Shankar, Neelly Earn Podium Spots on Friday at NCAA Championships
Jun 08, 2019 | Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas – Kansas State Track and Field senior Brett Neelly and sophomore Tejaswin Shankar each earned spots on the podium on day three of the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas on Friday, as the K-State men rounded out the NCAA Championships tied for 26th with 12 points in the team standings.
"It was really good, our team competed hard and it showed this weekend," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said of the men's team performance. "Obviously looking at our seedings and our rankings, we overcame some expectations, so overall it was a good weekend for our guys."
Throwing in the discus for the first time at the NCAA Championships, Neelly, of Gallatin, Tennessee, sought to end his K-State career on a high note.
After fouling on his first two attempts in flight one of the discus, Neelly bounced back with a personal best throw of 18.00m/190-03, which was the best throw out of flight one. Neelly's throw went on to advance him to the final for three more throws.
On his fourth attempt in the discus, Neelly set another personal best by throwing 58.23m/191-00, which is the third-best throw in K-State history. Neelly's throw went on to place him eighth overall, earning his second-career First Team All-American honor, including his first in the men's discus. Neelly finishes off his K-State career holding the school record both indoors and outdoors in the shot put and the No. 3 mark in K-State history in the men's discus.
"Today coming in, I really didn't have any expectations. I came here to throw and that's what I did," Neelly said of the competition. "It feels really good. To be able to finish with First Team (All-America) it just feels good."
Last year's NCAA Champion in the men's high jump, Shankar looked to defend his title in the men's high jump final on Friday. Shankar started off shaky by missing on his first attempts at 2.15m/7-00.50 and 2.21m/7-03, before bouncing back and clearing the heights on his second attempts.
At 2.24m/7-04.25, Shankar cleared the bar on his first attempt, becoming just one of five individuals to advance to 2.27m/7-05.25. After a first attempt miss at 2.27m/7-05.25, Shankar responded by clearing the bar, setting a new season best and advancing to the next height of 2.30m/7-06.50, where it was just Shankar and JuVaughn Harrison of LSU.
Both Harrison and Shankar were unable to clear 2.30m/7-06.50, resulting in Shankar placing runner-up based on previous misses. The runner-up finish gives Shankar his second-career NCAA Outdoor First Team All-American status in just his sophomore campaign.
With Friday serving as the finals for the men's competition, the K-State heptathletes also got their competition started, as juniors Lauren Taubert and Ariel Okorie looked to get off to a good start.
In the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles, Okorie and Taubert were stride-for-stride, with Okorie placing 11th in the event in 13.70, while Taubert came in 12th at 13.72. The solid start earned Okorie 1,021 points, while Taubert earned 1,018.
In the heptathlon high jump, Taubert moved up the leaderboard into sixth overall, clearing a near personal best of 1.72m/5-07.75, which earned her 879 points.
Later in the day in the heptathlon 200 meters, the Wildcat duo closed out the first day of heptathlon competition with Taubert finishing seventh in the event in 24.15, while Okorie finished 13th in 24.82. Through the first day of competition, Taubert stands in ninth with 3,480 points, while Okorie is in 17th with 3,280 points.
The 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships will stream live on ESPN, with all field events being broadcast live on ESPN3. For a full schedule of NCAA Championship broadcasts, click here. Live results are available here.
K-State Entry Schedule
Saturday, June 8
1:30 pm W Heptathlon Long Jump (Ariel Okorie, Lauren Taubert)
2:45 pm W Heptathlon Javelin (Ariel Okorie, Lauren Taubert)
5:05 pm W Discus Final (Ashley Petr)
5:40 pm W Triple Jump Final (Shardia Lawrence)
7:13 pm W Heptathlon 800 Meters (Ariel Okorie, Lauren Taubert)
NCAA Outdoor Championships (Day Three)
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas
Women's Heptathlon 100 Meter Hurdles
11. Ariel Okorie, 13.70 (.8) (1,021 points)
12. Lauren Taubert, 13.72 (.8) (1,018 points)
Women's Heptathlon High Jump
7. Lauren Taubert, 1.72m/5-07.75 (879 points)
17. Ariel Okorie, 1.66m/5-05.25 (806 points)
Women's Heptathlon Shot Put
19. Lauren Taubert, 11.33m/37-02.25 (P.R.) (617 points)
24. Ariel Okorie, 9.82m/32-02.75 (518 points)
Women's Heptathlon 200 Meters
7. Lauren Taubert, 24.15 (.7) (966 points)
12. Ariel Okorie, 24.82 (.8) (903 points)
Women's Heptathlon Day One Scores
9. Lauren Taubert, 3,480 points
17. Ariel Okorie, 3,428 points)
Men's High Jump Final
2. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.27m/7-05.25 (First Team All-America) (Season Best)
Men's Discus Final
8. Brett Neelly, 58.23m/191-00 (P.R.) (First Team All-America) (Third Best in K-State History)
"It was really good, our team competed hard and it showed this weekend," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said of the men's team performance. "Obviously looking at our seedings and our rankings, we overcame some expectations, so overall it was a good weekend for our guys."
Throwing in the discus for the first time at the NCAA Championships, Neelly, of Gallatin, Tennessee, sought to end his K-State career on a high note.
After fouling on his first two attempts in flight one of the discus, Neelly bounced back with a personal best throw of 18.00m/190-03, which was the best throw out of flight one. Neelly's throw went on to advance him to the final for three more throws.
On his fourth attempt in the discus, Neelly set another personal best by throwing 58.23m/191-00, which is the third-best throw in K-State history. Neelly's throw went on to place him eighth overall, earning his second-career First Team All-American honor, including his first in the men's discus. Neelly finishes off his K-State career holding the school record both indoors and outdoors in the shot put and the No. 3 mark in K-State history in the men's discus.
"Today coming in, I really didn't have any expectations. I came here to throw and that's what I did," Neelly said of the competition. "It feels really good. To be able to finish with First Team (All-America) it just feels good."
Senior Brett Neelly wraps up his #KStateTF career with the indoor/outdoor men's shot put records and he is now a FIRST TEAM All-American in both the shot put and discus!
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 8, 2019
What a career ?? pic.twitter.com/Ik66ZvDOI2
Last year's NCAA Champion in the men's high jump, Shankar looked to defend his title in the men's high jump final on Friday. Shankar started off shaky by missing on his first attempts at 2.15m/7-00.50 and 2.21m/7-03, before bouncing back and clearing the heights on his second attempts.
At 2.24m/7-04.25, Shankar cleared the bar on his first attempt, becoming just one of five individuals to advance to 2.27m/7-05.25. After a first attempt miss at 2.27m/7-05.25, Shankar responded by clearing the bar, setting a new season best and advancing to the next height of 2.30m/7-06.50, where it was just Shankar and JuVaughn Harrison of LSU.
Tejaswin Shankar is over at 2.27m/7-05.25! #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 8, 2019
That marks a new season best as it just TJ and JuVaughn Harrison of LSU entering the next height pic.twitter.com/XMN2oHPaW0
Both Harrison and Shankar were unable to clear 2.30m/7-06.50, resulting in Shankar placing runner-up based on previous misses. The runner-up finish gives Shankar his second-career NCAA Outdoor First Team All-American status in just his sophomore campaign.
With Friday serving as the finals for the men's competition, the K-State heptathletes also got their competition started, as juniors Lauren Taubert and Ariel Okorie looked to get off to a good start.
In the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles, Okorie and Taubert were stride-for-stride, with Okorie placing 11th in the event in 13.70, while Taubert came in 12th at 13.72. The solid start earned Okorie 1,021 points, while Taubert earned 1,018.
In the heptathlon high jump, Taubert moved up the leaderboard into sixth overall, clearing a near personal best of 1.72m/5-07.75, which earned her 879 points.
Later in the day in the heptathlon 200 meters, the Wildcat duo closed out the first day of heptathlon competition with Taubert finishing seventh in the event in 24.15, while Okorie finished 13th in 24.82. Through the first day of competition, Taubert stands in ninth with 3,480 points, while Okorie is in 17th with 3,280 points.
The Wildcats will pick back up on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT on Saturday. For a full schedule of events, click here.Through day ?? of the women's heptathlon, Lauren Taubert and Ariel Okorie are in good shape ?? #KStateTF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 8, 2019
Women's heptathlon scores through 4?? events:
9. Lauren Taubert, 3,480 points
17. Ariel Okorie, 3,248 points pic.twitter.com/dBfFZsqgkB
The 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships will stream live on ESPN, with all field events being broadcast live on ESPN3. For a full schedule of NCAA Championship broadcasts, click here. Live results are available here.
K-State Entry Schedule
Saturday, June 8
1:30 pm W Heptathlon Long Jump (Ariel Okorie, Lauren Taubert)
2:45 pm W Heptathlon Javelin (Ariel Okorie, Lauren Taubert)
5:05 pm W Discus Final (Ashley Petr)
5:40 pm W Triple Jump Final (Shardia Lawrence)
7:13 pm W Heptathlon 800 Meters (Ariel Okorie, Lauren Taubert)
NCAA Outdoor Championships (Day Three)
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas
Women's Heptathlon 100 Meter Hurdles
11. Ariel Okorie, 13.70 (.8) (1,021 points)
12. Lauren Taubert, 13.72 (.8) (1,018 points)
Women's Heptathlon High Jump
7. Lauren Taubert, 1.72m/5-07.75 (879 points)
17. Ariel Okorie, 1.66m/5-05.25 (806 points)
Women's Heptathlon Shot Put
19. Lauren Taubert, 11.33m/37-02.25 (P.R.) (617 points)
24. Ariel Okorie, 9.82m/32-02.75 (518 points)
Women's Heptathlon 200 Meters
7. Lauren Taubert, 24.15 (.7) (966 points)
12. Ariel Okorie, 24.82 (.8) (903 points)
Women's Heptathlon Day One Scores
9. Lauren Taubert, 3,480 points
17. Ariel Okorie, 3,428 points)
Men's High Jump Final
2. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.27m/7-05.25 (First Team All-America) (Season Best)
Men's Discus Final
8. Brett Neelly, 58.23m/191-00 (P.R.) (First Team All-America) (Third Best in K-State History)
Players Mentioned
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