Four Wildcats Earn All-America Honors on Day Two of NCAA Championships
Jun 07, 2018 | Track & Field
Four Wildcats Earn All-America Honors on Day Two of NCAA Championships
EUGENE, Ore. – Day two of the NCAA Championships saw four members of K-State track and field claim All-America honors, including sophomore Helene Ingvaldsen, who placed seventh in the women's hammer throw, as the Wildcats wrapped up day two of the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday.
With Ingvaldsen scoring in the women's hammer throw, the Wildcats are the only team in the country to have scored in the event at the NCAA Championships in each of the past three seasons (Ingvaldsen – 2018, Janee' Kassanavoid – 2017, Sara Savatovic – 2016).
Entering the women's hammer throw, Wildcats were only one of three schools to qualify two individuals for the NCAA Championships. Throwing first for the Wildcats, sophomore Helene Ingvaldsen got a throw of 62.58m/212-06 out on her first attempt to place her in second through round one.
On her next two throws, Ingvaldsen released both attempts that reached over 64 meters, including a new personal best of 64.77m/212-06 on her third attempt to put her into the finals with the seventh-best throw.
Throwing in flight two, senior Janee' Kassanavoid was looking to build off Ingvaldsen's strong start, throwing 61.51m/201-09 on her first attempt to place her in 13th. However, the Big 12 Champion was unable to improve on her initial mark, fouling on her next to attempts to miss out on finals. Kassanavoid earned second team All-America honors for placing 13th overall, her third-career outdoor All-America honors.
In the finals, Ingvaldsen was unable to improve upon her personal best throw of 64.77m/212-06, which was good to finish her seventh overall, earning her first team All-America honors for the first time in her career. At last year's NCAA Championships, Ingvaldsen finished 15th overall to earn second team All-America honors.
"It was very exciting, I am really glad to throw a personal best at the NCAA Championships," Ingvaldsen said of her performance. "It was a great season, but I look forward to doing even better and getting to the top in the next few years."
Later in the day, senior Jess St. John took part in the women's shot put final at Historic Hayward Field, where she was making her NCAA Championship debut. St. John recorded an opening mark of 16.01m/52-06.50 to get on the board, before fouling on her second attempt.
In 15th place after two rounds of throws, St. John finished up with an improvement upon her first throw, reaching 16.48m/54-01 to move into 14th place. St. John's went on to finish 14th overall, which earns her second team All-America honors, marking the first time of her career.
Also making his first NCAA Championship appearance, sophomore Aaron Booth concluded his decathlon competition on Thursday, after entering day two of the competition in 18th place with 3,828 points from Wednesday.
On Thursday, Booth made strides by finishing in the top-10 of four of his five events. Booth had his biggest performance in the men's javelin throw, winning the event with a best throw of 57.55m/188-09 to earn 701 points. In addition to his first-place finish in the javelin, Booth placed in the top-10 in the discus, pole vault and 1,500 meters.
Booth's solid day two of competition led to his 14th-place finish in the men's decathlon, earning second-team All-America honors. Booth becomes the first K-State All-American in the event since Reinis Kreigers in 2014.
"I entered the season with the goal to make it to the NCAA Championships, so overall I am pretty happy with how everything went," Booth said. "Although it wasn't the point total that I wanted, it was a great experience and it will be my goal to get back to the NCAA Championships."
Along with the four K-State All-Americans, junior Ranae McKenzie secured a spot in the women's 400-meter hurdles final that will take place on Saturday, running a 57.43 to earn an auto-qualifier out of heat two on Thursday.
McKenzie qualifies for the finals with the sixth-fastest time from the semifinal round on Thursday, and as the Big 12 Champion from earlier this season. McKenzie will make her first trip to the 400-meter hurdles finals, after finishing 14th as a second team All-American last season.
In the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Morgan Wedekind made her debut at the NCAA Championships, just two weeks after running the second-fastest time (9:56.26) in K-State history at the NCAA West Preliminary.
On Thursday, Wedekind got off to a strong start near the front of the pack through the first few laps, before falling back from the pack as the race progressed. Wedekind stayed strong to finish in 10:18.65, placing 21st overall in her first-career NCAA Championship appearance. Wedekind finishes her K-State career with the second-fastest time in K-State outdoor history and is the third Wildcat to ever clear 10 minutes in the event.
Day three from Eugene picks up on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT, with the start of the women's heptathlon, where sophomores Ariel Okorie and Nina Schultz will compete throughout the two days of events. On Friday, Okorie and Schultz will contest in the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meters. In addition to the start of the women's heptathlon, freshman Tejaswin Shankar will make his NCAA Championships debut in the men's high jump at 7:00 p.m. CT, entering with the top jump in the nation this season (2.29m/7-06).
The NCAA Championships can be viewed throughout the meet's entirety on the ESPN Networks, with viewing information available here. Live results will be available throughout the meet, which can be accessed here.
For more information on the 2018 NCAA Championships, including a full schedule, ticket information and more, click here.
NCAA Championships (Day Two)
Hayward Field
Eugene, Oregon
Men's Decathlon 110 Meter Hurdles
15. Aaron Booth, 15.85 (.1) (750 pts.) (P.R.)
Men's Decathlon Discus
8. Aaron Booth, 42.28/138-08 (711 pts.)
Men's Decathlon Pole Vault
3. Aaron Booth, 4.51m/14-09.50 (763 pts.)
Women's Hammer Throw Finals
7. Helene Ingvaldsen, 64.77m/212-06 (First Team All-America) (P.R.)
13. Janee' Kassanavoid, 61.51m/201-09 (Second Team All-America)
Men's Decathlon Javelin
1. Aaron Booth, 57.55m/188-09 (701 pts.)
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Semifinals
21. Morgan Wedekind, 10:18.65
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles Semifinals
6. Ranae McKenzie, 57.43Q
Women's Shot Put Finals
14. Jess St. John, 16.01m/52-06.50 (Second Team All-America)
Men's Decathlon 1,500 Meters
7. Aaron Booth, 4:36.04 (705 pts.)
Men's Decathlon Final Results
14. Aaron Booth, 7,458 points (Second Team All-America)
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
With Ingvaldsen scoring in the women's hammer throw, the Wildcats are the only team in the country to have scored in the event at the NCAA Championships in each of the past three seasons (Ingvaldsen – 2018, Janee' Kassanavoid – 2017, Sara Savatovic – 2016).
Entering the women's hammer throw, Wildcats were only one of three schools to qualify two individuals for the NCAA Championships. Throwing first for the Wildcats, sophomore Helene Ingvaldsen got a throw of 62.58m/212-06 out on her first attempt to place her in second through round one.
On her next two throws, Ingvaldsen released both attempts that reached over 64 meters, including a new personal best of 64.77m/212-06 on her third attempt to put her into the finals with the seventh-best throw.
Helene Ingvaldsen's personal best throw of 64.77m/212-06 came on her third attempt in the women's hammer, giving her the best throw out of flight one
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 7, 2018
It also went on to get her through finals with a seventh place finish ?????? pic.twitter.com/VHHPudWjyo
Throwing in flight two, senior Janee' Kassanavoid was looking to build off Ingvaldsen's strong start, throwing 61.51m/201-09 on her first attempt to place her in 13th. However, the Big 12 Champion was unable to improve on her initial mark, fouling on her next to attempts to miss out on finals. Kassanavoid earned second team All-America honors for placing 13th overall, her third-career outdoor All-America honors.
In the finals, Ingvaldsen was unable to improve upon her personal best throw of 64.77m/212-06, which was good to finish her seventh overall, earning her first team All-America honors for the first time in her career. At last year's NCAA Championships, Ingvaldsen finished 15th overall to earn second team All-America honors.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 7, 2018
First Team All-America ??
Personal best throw ??
Helene Ingvaldsen had a big day in the women's hammer throw! #KStateTF
Photos from today's finals ?? pic.twitter.com/DSacQSYPVx
"It was very exciting, I am really glad to throw a personal best at the NCAA Championships," Ingvaldsen said of her performance. "It was a great season, but I look forward to doing even better and getting to the top in the next few years."
Later in the day, senior Jess St. John took part in the women's shot put final at Historic Hayward Field, where she was making her NCAA Championship debut. St. John recorded an opening mark of 16.01m/52-06.50 to get on the board, before fouling on her second attempt.
In 15th place after two rounds of throws, St. John finished up with an improvement upon her first throw, reaching 16.48m/54-01 to move into 14th place. St. John's went on to finish 14th overall, which earns her second team All-America honors, marking the first time of her career.
Also making his first NCAA Championship appearance, sophomore Aaron Booth concluded his decathlon competition on Thursday, after entering day two of the competition in 18th place with 3,828 points from Wednesday.
On Thursday, Booth made strides by finishing in the top-10 of four of his five events. Booth had his biggest performance in the men's javelin throw, winning the event with a best throw of 57.55m/188-09 to earn 701 points. In addition to his first-place finish in the javelin, Booth placed in the top-10 in the discus, pole vault and 1,500 meters.
Booth's solid day two of competition led to his 14th-place finish in the men's decathlon, earning second-team All-America honors. Booth becomes the first K-State All-American in the event since Reinis Kreigers in 2014.
Second Team All-America! ??
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 8, 2018
Sophomore Aaron Booth earns second team All-America in the men's decathlon for his 14th place finish, becoming the first K-State decathlete to earn All-America honors since Reinis Kreigers in 2014 pic.twitter.com/6ZewvA0Raf
"I entered the season with the goal to make it to the NCAA Championships, so overall I am pretty happy with how everything went," Booth said. "Although it wasn't the point total that I wanted, it was a great experience and it will be my goal to get back to the NCAA Championships."
Along with the four K-State All-Americans, junior Ranae McKenzie secured a spot in the women's 400-meter hurdles final that will take place on Saturday, running a 57.43 to earn an auto-qualifier out of heat two on Thursday.
McKenzie qualifies for the finals with the sixth-fastest time from the semifinal round on Thursday, and as the Big 12 Champion from earlier this season. McKenzie will make her first trip to the 400-meter hurdles finals, after finishing 14th as a second team All-American last season.
In the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Morgan Wedekind made her debut at the NCAA Championships, just two weeks after running the second-fastest time (9:56.26) in K-State history at the NCAA West Preliminary.
On Thursday, Wedekind got off to a strong start near the front of the pack through the first few laps, before falling back from the pack as the race progressed. Wedekind stayed strong to finish in 10:18.65, placing 21st overall in her first-career NCAA Championship appearance. Wedekind finishes her K-State career with the second-fastest time in K-State outdoor history and is the third Wildcat to ever clear 10 minutes in the event.
Senior Morgan Wedekind put it all on the line today in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, running 10:18.65 to place 21st overall #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 8, 2018
Wedekind closes out her career with the second-fastest time in K-State history (9:56.26) and the third Wildcat to ever break 10 minutes pic.twitter.com/rQiS3Hn1Xj
Day three from Eugene picks up on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT, with the start of the women's heptathlon, where sophomores Ariel Okorie and Nina Schultz will compete throughout the two days of events. On Friday, Okorie and Schultz will contest in the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meters. In addition to the start of the women's heptathlon, freshman Tejaswin Shankar will make his NCAA Championships debut in the men's high jump at 7:00 p.m. CT, entering with the top jump in the nation this season (2.29m/7-06).
The NCAA Championships can be viewed throughout the meet's entirety on the ESPN Networks, with viewing information available here. Live results will be available throughout the meet, which can be accessed here.
For more information on the 2018 NCAA Championships, including a full schedule, ticket information and more, click here.
NCAA Championships (Day Two)
Hayward Field
Eugene, Oregon
Men's Decathlon 110 Meter Hurdles
15. Aaron Booth, 15.85 (.1) (750 pts.) (P.R.)
Men's Decathlon Discus
8. Aaron Booth, 42.28/138-08 (711 pts.)
Men's Decathlon Pole Vault
3. Aaron Booth, 4.51m/14-09.50 (763 pts.)
Women's Hammer Throw Finals
7. Helene Ingvaldsen, 64.77m/212-06 (First Team All-America) (P.R.)
13. Janee' Kassanavoid, 61.51m/201-09 (Second Team All-America)
Men's Decathlon Javelin
1. Aaron Booth, 57.55m/188-09 (701 pts.)
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Semifinals
21. Morgan Wedekind, 10:18.65
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles Semifinals
6. Ranae McKenzie, 57.43Q
Women's Shot Put Finals
14. Jess St. John, 16.01m/52-06.50 (Second Team All-America)
Men's Decathlon 1,500 Meters
7. Aaron Booth, 4:36.04 (705 pts.)
Men's Decathlon Final Results
14. Aaron Booth, 7,458 points (Second Team All-America)
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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