Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats Add Three Champions on Day Two of Big 12 Championship
May 11, 2019 | Track & Field
NORMAN, Okla. – Three Wildcats, Tejaswin Shankar (high jump), Taishia Pryce (long jump) and Taylor Latimer (shot put) claimed individual titles, as the Kansas State men's and women's track and field teams concluded day two of the Big 12 Outdoor Championship at John Jacobs Track and Field complex in Norman, Oklahoma on Saturday.
Through two days of competition, the K-State women stand in first with 71 points, while the K-State men stand in second with 51 points. The Wildcats set themselves up for success on championship Sunday, recording 11 qualifying marks for final events on Sunday.
In the women's shot put, Latimer, of Valley Center, Kansas, put together one of the most dominant performances on Saturday, recording a throw of 17.74m/58-02.50 on her second attempt to take the early lead. Latimer's big throw was enough to hold off the competition, securing her first Big 12 individual title and the second-best throw in K-State history.
"I just have to thank my coach (Nathan Ott). He has always believed and me and pushed me," Latimer said after the competition. "I felt really good in my practice throws and was able to get the big throw out there early."
Latimer's throw is just short of the K-State school record in the event of 17.75m/58-03 set by Dani Winters at the 2015 Big 12 Outdoor Championship. Latimer becomes the fourth Big 12 title in the event in K-State outdoor history, including just the third individual to be crowned champion in the women's shot put in K-State history.
In the men's high jump, sophomore Tejaswin Shankar defended his Big 12 indoor title from this season, jumping 2.26m/7-05 to win his first-career Big 12 outdoor title. Shankar becomes the first men's Wildcat to win the Big 12 high jump title since Erik Kynard in 2013, joining six other high jump champions from K-State, which is the most by any program in the Big 12 in the event.
Making her Big 12 outdoor debut, junior Taishia Pryce impressed in the women's long jump, winning the Big 12 title with a jump of 6.42m/21-00.75, which came on her fourth attempt. Pryce jumped over 6.30 meters on four of her six jumps, becoming the sixth K-State title in Big 12 history.
In addition to making Big 12 history, six individuals wrote their names in the K-State record books on Saturday, putting together a K-State top-10 performance.
In the men's decathlon, junior Aaron Booth posted the 10th best score in K-State outdoor history, scoring 7,602 points in the event to place second overall. In addition to Booth, senior Simone Fassina placed third overall (7,390 points), junior Kyle Parr placed fourth (6,504 points) and Max Estill placed fifth (6,351 points) to earn 23 points in the event.
In the women's heptathlon, the Wildcats also finished near the top of the leaderboard, as junior Lauren Taubert finished second overall with the fifth-best score in K-State history of 5,770 points. Junior Ariel Okorie followed Taubert by placing third overall with 5,394 points, while senior Morgan Coffman capsulated her heptathlon career with a personal best 5,295 to place fourth.
On the track, redshirt freshman Kassidy Johnson clocked the 10th-fastest 1,500 meter time in K-State outdoor history in 4:21.50 to run the third-fastest prelim time, while junior Jullane Walker ran the sixth-fastest 200 meter time in K-State history in 20.97 and senior Asha Cave tied for the eight-fastest 100 meter time in K-State history in 11.68.
In addition to the history made on Saturday, the Wildcats will look to continue their success on championship Sunday, as 11 qualifying marks were registered for Sunday's finals, including Johnson (1,500 meters), Cave (100 meters, 200 meters), McKenzie (400-meter hurdles), Taubert (400-meter hurdles), Okorie (100 meter hurdles), Justin Davis (400 meters), Kurt Loevenstein (800 meters), Alex Ferguson (800 meters) and Walker (100 meters, 200 meters)
The final day of the Big 12 Outdoor Championship will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the start of the women's high jump. Every event on the track and in the field will be event finals, as 26 champions will be crowned as well as a men's and women's team champion.
For more information on the Big 12 Outdoor Championship, including a full schedule of events, heat sheets, ticket information and more, click here.
Big 12 Outdoor Championship Day Two
John Jacobs Track and Field Complex
Norman, Oklahoma
Women's Team Standings
1. K-State, 71 points
2. Texas, 57 points
3. Oklahoma, 42 points
4. Texas Tech, 35 points
5. Iowa State, 33 points
6. Kansas, 28 points
7. West Virginia, 16 points
8. Baylor, 15 points
9. TCU, 9 points
10. Oklahoma State, 6 points
Men's Team Standings
1. Texas Tech, 62 points
2. K-State, 51 points
3. Texas, 47 points
4. Iowa State, 44 points
5. Oklahoma State, 33 points
6. Oklahoma, 32 points
7. Kansas, 29 points
8. Baylor, 10 points
9. TCU, 4 points
Men's Decathlon 110-Meter Hurdles
2. Simone Fassina, 15.18 (.4) (828 points)
4. Kyle Parr, 15.33 (.4) (810 points)
6. Aaron Booth, 15.69 (-.8) (P.R.) (768 points)
8. Max Estill, 15.82 (2.1) (753 points)
Men's Decathlon Discus
1. Aaron Booth, 43.32m/142-01 (732 points)
3. Simone Fassina, 40.64m/133-04 (678 points)
8. Max Estill, 32.65m/107-01 (517 points)
9. Kyle Parr, 31.20m/102-04 (P.R.) (488 points)
Men's Decathlon Pole Vault
2. Aaron Booth, 4.55m/14-11 (775 points)
4. Simone Fassina, 4.45m/14-07.25 (746 points)
5. Max Estill, 4.05m/13-03.50 (P.R.) (631 points)
6. Kyle Parr, 3.75m/12-03.50 (P.R.) (549 points)
Men's Decathlon Javelin
2. Aaron Booth, 61.08m/200-05 (P.R.) (754 points)
3. Simone Fassina, 54.36m/178-04 (653 points)
7. Max Estill, 42.19m/138-05 (474 points)
8. Kyle Parr, 41.43m/135-11 (P.R.) (463 points)
Men's Decathlon 1,500 Meters
2. Aaron Booth, 4:39.05 (686 points)
5. Simone Fassina, 5:00.83 (555 points)
10. Max Estill, 5:33.25 (383 points)
4. Kyle Parr, 4:42.77 (663 points) (P.R.)
Men's Decathlon Final Scores
2. Aaron Booth, 7,602 points (P.R.) (10th in K-State History)
3. Simone Fassina, 7,390 points (P.R.)
4. Kyle Parr, 6,504 points (P.R.)
5. Max Estill, 6,351 points (P.R.)
Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
1. Ariel Okorie, 5.85m/19-02.50 (804 points)
1. Lauren Taubert, 5.85m/19-02.50 (804 points)
9. Morgan Coffman, 5.49m/18-00.25 (P.R.) (697 points)
Women's Heptathlon Javelin
2. Ariel Okorie, 37.88m/124-03 (627 points)
4. Lauren Taubert, 35.73m/117-03 (586 points)
5. Morgan Coffman, 35.28m/115-09 (P.R.) (577 points)
Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
1. Lauren Taubert, 2:12.34 (Ties P.R.) (931 points)
2. Morgan Coffman, 2:14.49 (900 points)
6. Ariel Okorie, 2:24.79 (759 points)
Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
2. Lauren Taubert, 5,770 points (P.R.) (Fifth in K-State outdoor history)
3. Ariel Okorie, 5,394 points
4. Morgan Coffman, 5,295 points (P.R.)
Men's High Jump Final
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.26m/7-05
Women's Long Jump Final
1. Taishia Pryce, 6.42m/21-00.75 (-.3)
5. Shardia Lawrence, 6.07m/19-11 (P.R.)
14. Konstantina Romaiou, 5.85m/19-02.50
Men's Shot Put Final
3. Brett Neelly, 19.49m/63-11.50
12. Cameron Lewis, 15.71m/51-06.50
Men's Long Jump Final
9. Tom Pyle, 7.34m/24-01
11. Jullane Walker, 7.27m/23-10.25
Women's Shot Put Final
1. Taylor Latimer, 17.74m/58-02.50 (P.R.) (Second in K-State History)
6. Gabby Tozer, 15.06m/45-09
Women's 1,500 Meter Prelims
3. Kassidy Johnson, 4:21.50Q (P.R.) (10th in K-State History)
Men's 1,500 Meter Prelims
13. Dylan Brenneman, 3:58.43
14. Keegan Donahue, 3:59.25
Women's 110 Meter Hurdle Prelims
7. Ariel Okorie, 13.80q (-.6)
Men's 400 Meter Prelims
8. Justin Davis, 47.10q
11. Antoni Hoyte-Small, 47.69
Women's 100 Meters Prelims
7. Asha Cave, 11.68q (.3) (P.R.) (Tied for Eighth in K-State History)
Men's 100 Meters Prelims
5. Jullane Walker, 10.48q (-.1)
Women's 800 Meters Prelims
9. Alex Ferguson, 2:08.30q
13. Cayli Hume, 2:08.89
Men's 800 Meters Prelims
9. Kurt Loevenstein, 1:52.32q
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Ranae McKenzie, 58.53Q
6. Lauren Taubert, 1:01.20Q
10. Lavaun Stephenson, 1:01.08
Women's 200 Meters Prelims
9. Asha Cave, 23.84q (.2) (Ties P.R.)
Men's 200 Meters Prelims
5. Jullane Walker, 20.97q (-.3) (P.R.) (Sixth in K-State History)
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Through two days of competition, the K-State women stand in first with 71 points, while the K-State men stand in second with 51 points. The Wildcats set themselves up for success on championship Sunday, recording 11 qualifying marks for final events on Sunday.
In the women's shot put, Latimer, of Valley Center, Kansas, put together one of the most dominant performances on Saturday, recording a throw of 17.74m/58-02.50 on her second attempt to take the early lead. Latimer's big throw was enough to hold off the competition, securing her first Big 12 individual title and the second-best throw in K-State history.
"I just have to thank my coach (Nathan Ott). He has always believed and me and pushed me," Latimer said after the competition. "I felt really good in my practice throws and was able to get the big throw out there early."
Latimer's throw is just short of the K-State school record in the event of 17.75m/58-03 set by Dani Winters at the 2015 Big 12 Outdoor Championship. Latimer becomes the fourth Big 12 title in the event in K-State outdoor history, including just the third individual to be crowned champion in the women's shot put in K-State history.
TAYLOR LATIMER @Big12Conference CHAMPION! #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 12, 2019
The sophomore throws 17.74m/58-02.50, which is a HUGE PR and second in K-State history pic.twitter.com/TXqSipMrRu
In the men's high jump, sophomore Tejaswin Shankar defended his Big 12 indoor title from this season, jumping 2.26m/7-05 to win his first-career Big 12 outdoor title. Shankar becomes the first men's Wildcat to win the Big 12 high jump title since Erik Kynard in 2013, joining six other high jump champions from K-State, which is the most by any program in the Big 12 in the event.
?? Champ! ?? #KStateTF pic.twitter.com/yWqJqbpo6E
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 11, 2019
Making her Big 12 outdoor debut, junior Taishia Pryce impressed in the women's long jump, winning the Big 12 title with a jump of 6.42m/21-00.75, which came on her fourth attempt. Pryce jumped over 6.30 meters on four of her six jumps, becoming the sixth K-State title in Big 12 history.
Taishia Pryce takes the women's long jump! #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 11, 2019
The Wildcat jumped 6.42m/21-00.75 in her Big 12 Outdoor debut, becoming the first women's long jump champ since 2016 (Akela Jones) and the sixth in K-State Big 12 history ?? pic.twitter.com/22QbhNBvJk
In addition to making Big 12 history, six individuals wrote their names in the K-State record books on Saturday, putting together a K-State top-10 performance.
In the men's decathlon, junior Aaron Booth posted the 10th best score in K-State outdoor history, scoring 7,602 points in the event to place second overall. In addition to Booth, senior Simone Fassina placed third overall (7,390 points), junior Kyle Parr placed fourth (6,504 points) and Max Estill placed fifth (6,351 points) to earn 23 points in the event.
In the women's heptathlon, the Wildcats also finished near the top of the leaderboard, as junior Lauren Taubert finished second overall with the fifth-best score in K-State history of 5,770 points. Junior Ariel Okorie followed Taubert by placing third overall with 5,394 points, while senior Morgan Coffman capsulated her heptathlon career with a personal best 5,295 to place fourth.
On the track, redshirt freshman Kassidy Johnson clocked the 10th-fastest 1,500 meter time in K-State outdoor history in 4:21.50 to run the third-fastest prelim time, while junior Jullane Walker ran the sixth-fastest 200 meter time in K-State history in 20.97 and senior Asha Cave tied for the eight-fastest 100 meter time in K-State history in 11.68.
In addition to the history made on Saturday, the Wildcats will look to continue their success on championship Sunday, as 11 qualifying marks were registered for Sunday's finals, including Johnson (1,500 meters), Cave (100 meters, 200 meters), McKenzie (400-meter hurdles), Taubert (400-meter hurdles), Okorie (100 meter hurdles), Justin Davis (400 meters), Kurt Loevenstein (800 meters), Alex Ferguson (800 meters) and Walker (100 meters, 200 meters)
The final day of the Big 12 Outdoor Championship will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the start of the women's high jump. Every event on the track and in the field will be event finals, as 26 champions will be crowned as well as a men's and women's team champion.
For more information on the Big 12 Outdoor Championship, including a full schedule of events, heat sheets, ticket information and more, click here.
Big 12 Outdoor Championship Day Two
John Jacobs Track and Field Complex
Norman, Oklahoma
Women's Team Standings
1. K-State, 71 points
2. Texas, 57 points
3. Oklahoma, 42 points
4. Texas Tech, 35 points
5. Iowa State, 33 points
6. Kansas, 28 points
7. West Virginia, 16 points
8. Baylor, 15 points
9. TCU, 9 points
10. Oklahoma State, 6 points
Men's Team Standings
1. Texas Tech, 62 points
2. K-State, 51 points
3. Texas, 47 points
4. Iowa State, 44 points
5. Oklahoma State, 33 points
6. Oklahoma, 32 points
7. Kansas, 29 points
8. Baylor, 10 points
9. TCU, 4 points
Men's Decathlon 110-Meter Hurdles
2. Simone Fassina, 15.18 (.4) (828 points)
4. Kyle Parr, 15.33 (.4) (810 points)
6. Aaron Booth, 15.69 (-.8) (P.R.) (768 points)
8. Max Estill, 15.82 (2.1) (753 points)
Men's Decathlon Discus
1. Aaron Booth, 43.32m/142-01 (732 points)
3. Simone Fassina, 40.64m/133-04 (678 points)
8. Max Estill, 32.65m/107-01 (517 points)
9. Kyle Parr, 31.20m/102-04 (P.R.) (488 points)
Men's Decathlon Pole Vault
2. Aaron Booth, 4.55m/14-11 (775 points)
4. Simone Fassina, 4.45m/14-07.25 (746 points)
5. Max Estill, 4.05m/13-03.50 (P.R.) (631 points)
6. Kyle Parr, 3.75m/12-03.50 (P.R.) (549 points)
Men's Decathlon Javelin
2. Aaron Booth, 61.08m/200-05 (P.R.) (754 points)
3. Simone Fassina, 54.36m/178-04 (653 points)
7. Max Estill, 42.19m/138-05 (474 points)
8. Kyle Parr, 41.43m/135-11 (P.R.) (463 points)
Men's Decathlon 1,500 Meters
2. Aaron Booth, 4:39.05 (686 points)
5. Simone Fassina, 5:00.83 (555 points)
10. Max Estill, 5:33.25 (383 points)
4. Kyle Parr, 4:42.77 (663 points) (P.R.)
Men's Decathlon Final Scores
2. Aaron Booth, 7,602 points (P.R.) (10th in K-State History)
3. Simone Fassina, 7,390 points (P.R.)
4. Kyle Parr, 6,504 points (P.R.)
5. Max Estill, 6,351 points (P.R.)
Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
1. Ariel Okorie, 5.85m/19-02.50 (804 points)
1. Lauren Taubert, 5.85m/19-02.50 (804 points)
9. Morgan Coffman, 5.49m/18-00.25 (P.R.) (697 points)
Women's Heptathlon Javelin
2. Ariel Okorie, 37.88m/124-03 (627 points)
4. Lauren Taubert, 35.73m/117-03 (586 points)
5. Morgan Coffman, 35.28m/115-09 (P.R.) (577 points)
Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
1. Lauren Taubert, 2:12.34 (Ties P.R.) (931 points)
2. Morgan Coffman, 2:14.49 (900 points)
6. Ariel Okorie, 2:24.79 (759 points)
Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
2. Lauren Taubert, 5,770 points (P.R.) (Fifth in K-State outdoor history)
3. Ariel Okorie, 5,394 points
4. Morgan Coffman, 5,295 points (P.R.)
Men's High Jump Final
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.26m/7-05
Women's Long Jump Final
1. Taishia Pryce, 6.42m/21-00.75 (-.3)
5. Shardia Lawrence, 6.07m/19-11 (P.R.)
14. Konstantina Romaiou, 5.85m/19-02.50
Men's Shot Put Final
3. Brett Neelly, 19.49m/63-11.50
12. Cameron Lewis, 15.71m/51-06.50
Men's Long Jump Final
9. Tom Pyle, 7.34m/24-01
11. Jullane Walker, 7.27m/23-10.25
Women's Shot Put Final
1. Taylor Latimer, 17.74m/58-02.50 (P.R.) (Second in K-State History)
6. Gabby Tozer, 15.06m/45-09
Women's 1,500 Meter Prelims
3. Kassidy Johnson, 4:21.50Q (P.R.) (10th in K-State History)
Men's 1,500 Meter Prelims
13. Dylan Brenneman, 3:58.43
14. Keegan Donahue, 3:59.25
Women's 110 Meter Hurdle Prelims
7. Ariel Okorie, 13.80q (-.6)
Men's 400 Meter Prelims
8. Justin Davis, 47.10q
11. Antoni Hoyte-Small, 47.69
Women's 100 Meters Prelims
7. Asha Cave, 11.68q (.3) (P.R.) (Tied for Eighth in K-State History)
Men's 100 Meters Prelims
5. Jullane Walker, 10.48q (-.1)
Women's 800 Meters Prelims
9. Alex Ferguson, 2:08.30q
13. Cayli Hume, 2:08.89
Men's 800 Meters Prelims
9. Kurt Loevenstein, 1:52.32q
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Ranae McKenzie, 58.53Q
6. Lauren Taubert, 1:01.20Q
10. Lavaun Stephenson, 1:01.08
Women's 200 Meters Prelims
9. Asha Cave, 23.84q (.2) (Ties P.R.)
Men's 200 Meters Prelims
5. Jullane Walker, 20.97q (-.3) (P.R.) (Sixth in K-State History)
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
K-State T&F | Broad Jump Competition
Tuesday, September 30
K-State T&F | Gear Reveal
Saturday, August 30
K-State TF | NCAA Championship Recap
Tuesday, June 17
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Women's Finals
Monday, June 16