Wednesday, June 5
Austin, Texas
Kansas State University
at
NCAA Championships
Shardia Lawrence Wins NCAA Triple Jump Crown on Final Jump
Jun 08, 2019 | Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas – Kansas State senior Shardia Lawrence claimed the NCAA women's triple jump title at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas on Saturday, jumping a school record 13.99m/45-10.75 on the final attempt of the competition.
"I knew that my future depended on this day. That's why I came out here and competed hard," Lawrence said. "I knew I had that one surprise left for everybody and I came out here to be victorious, and I was victorious."
The title marks the first in the women's triple jump and the tenth overall in K-State women's history. Lawrence entered the final jump in third place, before she secured her first NCAA title jump by jumping 13.99m/45-10.75 on her last jump as a Wildcat. Lawrence's mark is also the seventh-best jump in NCAA Championship meet history.
Lawrence initially broke the K-State school record on her third attempt, where she took over the competition lead for the first time with a jump of 13.81m/45-03.75 heading into he final three jumps. However, after fouling on her fourth attempt, Florida's Yanis David and Kentucky's Marie-Josee Ebwea-Excel jumped into the lead with marks of 13.87m/45-06.25.
On the final round of jumps with Lawrence holding the final jump of the competition, David took over the lead with a jump of 13.93m/45-08.50 heading into Lawrence's attempt. When Lawrence took to the triple jump runway, she secured the national title by jumping 13.99m/45-10.75.
In total, Lawrence broke the K-State triple jump record on three occasions on Saturday, shattering the previous school record of 13.76m/45-01.75 set at the 1997 NCAA National meet by Vanitta Kinard. Entering Saturday, Lawrence held the second-best mark in K-State outdoor history (13.72m/45-00.25, while also holding the K-State indoor triple jump record (13.75m/45-01.50).
In the women's heptathlon on Saturday, junior Lauren Taubert capped off an outstanding showing in her debut at the NCAA Championships, where she garnered her first-career outdoor First Team All-American honors.
Taubert and fellow Wildcat Ariel Okorie put together a strong performance in the heptathlon javelin throw, where both Taubert and Okorie set new personal bests. On her second throw, Okorie unleashed a throw of 39.92m/131-00 to earn 666 points and place sixth in the event, while Taubert found her best throw of 37.73m/123-09 on her first attempt.
In the final event of the women's heptathlon, Taubert went out with another personal best, running a 2:10.94 to earn 951 points and set a new lifetime best in the overall heptathlon of 5,793 points to place eighth and earning First Team All-America honors. Okorie also put together a strong two-day competition, finishing 18th with 5,439 points.
"It was so special. I think it's the best eighth place and best medal I've ever gotten," Taubert said of her podium finish. "Coming in it was my goal to place in the top-eight and make First Team All-American. To be able to do that and reach my goal is just really special."
In the women's discus, junior Ashley Petr placed 19th overall in her first NCAA Championship appearance, recording a best throw of 51.80m/169-11 on her first attempt.
As a team, the K-State women finished 16th overall with 16 points, which is the Wildcats' sixth-straight year placing in the top-20 of the NCAA Championship meet. The NCAA Championships marks the end of a historic season for the Wildcats, where the K-State women scored a program-best 156.5 points at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship.
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
NCAA Outdoor Championships (Day Four)
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas
Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
20. Lauren Taubert, 5.63m/18-05.75 (2.8) (738 points)
22. Ariel Okorie, 5.58m/18-03.75 (.3) (723 points)
Women's Heptathlon Javelin
6. Ariel Okorie, 39.92m/131-06 (666 points) (P.R.)
13. Lauren Taubert, 37.73m/123-09 (624 points) (P.R.)
Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
3. Lauren Taubert, 2:10.94 (951 points) (P.R.)
18. Ariel Okorie, 2:21.59 (802 points)
Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
8. Lauren Taubert, 5,793 points (P.R.) (First Team All-America) (Fifth in K-State History)
18. Ariel Okorie, 5,439 points
Women's Discus Final
19. Ashley Petr, 51.80m/169-11
Women's Triple Jump Final
1. Shardia Lawrence, 13.99m/45-10.75 (.2) (National Champion) (School Record) (No. 7 NCAA Championship Meet History)
"I knew that my future depended on this day. That's why I came out here and competed hard," Lawrence said. "I knew I had that one surprise left for everybody and I came out here to be victorious, and I was victorious."
The title marks the first in the women's triple jump and the tenth overall in K-State women's history. Lawrence entered the final jump in third place, before she secured her first NCAA title jump by jumping 13.99m/45-10.75 on her last jump as a Wildcat. Lawrence's mark is also the seventh-best jump in NCAA Championship meet history.
One moment. A lifetime of memories. #KStateTF | @NCAATrackField pic.twitter.com/yz4w2kV4H9
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 9, 2019
Lawrence initially broke the K-State school record on her third attempt, where she took over the competition lead for the first time with a jump of 13.81m/45-03.75 heading into he final three jumps. However, after fouling on her fourth attempt, Florida's Yanis David and Kentucky's Marie-Josee Ebwea-Excel jumped into the lead with marks of 13.87m/45-06.25.
On the final round of jumps with Lawrence holding the final jump of the competition, David took over the lead with a jump of 13.93m/45-08.50 heading into Lawrence's attempt. When Lawrence took to the triple jump runway, she secured the national title by jumping 13.99m/45-10.75.
THIS. JUST. HAPPENED. #KStateTF x #NCAATF
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 8, 2019
Shardia Lawrence takes the women's triple jump title on her final attempt of 13.99m/45-10.75?? pic.twitter.com/mqeFoLqy7u
In total, Lawrence broke the K-State triple jump record on three occasions on Saturday, shattering the previous school record of 13.76m/45-01.75 set at the 1997 NCAA National meet by Vanitta Kinard. Entering Saturday, Lawrence held the second-best mark in K-State outdoor history (13.72m/45-00.25, while also holding the K-State indoor triple jump record (13.75m/45-01.50).
In the women's heptathlon on Saturday, junior Lauren Taubert capped off an outstanding showing in her debut at the NCAA Championships, where she garnered her first-career outdoor First Team All-American honors.
Taubert and fellow Wildcat Ariel Okorie put together a strong performance in the heptathlon javelin throw, where both Taubert and Okorie set new personal bests. On her second throw, Okorie unleashed a throw of 39.92m/131-00 to earn 666 points and place sixth in the event, while Taubert found her best throw of 37.73m/123-09 on her first attempt.
In the final event of the women's heptathlon, Taubert went out with another personal best, running a 2:10.94 to earn 951 points and set a new lifetime best in the overall heptathlon of 5,793 points to place eighth and earning First Team All-America honors. Okorie also put together a strong two-day competition, finishing 18th with 5,439 points.
"It was so special. I think it's the best eighth place and best medal I've ever gotten," Taubert said of her podium finish. "Coming in it was my goal to place in the top-eight and make First Team All-American. To be able to do that and reach my goal is just really special."
With Lauren Taubert's First Team All-America honors today, K-State has had a women's heptathlete earn All-American honors in each of the last ? years ?? #KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/5HzYhXRyTS
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 9, 2019
In the women's discus, junior Ashley Petr placed 19th overall in her first NCAA Championship appearance, recording a best throw of 51.80m/169-11 on her first attempt.
As a team, the K-State women finished 16th overall with 16 points, which is the Wildcats' sixth-straight year placing in the top-20 of the NCAA Championship meet. The NCAA Championships marks the end of a historic season for the Wildcats, where the K-State women scored a program-best 156.5 points at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship.
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
NCAA Outdoor Championships (Day Four)
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas
Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
20. Lauren Taubert, 5.63m/18-05.75 (2.8) (738 points)
22. Ariel Okorie, 5.58m/18-03.75 (.3) (723 points)
Women's Heptathlon Javelin
6. Ariel Okorie, 39.92m/131-06 (666 points) (P.R.)
13. Lauren Taubert, 37.73m/123-09 (624 points) (P.R.)
Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
3. Lauren Taubert, 2:10.94 (951 points) (P.R.)
18. Ariel Okorie, 2:21.59 (802 points)
Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
8. Lauren Taubert, 5,793 points (P.R.) (First Team All-America) (Fifth in K-State History)
18. Ariel Okorie, 5,439 points
Women's Discus Final
19. Ashley Petr, 51.80m/169-11
Women's Triple Jump Final
1. Shardia Lawrence, 13.99m/45-10.75 (.2) (National Champion) (School Record) (No. 7 NCAA Championship Meet History)
Players Mentioned
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