Kansas State University
Ward Haylett Invitational
Wildcats Set for Ward Haylett Invitational, Senior Day this Weekend
May 02, 2019 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State men's and women's track and field teams host the Ward Haylett Invitational at newly-renovated R.V.Christian Track in Manhattan, Kansas on May 3-4, which features senior day and the final regular season competition for the Wildcats.
"We have felt like we have people that can go in and have really good performances this weekend," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said. "For us, it has been a great tune-up going into the conference meet. The fact that we can have it at home makes it better."
The Ward Haylett Invitational begins on Friday night at 7:45 p.m. with the men's and women's 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters, before the meet continues on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Wildcats will honor their seniors on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., where 11 senior Wildcats will be recognized. Admission to the Ward Haylett Invitational is free.
The Ward Haylett Invitational welcomes Kansas and UMKC to R.V. Christian Track, as the Wildcats make their final stop before they hit the road for the Big 12 Outdoor Championship in Norman, Oklahoma on May 10-12.
This weekend's Ward Haylett Invitational also marks the first appearance for the Wildcats on the newly-renovated R.V. Christian Track, after it went through a makeover following the 2017-18 season. The track, now highlighted grey with purple exchange zones, features four new lighting fixtures, K-State branding and Mark A. Chapman shot put arena.
Outdoor season is upon us and R.V. Christian Track is looking ?? #KStateTF pic.twitter.com/itUR9lu0qd
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) March 13, 2019
The Wildcats are coming off their first appearance at the National Relay Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas a week ago, where the Wildcats registered two event victories and four K-State top-10 all-time performances. So far this season, 14 Wildcats have posted K-State top-10 marks, including a school record set by senior Brett Neelly in the men's shot put on April 13.
Several Wildcats have been highlighted for their outstanding performances so far this season, as the Wildcats earned a Big 12 Athlete of the Week honor for three consecutive weeks. On April 10, Lauren Taubert earned Big 12 Athlete of the Week after scoring a personal best 5,669 points in the heptathlon at the Jim Click Combined Events, followed by Neelly receiving the award on April 17 for his school record in the men's shot put, followed by Ranae McKenzie garnering her first-career Big 12 Athlete of the Week honor by setting the NCAA lead in the 400-meter hurdles.
The K-State women earned their 22nd consecutive appearance in the USTFCCCA Ratings Index on April 29, coming in at a Big 12 best No. 12 for the second-straight week. The K-State men ranked No. 40, moving up from No. 41 a week ago.
At last year's Ward Haylett Invitational, the Wildcats registered 13 first-place finishes, including a meet record in the women's 200 meters set by A'Keyla Mitchell.
Following the Ward Haylett Invitational this weekend, the Wildcats will travel to the Big 12 Outdoor Championship in Norman, Oklahoma on May 10-12. The K-State women look to defend their back-to-back team titles, while the K-State men are coming off their highest-scoring performance of 101 points at the meet a season ago.
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
