Kansas State University Athletics
Pair of Wildcats Set to Compete at USATF Junior Championships
Jun 15, 2018 | Track & Field
Pair of Wildcats Set to Compete at USATF Junior Championships
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women's track and field team will be represented by a pair of freshmen at the 2018 USATF Junior Championships held in Bloomington, Indiana this weekend, as Taylor Latimer and Cara Melgares will compete amongst the top youth in the country at Hayes Track at the Haugh Complex on June 15-17.
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Both Wildcat freshman had sensational opening campaigns for the Wildcats, both scoring at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship meet in Waco, Texas on May 11-13, leading to the team's second-straight Big 12 title. This weekend, Melgares will compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase finals on Friday at 6:20 p.m., while Latimer will throw in the women's discus finals on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and the shot put finals on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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Latimer, a freshman from Valley Center, Kansas, made a substantial impact during her freshman season for the Wildcats, scoring in both the shot put and hammer throw at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship. Latimer also threw a personal best mark of 15.42m/50-07.25 at the Kansas Relays on April 21, to win the event.
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Competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Melgares, a freshman from Manhattan, Kansas will look to continue her success at the USATF Junior Championships, after a notable freshman season for the Wildcats. Melgares placed eighth overall at the Big 12 Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by running a personal best 10:40.98, which helped her qualify for the USATF Junior Championships. Melgares was also part of the women's 4x1600 meter relay that won the Drake Relays for the first time in K-State history on April 21, 2018.
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The 2018 USATF Junior Championships serve as the selection event for the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships that will take place in Tampere, Finland from July 10-15, where the top athletes under the age of 20 compete to be the best in the world.
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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Both Wildcat freshman had sensational opening campaigns for the Wildcats, both scoring at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship meet in Waco, Texas on May 11-13, leading to the team's second-straight Big 12 title. This weekend, Melgares will compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase finals on Friday at 6:20 p.m., while Latimer will throw in the women's discus finals on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and the shot put finals on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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Latimer, a freshman from Valley Center, Kansas, made a substantial impact during her freshman season for the Wildcats, scoring in both the shot put and hammer throw at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship. Latimer also threw a personal best mark of 15.42m/50-07.25 at the Kansas Relays on April 21, to win the event.
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Competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Melgares, a freshman from Manhattan, Kansas will look to continue her success at the USATF Junior Championships, after a notable freshman season for the Wildcats. Melgares placed eighth overall at the Big 12 Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by running a personal best 10:40.98, which helped her qualify for the USATF Junior Championships. Melgares was also part of the women's 4x1600 meter relay that won the Drake Relays for the first time in K-State history on April 21, 2018.
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The 2018 USATF Junior Championships serve as the selection event for the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships that will take place in Tampere, Finland from July 10-15, where the top athletes under the age of 20 compete to be the best in the world.
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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