Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, January 26
Fayetteville, Ark.
11:25 a.m.
Kansas State University
at
Razorback Invitational
Booth Sets National Record, Wildcats Wrap Up Impressive Weekend in Arkansas
Jan 26, 2019 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Kansas State men's and women's Track and Field teams concluded an impressive showing at the Razorback Invitational this weekend, as junior Aaron Booth broke a New Zealand National Indoor Record, while the K-State women placed fifth with 67 points at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday.
"I thought we had a number of really fine performances in every event area," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "We had a number of personal bests and some who competed very well, but we also have a few injury issues that need to be addressed. If we keep working and take care of ourselves, we can be pretty solid by the end of the season."
Booth, a native of Auckland, New Zealand scored 5,819 points in his K-State heptathlon debut to break the country's national record of 5,758 points set by Brent Newdick in 2012, while also scoring the second-most points in the event in K-State indoor history, just three points shy of the school record 5,822 points set by Mantas Silkauskas in 2011.
In addition to Booth's record-breaking performance, freshman Kassidy Johnson and sophomore Taylor Latimer cracked the K-State top-10 all-time list in their respective events, while the Wildcats garnered three event victories from junior Helene Ingvaldsen (weight throw), senior Brett Neelly (shot put) and Johnson (800 meters) throughout the weekend.
Booth's record comes after posting 3,310 points on the opening day of the heptathlon on Friday, where he stood in second place. Booth continued his success on Saturday, posting a personal best in the pole vault by vaulting 4.75m/15-07 to earn 834 points. Trailing the leader by just 27 points, Booth came up short in the 1,000 meters, though his final score of 5,819 ranks second in the NCAA this season, behind only Gabe Moore of Arkansas (5,865 points).
"Going into my first heptathlon the national record really wasn't on my mind," Booth said of his performance. "It wasn't until after the first day that I realized I could do it and to break it in my debut, it is just awesome."
In the women's triple jump, senior Shardia Lawrence posted the third-best jump in the NCAA this season to place second in the event, jumping 13.58m/44-06.75 on her second attempt. Lawrence's result was just a mere two centimeters off the winning jump, as Lawrence inched closer to her school record of 13.75m/45-01.50 set at the Tyson Invitational in 2017. Lawrence's jump of 13.58m/44-06.75 marked the third time this season she cleared the 13-meter plateau in the event.
On the track, freshman Kassidy Johnson ran away with the women's open 800 meters, where she clocked a 2:06.92 to win the event, placing her third all-time in K-State indoor history and eighth fastest in the NCAA this season. Entering today, Johnson held a personal best of 2:13.67 in the event, before cutting nearly seven seconds off her time on Saturday. Johnson's 2:06.92 was also the fastest 800 meters since 2012, when Boglarka Bozzay set the school record of 2:05.16.
"It was a surprising performance because I told her going into the race that she could run a 2:09, so we are thrilled and excited for what can happen down the road," Assistant Coach Ryun Godfrey said. "Overall, I thought Cara Melgares ran a strong mile and Dylan Brenneman and Joe Gorthy ran good races as well. I'm pretty happy with the performances as a whole."
In the women's shot put, sophomore Taylor Latimer improved upon her personal best by throwing 16.17m/53-00.75 on her final attempt, which moved her from ninth to sixth all-time in K-State indoor history. The throw is her first in her career over the 16-meter plateau and her second personal best in as many weeks after winning the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular on January 18.
Meanwhile, in the men's shot put, senior Brett Neelly recorded his second-best throw of his career on Saturday, marking 20.06m/65-09.75 on his opening attempt to win the event. Neelly's throw comes after breaking the school record in the event at the K-State Winter Invitational, where he threw 20.15m/66-01.50. Neelly is the only Wildcat to ever break 20 meters in the event.
Up next, K-State will travel north to the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 1-2. The meet marks the sixth of the season for the Wildcats and the 10th year in a row K-State has competed in the annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, dating back to 2009. For more information on the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, including a full schedule of events, facility information and more, click here.
For the latest on K-State track and field, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter using the hashtag #KStateTF or on the team's Facebook page.
Razorback Invitational (Day Two)
Randal Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Hurdles
5. Aaron Booth, 8.52 (855 points)
6. Simone Fassina, 8.68 (818 points)
Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault
1. Aaron Booth, 4.75m/15-07 (834 points) (P.R.)
4. Simone Fassina, 4.45m/14-07.25 (746 points)
Men's Heptathlon 1,000 Meters
4. Aaron Booth, 2:44.85 (820 points)
5. Simone Fassina, 2:51.15 (754 points)
Men's Heptathlon Final Scores
2. Aaron Booth, 5,819 (P.R.)
6. Simone Fassina, 4,494
Men's 3,000 Meters
9. Charlie Parrish, 8:44.05
Men's 400 Meters
5. Justin Davis, 48.07 (P.R.)
Men's Shot Put
1. Brett Neelly, 20.06m/65-09.75
7. Cameron Lewis, 16.36m/53-08.25 (P.R.)
Women's Mile
4. Cara Melgares, 4:53.46
Men's Mile
9. Dylan Brenneman, 4:14.40
13. Joe Gorthy, 4:16.82 (P.R.)
15. Keegan Donahue, 4:18.08 (P.R.)
16. Noah Stevenson, 4:27.03
19. Travis Hodge, 4:35.12
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
13. Vitoria Alves, 8.91
Men's 60 Meters Prelims
15. Jullane Walker, 6.87
Men's Triple Jump
6. Angelo Gordon, 14.58m/47-10
Women's Triple Jump
2. Shardia Lawrence, 13.58m/44-06.75
8. Konstantina Romaiou, 12.51m/41-00.50
Women's Shot Put
2. Taylor Latimer, 16.17m/53-00.75 (P.R.)
--. Gabby Tozer, NM
Women's 800 Meters Open
1. Kassidy Johnson, 2:06.92 (P.R.)
Men's 800 Meters Open
8. Kurt Loevenstein, 1:52.72
Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Invitational
5. K-State, 3:40.07
Men's 4x400 Meter Relay,
5. K-State, 3:19.52
Men's Team Scores
1. Oregon, 116
2. Florida, 115
3. Arkansas, 74
4. LSU, 62
5. Mississippi State, 47
6. Purdue, 45
7. K-State, 44
8. Kentucky, 38
9. Iowa State, 27
10. Oklahoma State, 24
Women's Team Scores
1. Arkansas, 145.5
2. Oregon, 101
3. Kentucky, 86
4. LSU, 71
5. K-State, 67
6. Florida, 56
7. Iowa State, 28
8. Purdue, 21
9. Mississippi State, 17.5
10. Oklahoma State, 10
"I thought we had a number of really fine performances in every event area," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "We had a number of personal bests and some who competed very well, but we also have a few injury issues that need to be addressed. If we keep working and take care of ourselves, we can be pretty solid by the end of the season."
Booth, a native of Auckland, New Zealand scored 5,819 points in his K-State heptathlon debut to break the country's national record of 5,758 points set by Brent Newdick in 2012, while also scoring the second-most points in the event in K-State indoor history, just three points shy of the school record 5,822 points set by Mantas Silkauskas in 2011.
With his 5,819 points in the heptathlon today, Aaron Booth has broken the New Zealand National Record in the event, previously held by Brent Newdick (5,758 points) set in 2012 #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) January 26, 2019
Congrats, Aaron! ?????? pic.twitter.com/G9liyGwF7w
In addition to Booth's record-breaking performance, freshman Kassidy Johnson and sophomore Taylor Latimer cracked the K-State top-10 all-time list in their respective events, while the Wildcats garnered three event victories from junior Helene Ingvaldsen (weight throw), senior Brett Neelly (shot put) and Johnson (800 meters) throughout the weekend.
Booth's record comes after posting 3,310 points on the opening day of the heptathlon on Friday, where he stood in second place. Booth continued his success on Saturday, posting a personal best in the pole vault by vaulting 4.75m/15-07 to earn 834 points. Trailing the leader by just 27 points, Booth came up short in the 1,000 meters, though his final score of 5,819 ranks second in the NCAA this season, behind only Gabe Moore of Arkansas (5,865 points).
"Going into my first heptathlon the national record really wasn't on my mind," Booth said of his performance. "It wasn't until after the first day that I realized I could do it and to break it in my debut, it is just awesome."
In the women's triple jump, senior Shardia Lawrence posted the third-best jump in the NCAA this season to place second in the event, jumping 13.58m/44-06.75 on her second attempt. Lawrence's result was just a mere two centimeters off the winning jump, as Lawrence inched closer to her school record of 13.75m/45-01.50 set at the Tyson Invitational in 2017. Lawrence's jump of 13.58m/44-06.75 marked the third time this season she cleared the 13-meter plateau in the event.
Shardia Lawrence with some ?? jumps today #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) January 26, 2019
The senior jumps 13.58m/44-06.75 to place second in the triple jump, which is good for third in the NCAA this season. She also inches closer to her own school record jump 13.75m/45-01.50 set in 2017 pic.twitter.com/RazSwtKxtp
On the track, freshman Kassidy Johnson ran away with the women's open 800 meters, where she clocked a 2:06.92 to win the event, placing her third all-time in K-State indoor history and eighth fastest in the NCAA this season. Entering today, Johnson held a personal best of 2:13.67 in the event, before cutting nearly seven seconds off her time on Saturday. Johnson's 2:06.92 was also the fastest 800 meters since 2012, when Boglarka Bozzay set the school record of 2:05.16.
"It was a surprising performance because I told her going into the race that she could run a 2:09, so we are thrilled and excited for what can happen down the road," Assistant Coach Ryun Godfrey said. "Overall, I thought Cara Melgares ran a strong mile and Dylan Brenneman and Joe Gorthy ran good races as well. I'm pretty happy with the performances as a whole."
In the women's shot put, sophomore Taylor Latimer improved upon her personal best by throwing 16.17m/53-00.75 on her final attempt, which moved her from ninth to sixth all-time in K-State indoor history. The throw is her first in her career over the 16-meter plateau and her second personal best in as many weeks after winning the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular on January 18.
Meanwhile, in the men's shot put, senior Brett Neelly recorded his second-best throw of his career on Saturday, marking 20.06m/65-09.75 on his opening attempt to win the event. Neelly's throw comes after breaking the school record in the event at the K-State Winter Invitational, where he threw 20.15m/66-01.50. Neelly is the only Wildcat to ever break 20 meters in the event.
Up next, K-State will travel north to the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 1-2. The meet marks the sixth of the season for the Wildcats and the 10th year in a row K-State has competed in the annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, dating back to 2009. For more information on the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, including a full schedule of events, facility information and more, click here.
For the latest on K-State track and field, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter using the hashtag #KStateTF or on the team's Facebook page.
Razorback Invitational (Day Two)
Randal Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Hurdles
5. Aaron Booth, 8.52 (855 points)
6. Simone Fassina, 8.68 (818 points)
Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault
1. Aaron Booth, 4.75m/15-07 (834 points) (P.R.)
4. Simone Fassina, 4.45m/14-07.25 (746 points)
Men's Heptathlon 1,000 Meters
4. Aaron Booth, 2:44.85 (820 points)
5. Simone Fassina, 2:51.15 (754 points)
Men's Heptathlon Final Scores
2. Aaron Booth, 5,819 (P.R.)
6. Simone Fassina, 4,494
Men's 3,000 Meters
9. Charlie Parrish, 8:44.05
Men's 400 Meters
5. Justin Davis, 48.07 (P.R.)
Men's Shot Put
1. Brett Neelly, 20.06m/65-09.75
7. Cameron Lewis, 16.36m/53-08.25 (P.R.)
Women's Mile
4. Cara Melgares, 4:53.46
Men's Mile
9. Dylan Brenneman, 4:14.40
13. Joe Gorthy, 4:16.82 (P.R.)
15. Keegan Donahue, 4:18.08 (P.R.)
16. Noah Stevenson, 4:27.03
19. Travis Hodge, 4:35.12
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
13. Vitoria Alves, 8.91
Men's 60 Meters Prelims
15. Jullane Walker, 6.87
Men's Triple Jump
6. Angelo Gordon, 14.58m/47-10
Women's Triple Jump
2. Shardia Lawrence, 13.58m/44-06.75
8. Konstantina Romaiou, 12.51m/41-00.50
Women's Shot Put
2. Taylor Latimer, 16.17m/53-00.75 (P.R.)
--. Gabby Tozer, NM
Women's 800 Meters Open
1. Kassidy Johnson, 2:06.92 (P.R.)
Men's 800 Meters Open
8. Kurt Loevenstein, 1:52.72
Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Invitational
5. K-State, 3:40.07
Men's 4x400 Meter Relay,
5. K-State, 3:19.52
Men's Team Scores
1. Oregon, 116
2. Florida, 115
3. Arkansas, 74
4. LSU, 62
5. Mississippi State, 47
6. Purdue, 45
7. K-State, 44
8. Kentucky, 38
9. Iowa State, 27
10. Oklahoma State, 24
Women's Team Scores
1. Arkansas, 145.5
2. Oregon, 101
3. Kentucky, 86
4. LSU, 71
5. K-State, 67
6. Florida, 56
7. Iowa State, 28
8. Purdue, 21
9. Mississippi State, 17.5
10. Oklahoma State, 10
Players Mentioned
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