Erik Kynard Jr., Terrell Smith Place Second at USATF Outdoor Championships

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Kansas State track and field team was well-represented at the USA Track and Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships this weekend, as Erik Kynard Jr. placed second in the men's high jump final and Terrell Smith earned silver in the men's 200-meter final at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Smith earned a spot in the men's 200-meter final after setting a new school record of 20.44 in the semifinal round early on Sunday, before placing second in the finals by running a 20.74 on Sunday night. Kynard also placed second in the men's high jump, with a best jump of 2.28m/7-05.75.

Smith's school record run came during the men's 200-meter semifinals on Sunday, where he ran a wind-legal 20.44 out of heat one, placing third in his heat to secure an auto-qualifier in the finals later in the day. Smith's time betters his own program record in the event, previously set at the 2016 Big 12 Championship. Smith's 20.44 was also the fourth-fastest time run in the semifinal heats on Sunday.

"To set a school record at the USA Championships is everything I could have asked for," Smith said following his new school record. "To be able to represent my country and my team at this meet and break my school record is something I have wanted to do for a long time."

Following a two-hour rain delay on Sunday afternoon, Smith returned to the track for the 200-meter finals on Sunday evening. Positioned in lane two, Smith ran a strong race to finish in second, behind only Ameer Webb.

"I just came out and ran my race, everyone had to deal with the conditions, so it didn't bother me too much," Smith said of the rain delay. "I am really happy, I could have called it quits after NCAA outdoors but I decided to compete this weekend and it paid off."

Also on Sunday, Kynard contested in the men's high jump final, where he has won four Outdoor titles in his career. On Sunday, Kynard got off to a hot start by clearing each of his first four attempts, including his best jump of the day at 2.28m/7-05.75.

With the bar moved up to 2.31m/7-07, Kynard failed to clear the height on his first two attempts, before passing on his third to move the bar up to 2.34m/7-08. Kynard had only one attempt at the height, where he failed to make an attempt, finishing the day with a second-place finish.

Earlier in the week, senior Morgan Wedekind made her way to the blue oval, where she competed in the first round of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday.

Wedekind, a native of Wichita, Kansas, ran a strong race out of heat one, where she was placed in fourth place through the first 2,000 meters. On the final lap, Wedekind moved to seventh in her heat, finishing in 10:02.28, just half a second off the qualifying time for the 3,000-meter steeplechase finals.

Wedekind goes down as the third Wildcat to ever break the 10-minute barrier and the second-fastest in K-State history, after running a 9:56.52 at the NCAA West Preliminary.

Also putting a cap on her collegiate career, senior Janee' Kassanavoid placed 15^th in the women's hammer throw finals on Saturday, where she made her second-career USATF Championship appearance. Kassanavoid finishes her career as a four-time All-American, two-time Big 12 Champion and the school record holder in both the hammer throw and weight throw.

"Janee' has had a fantastic career with a few Big 12 Championships and All-America titles," Assistant Coach Greg Watson said of Kassanavoid. "We both feel that she has much more to give to the sport and has made a decision to continue training after college. With more time and experience I have no double she will reach new heights."
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USATF Outdoor Championships
Drake Stadium
Des Moines, Iowa

3,000-Meter Steeplechase First Round (Thursday)
15. Morgan Wedekind, 10:02.28

Women's Hammer Throw (Saturday)
15. Janee' Kassanavoid, 48.26m/158-04

Men's 200 Meter First Round (Saturday)
10. Terrell Smith, 20.80Q

Men's High Jump Final (Sunday)
2. Erik Kynard, 2.28m/7-05.75

Men's 200 Meter Semifinals (Sunday)
4. Terrell Smith, 20.44Q (1.5) (School Record)

Men's 200 Meter Finals (Sunday)
2. Terrell Smith, 20.74 (-1.9)

Kansas State University Athletics

Erik Kynard Jr., Terrell Smith Place Second at USATF Outdoor Championships

Players Mentioned

Janee' Kassanavoid

Terrell Smith

Morgan Wedekind

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