Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats Have Big Day at Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational
Mar 29, 2019 | Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas – Competing at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas and the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas the Kansas State men's and women's track and field teams recorded several notable performances on Friday, including a new NCAA lead in the women's long jump.
Jumping in her first meet of the outdoor season, junior Taishia Pryce was the first competitor to jump over six meters in the women's long jump, which she did on her second attempt, before unleashing a wind-aided jump of 6.60m/21-08 (2.4) on her third attempt. Her third attempt mark of 6.60m/21-08 went on to win her the 'B' section of the event and place her at the top of the NCAA so far this season.
"For Taishia (Pryce), she's healthy for the first time this season up until now," Assistant Coach Vincent Johnson said on Friday. "So it has kind of been her first opportunity to train at a level where she can expect to be better. We have to continue to grind because we want this to continue in May and June."
Later in the day in the women's triple jump, the Wildcats continued to post some of the top marks in the country, including Shardia Lawrence's final jump of 13.58m/44-06.75 that placed her second overall in the event. Throughout the competition, Lawrence recorded four jumps of over 13.40 meters, before being edged out on her final attempt by Alex Madlock of Baylor, who jumped 13.79m/45-03 (2.2).
In addition to Lawrence's second-place finish in the triple jump, junior Konstantina Romaiou had a big day in the triple jump pit, jumping a wind-aided 13.40m/43-11.75 on her final attempt, which placed her fifth overall.
"I'm pretty excited to see what the end of the year can bring. It gives us an opportunity to look at some things and continue to train at a level that we want to perform," Johnson said. "Overall I really liked the energy that we brought today, everyone was really excited."
On the track, K-State found success in several relays, including a sixth-place finish in the women's sprint medley relay, which consists of two 200 meters, one 400 meters and an 800 meter legs. The Wildcats jumped ahead in the first heat behind the strong 200 meter splits of Pryce and Asha Cave, before junior Ariel Okorie and freshman Kassidy Johnson ran away with the race, finishing in 3:53.89 and placing sixth overall.
In the women's 4x400 meter relay, the Wildcat team of Lauren Taubert, Ranae McKenzie, Alex Ferguson and Lavaun Stephenson secured a bid into the event finals on Saturday by running a 3:44.54 to place ninth overall. The 4x400 meter relay final will take place at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday.
In individual events on the track, a duo of Wildcats, Taubert and Okorie competed in the women's 100 meter hurdles prelims on Friday, where Taubert claimed a new personal best in 13.70 to place 20th, while Okorie was right behind in 13.72 to place 21st overall.
At the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, sophomore Ashley Petr set a new personal best of 59.81m/196-02 on her first throw in the women's hammer throw, placing her 12th overall, while junior Helene Ingvaldsen placed seventh and junior Shaelyn Ward placed 11th after competing at the Texas Relays on Thursday.
K-State will return to the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational on Saturday, with the first event beginning at 10:30 a.m. For more information on the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, including tickets, history and more, click here. Live results will be available throughout the entirety of the meet, available here.
92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (Day Three)
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles
20. Lauren Taubert, 13.70 (P.R.)
21. Ariel Okorie, 13.72 (2.5)
Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Prelims
9. Kansas State, 3:44.54q
Women's 1,600 Sprint Medley Relay Finals
6. Kansas State, 3:53.89
Men's 1,600 Sprint Medley Relay Finals
--. Kansas State, DNF
Men's Discus Section B
7. Brett Neelly, 52.25m/171-05
Women's Long Jump Section B
1. Taishia Pryce, 6.60m/21-08 (2.4)
Women's High Jump Section B
7. Morgan Coffman, 1.71m/5-07.25
Women's Triple Jump Section A
2. Shardia Lawrence, 13.58m/44-06.75
5. Konstantina Romaiou, 13.40m/43-11.75 (2.1)
Bobcat Invitational (Day Two)
Texas State Track and Field Complex
San Marcos, Texas
Men's Discus (Thursday)
2. Colin Echols, 52.89m/173-06 (P.R.)
Women's Hammer Throw
7. Helene Ingvaldsen, 59.81m/196-02
11. Shaelyn Ward, 56.14m/184-02
12. Ashley Petr, 55.22m/181-02
Men's Long Jump
5. Tom Pyle, 7.46m/24-05.75 (3.4)
Men's Hammer Throw
23. Colin Echols, 48.52m/159-02
Men's 1,500 Meters
6. Keegan Donahue, 3:59.48
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Jumping in her first meet of the outdoor season, junior Taishia Pryce was the first competitor to jump over six meters in the women's long jump, which she did on her second attempt, before unleashing a wind-aided jump of 6.60m/21-08 (2.4) on her third attempt. Her third attempt mark of 6.60m/21-08 went on to win her the 'B' section of the event and place her at the top of the NCAA so far this season.
"For Taishia (Pryce), she's healthy for the first time this season up until now," Assistant Coach Vincent Johnson said on Friday. "So it has kind of been her first opportunity to train at a level where she can expect to be better. We have to continue to grind because we want this to continue in May and June."
Later in the day in the women's triple jump, the Wildcats continued to post some of the top marks in the country, including Shardia Lawrence's final jump of 13.58m/44-06.75 that placed her second overall in the event. Throughout the competition, Lawrence recorded four jumps of over 13.40 meters, before being edged out on her final attempt by Alex Madlock of Baylor, who jumped 13.79m/45-03 (2.2).
Saving the best for last #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) March 29, 2019
Earlier today, senior Shardia Lawrence jumped over 13.40 meters 4? times, including this jump of 13.58m/44-06.75 to place second overall?? pic.twitter.com/Nc4pCjvk5A
In addition to Lawrence's second-place finish in the triple jump, junior Konstantina Romaiou had a big day in the triple jump pit, jumping a wind-aided 13.40m/43-11.75 on her final attempt, which placed her fifth overall.
"I'm pretty excited to see what the end of the year can bring. It gives us an opportunity to look at some things and continue to train at a level that we want to perform," Johnson said. "Overall I really liked the energy that we brought today, everyone was really excited."
On the track, K-State found success in several relays, including a sixth-place finish in the women's sprint medley relay, which consists of two 200 meters, one 400 meters and an 800 meter legs. The Wildcats jumped ahead in the first heat behind the strong 200 meter splits of Pryce and Asha Cave, before junior Ariel Okorie and freshman Kassidy Johnson ran away with the race, finishing in 3:53.89 and placing sixth overall.
2?0?0? Taishia Pryce
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) March 29, 2019
2?0?0? Asha Cave
4?0?0? Ariel Okorie
8?0?0? Kassidy Johnson
The Wildcats were solid throughout in the women's sprint medley relay, winning heat 1 and placing sixth overall in 3:53.89 pic.twitter.com/FMid0Qn0QI
In the women's 4x400 meter relay, the Wildcat team of Lauren Taubert, Ranae McKenzie, Alex Ferguson and Lavaun Stephenson secured a bid into the event finals on Saturday by running a 3:44.54 to place ninth overall. The 4x400 meter relay final will take place at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday.
In individual events on the track, a duo of Wildcats, Taubert and Okorie competed in the women's 100 meter hurdles prelims on Friday, where Taubert claimed a new personal best in 13.70 to place 20th, while Okorie was right behind in 13.72 to place 21st overall.
At the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, sophomore Ashley Petr set a new personal best of 59.81m/196-02 on her first throw in the women's hammer throw, placing her 12th overall, while junior Helene Ingvaldsen placed seventh and junior Shaelyn Ward placed 11th after competing at the Texas Relays on Thursday.
K-State will return to the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational on Saturday, with the first event beginning at 10:30 a.m. For more information on the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, including tickets, history and more, click here. Live results will be available throughout the entirety of the meet, available here.
92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (Day Three)
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles
20. Lauren Taubert, 13.70 (P.R.)
21. Ariel Okorie, 13.72 (2.5)
Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Prelims
9. Kansas State, 3:44.54q
Women's 1,600 Sprint Medley Relay Finals
6. Kansas State, 3:53.89
Men's 1,600 Sprint Medley Relay Finals
--. Kansas State, DNF
Men's Discus Section B
7. Brett Neelly, 52.25m/171-05
Women's Long Jump Section B
1. Taishia Pryce, 6.60m/21-08 (2.4)
Women's High Jump Section B
7. Morgan Coffman, 1.71m/5-07.25
Women's Triple Jump Section A
2. Shardia Lawrence, 13.58m/44-06.75
5. Konstantina Romaiou, 13.40m/43-11.75 (2.1)
Bobcat Invitational (Day Two)
Texas State Track and Field Complex
San Marcos, Texas
Men's Discus (Thursday)
2. Colin Echols, 52.89m/173-06 (P.R.)
Women's Hammer Throw
7. Helene Ingvaldsen, 59.81m/196-02
11. Shaelyn Ward, 56.14m/184-02
12. Ashley Petr, 55.22m/181-02
Men's Long Jump
5. Tom Pyle, 7.46m/24-05.75 (3.4)
Men's Hammer Throw
23. Colin Echols, 48.52m/159-02
Men's 1,500 Meters
6. Keegan Donahue, 3:59.48
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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