heptathlon long jump with a light drizzle of rain on Saturday, where the sophomore duo posted nearly identical marks with Schultz jumping 5.87m/19-03.25 and Okorie marking 5.85m/19-02.50. Their marks in the long jump pit were good to place Schultz eight and Okorie ninth in the event.
In the javelin, Schultz unleashed her best throw on her second attempt, where she threw the javelin 40.55m/133-00 to earn 678 points. Through seven events, Schultz was placed in seventh overall with one event to go, while Okorie threw 33.35m/109-05 in the javelin to up her total to 4,446 points through six of seven events.
In the final event of the heptathlon, the 800 meters, Schultz and Okorie pushed through to complete the heptathlon, adding to Schultz's final score of 5,778 points, earning her first team All-America honors for the second time in her outdoor career. Meanwhile, Okorie went on to score 5,189 points in her NCAA Championship debut, placing 20th overall.
??'s off to our heptathletes! #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 10, 2018
Sophomores Nina Schultz and Ariel Okorie put in work this weekend, with Schultz earning her second first team outdoor All-America of her career by finishing seventh (5,778 pts), while Okorie placed 20th in her #NCAATF debut (5,189 pts.)! pic.twitter.com/87nyhptTL0
In the women's triple jump, the Wildcat duo of Shardia Lawrence and Konstantina Romaiou competed at the Championships together for the second-consecutive year, where they were just one of four teams to have two individuals entered this season.
Throughout the three preliminary jumps, Romamiou and Shardia Lawrence were both consistent out of flight two, recording similar marks on all three of their attempts. On Shardia Lawrence's second attempt, she extended to reach 12.93m/42-05.25, while Romaiou marked her best attempt on her third attempt of 12.91m/42-04.25. Shardia Lawrence went on to place 18th in the event, while Romaiou placed 19th.
The conclusion of the NCAA Championships marks the end of the 2017-18 season for the Wildcats, as both the men's and women's teams ended on historic seasons. For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
NCAA Championships (Day Four)
Hayward Field
Eugene, Oregon
Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
8. Nina Schultz, 5.87m/19-03.25 (-.7) (810 pts.)
9. Ariel Okorie, 5.85m/19-02.50 (.8) (804 pts.)
Women's Heptathlon Javelin
11. Nina Schultz, 40.55m/133-00 (678 pts.)
19. Ariel Okorie, 33.35m/109-05 (540 pts.)
Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
8. Nina Schultz, 2:18.95 (838 pts.)
16. Ariel Okorie, 2:26.09 (743 pts.)
Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
7. Nina Schultz, 5,778 points (First Team All-America)
20. Ariel Okorie, 5,189 points
Women's Discus Final
2. Shadae Lawrence, 59.68m/195-09 (First Team All-America)
Women's Triple Jump Final
18. Shardia Lawrence, 12.93m/42-05.25 (1.6)
19. Konstantina Romaiou, 12.91m/42-04.25 (2.9)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles Final
5. Ranae McKenzie, 57.67 (First Team All-America)
Women's Final Team Standings
T-17. Kansas State, 16 points
Players Mentioned
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