Three Wildcats to Compete at USATF Outdoor Championships
Jun 20, 2018 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Three members of the Kansas State track and field team will suit up for the USA Track and Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships, which will be held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa from June 21-24, as they compete amongst the best athletes in the nation.
Making her first USATF Outdoor Championship appearance, senior Morgan Wedekind will compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase first round on Thursday afternoon at 1:50 p.m., with finals on Saturday, while seniors Terrell Smith (men's 200 meters) and Janee' Kassanavoid (women's hammer throw) will make their second career appearance at the Championship on Saturday. In addition, former K-State high jumper Erik Kynard is seeking his fifth outdoor championship in the men's high jump final, which takes place on Sunday at 1:45 p.m.
"Certainly, it is a good test for the collegians that are competing," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "Many of them are coming off competing all season long, but the experience of competing at this meet can benefit them in the future."
Wedekind will be the first individual to see the blue oval this weekend in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, as she looks to continue a noteworthy 2018 campaign that saw her earn a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event. Wedekind went on to place 21st overall at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, running 10:18.65.
Wedekind's NCAA-qualifying time of 9:56.26, set at the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, California, is the second-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time in K-State history, which also earned her first bid to the USATF Outdoor Championships this weekend.
Wedekind is familiar with Drake Stadium, where, as part of the women's 4x1600 meter relay earlier this season, Wedekind, freshman Sydney Collins, freshman Cara Melgares and junior Emma Wren became the first Wildcat team to win the event at Drake Relays, finishing in 19:22.42.
Competing in the men's 200-meter first round on Saturday, Smith will look to continue an impressive senior campaign, in which, he earned All-America honors in the men's 200 meters both indoor and outdoor. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 6, Smith finished 16th by running 20.71, becoming the first All-American in the 200 meters in program history.
This will be Smith's second appearance at the USATF Outdoor Championships, after qualifying for the 2015 USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he placed 21st in a time of 20.79. Smith is slated to hit the track on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. for the first round of the 200 meters.
Making her second appearance at the USATF Outdoor Championships in as many years, Kassanavoid is coming off of her third All-America honor in the women's hammer throw, finishing 13th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7. At last year's USATF Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, California, Kassanavoid placed 14th overall with a throw of 63.12m/207-01.
This season, Kassanavoid reached a new personal best throw of 68.21m/223-09 at the Big 12 Championship, winning her second-consecutive hammer throw title. Kassanavoid steps into the hammer throw ring on Saturday at 2:20 p.m.
In addition to the three current Wildcats competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships, Kynard is the most experienced of the bunch, competing at his eighth USATF Outdoor Championship, where he has won four of the last five high jump titles. In 2015, Kynard highlighted the meet by clearing 2.37m/7-09.25, tying Jesse Williams' meet record.
The 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Gold, NBC Live and NBCSN throughout the weekend's competition.
For more information on the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, including a full schedule of events, ticket information and more, 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.
Making her first USATF Outdoor Championship appearance, senior Morgan Wedekind will compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase first round on Thursday afternoon at 1:50 p.m., with finals on Saturday, while seniors Terrell Smith (men's 200 meters) and Janee' Kassanavoid (women's hammer throw) will make their second career appearance at the Championship on Saturday. In addition, former K-State high jumper Erik Kynard is seeking his fifth outdoor championship in the men's high jump final, which takes place on Sunday at 1:45 p.m.
"Certainly, it is a good test for the collegians that are competing," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "Many of them are coming off competing all season long, but the experience of competing at this meet can benefit them in the future."
Wedekind will be the first individual to see the blue oval this weekend in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, as she looks to continue a noteworthy 2018 campaign that saw her earn a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event. Wedekind went on to place 21st overall at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, running 10:18.65.
Wedekind's NCAA-qualifying time of 9:56.26, set at the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, California, is the second-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time in K-State history, which also earned her first bid to the USATF Outdoor Championships this weekend.
Wedekind is familiar with Drake Stadium, where, as part of the women's 4x1600 meter relay earlier this season, Wedekind, freshman Sydney Collins, freshman Cara Melgares and junior Emma Wren became the first Wildcat team to win the event at Drake Relays, finishing in 19:22.42.
Competing in the men's 200-meter first round on Saturday, Smith will look to continue an impressive senior campaign, in which, he earned All-America honors in the men's 200 meters both indoor and outdoor. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 6, Smith finished 16th by running 20.71, becoming the first All-American in the 200 meters in program history.
This will be Smith's second appearance at the USATF Outdoor Championships, after qualifying for the 2015 USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he placed 21st in a time of 20.79. Smith is slated to hit the track on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. for the first round of the 200 meters.
Making her second appearance at the USATF Outdoor Championships in as many years, Kassanavoid is coming off of her third All-America honor in the women's hammer throw, finishing 13th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7. At last year's USATF Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, California, Kassanavoid placed 14th overall with a throw of 63.12m/207-01.
This season, Kassanavoid reached a new personal best throw of 68.21m/223-09 at the Big 12 Championship, winning her second-consecutive hammer throw title. Kassanavoid steps into the hammer throw ring on Saturday at 2:20 p.m.
In addition to the three current Wildcats competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships, Kynard is the most experienced of the bunch, competing at his eighth USATF Outdoor Championship, where he has won four of the last five high jump titles. In 2015, Kynard highlighted the meet by clearing 2.37m/7-09.25, tying Jesse Williams' meet record.
The 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Gold, NBC Live and NBCSN throughout the weekend's competition.
For more information on the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, including a full schedule of events, ticket information and more, 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.
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