Kansas State University Athletics
SE: Wildcats Eager to Go After State’s Bragging Rights at In-State Triangular
Jan 16, 2020 | Track & Field, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
It's not the average week for K-State track and field, especially for those like junior Kassidy Johnson.
As an in-state product, her excitement for the annual WSU-KSU-KU triangular in Wichita on Saturday is extremely high. She, like many of her Kansas-born teammates, was recruited by both of the other schools. She has friends on both teams.
"I have a lot of teammates from high school who are running at Wichita State, and I'm from Wichita. There's always a place in my heart for Wichita," the former Maize South High School standout said. "Kansas is a great school as well; I know people there. Ultimately, I'm glad I picked K-State, but it's fun to support people at other schools and throw some competition in there."
And she's far from alone.
Johnson, who broke into K-State's top-10 list in the mile last week and was named Big 12 Athlete of the Week alongside teammate Jullane Walker, is one of 38 Wildcats from Kansas, split evenly between the men's and women's teams. A good percentage of them fit her story: Recruited by all three in-state Division I programs.
Sophomore Alex Ferguson, from Silver Lake, falls in that category. A mid-distance runner who will compete in the 600-yard race on Saturday, Ferguson visited all three schools before deciding to come to Manhattan. She, too, is eager for a reunion of sorts.
"I remember, on my visits, the people that took me around, so it's just interesting to see how they're doing," she said. "I don't really remember the track at Wichita, so I'm excited to see that again and get that opportunity. And the coaches were all very nice, so just to reconnect with them and see them again will be cool."
There's a uniquely competitive aspect to the in-state triangular, which was rebooted in 2015 with the addition of Wichita State. From 1990-2006, the meet included K-State, Kansas and Missouri.
Unlike most track and field meets, this one combines the men's and women's scores for one singular total. Each school can only have two athletes score in every event, adding an extra layer of strategy when it comes to entries. Last year, the meet added a mixed gender 4x400-meter relay — a nod to the 2020 Olympics, which will also include mixed relays on the track and the pool in Tokyo, Japan.
"That only two people from each school get to be scored, I think that's cool because it kind of ups the competition stakes," Ferguson said. "Then, the mixed 4x4 at the end is always a good way to finish it, something that no other meets have. I think that makes it unique."
Everyone wants their team to bring home the team trophy, too. Which, this early in the season, is somewhat rare. Usually, team hardware becomes a focus at conference meets. This triangular offers an early taste of that mentality, an appetizer for what's to come later in the year.
And for those who grew up in the state, it means a little bit more.
"As a K-State fan my whole life, it adds to that (excitement) some more, just to say, 'Yeah, we're better.' Not to be prideful about it or anything, but there's definitely a sense of competitiveness against the in-state schools to prove yourself against them," freshman hurdler/sprinter Timothy Lambert Jr. said. "Some of the guys have definitely been a little bit vocal about wanting to go out and beat the guys from KU, beat the guys from Wichita State, and prove ourselves."
K-State last claimed the triangular title, which rotates host sites every year, in 2018. Last year, the Wildcats finished second behind Kansas. In total, they have won 17 of the 22 all-time meets, including 2 of the 5 since its reboot. K-State has also had the meet's high point scorer in each of the last five years. In 2019, K-State's Ariel Okorie and Walker shared the honor in a three-way tie with 14 points each.
"It's fun to use this meet to see where our team's at, see where you're at, personally, because we kind of treat it like conference meets, some of the bigger meets, where you can only bring 26 of each gender," Johnson said. "So, it's just a good point in the season for it. It's early in the season, so you see where you're at but also throw some competition in there, have some bragging rights and see who can be the best Kansas school that year."
It's not the average week for K-State track and field, especially for those like junior Kassidy Johnson.
As an in-state product, her excitement for the annual WSU-KSU-KU triangular in Wichita on Saturday is extremely high. She, like many of her Kansas-born teammates, was recruited by both of the other schools. She has friends on both teams.
"I have a lot of teammates from high school who are running at Wichita State, and I'm from Wichita. There's always a place in my heart for Wichita," the former Maize South High School standout said. "Kansas is a great school as well; I know people there. Ultimately, I'm glad I picked K-State, but it's fun to support people at other schools and throw some competition in there."
And she's far from alone.
Johnson, who broke into K-State's top-10 list in the mile last week and was named Big 12 Athlete of the Week alongside teammate Jullane Walker, is one of 38 Wildcats from Kansas, split evenly between the men's and women's teams. A good percentage of them fit her story: Recruited by all three in-state Division I programs.
Sophomore Alex Ferguson, from Silver Lake, falls in that category. A mid-distance runner who will compete in the 600-yard race on Saturday, Ferguson visited all three schools before deciding to come to Manhattan. She, too, is eager for a reunion of sorts.
"I remember, on my visits, the people that took me around, so it's just interesting to see how they're doing," she said. "I don't really remember the track at Wichita, so I'm excited to see that again and get that opportunity. And the coaches were all very nice, so just to reconnect with them and see them again will be cool."
There's a uniquely competitive aspect to the in-state triangular, which was rebooted in 2015 with the addition of Wichita State. From 1990-2006, the meet included K-State, Kansas and Missouri.
Unlike most track and field meets, this one combines the men's and women's scores for one singular total. Each school can only have two athletes score in every event, adding an extra layer of strategy when it comes to entries. Last year, the meet added a mixed gender 4x400-meter relay — a nod to the 2020 Olympics, which will also include mixed relays on the track and the pool in Tokyo, Japan.
"That only two people from each school get to be scored, I think that's cool because it kind of ups the competition stakes," Ferguson said. "Then, the mixed 4x4 at the end is always a good way to finish it, something that no other meets have. I think that makes it unique."
Everyone wants their team to bring home the team trophy, too. Which, this early in the season, is somewhat rare. Usually, team hardware becomes a focus at conference meets. This triangular offers an early taste of that mentality, an appetizer for what's to come later in the year.
And for those who grew up in the state, it means a little bit more.
"As a K-State fan my whole life, it adds to that (excitement) some more, just to say, 'Yeah, we're better.' Not to be prideful about it or anything, but there's definitely a sense of competitiveness against the in-state schools to prove yourself against them," freshman hurdler/sprinter Timothy Lambert Jr. said. "Some of the guys have definitely been a little bit vocal about wanting to go out and beat the guys from KU, beat the guys from Wichita State, and prove ourselves."
K-State last claimed the triangular title, which rotates host sites every year, in 2018. Last year, the Wildcats finished second behind Kansas. In total, they have won 17 of the 22 all-time meets, including 2 of the 5 since its reboot. K-State has also had the meet's high point scorer in each of the last five years. In 2019, K-State's Ariel Okorie and Walker shared the honor in a three-way tie with 14 points each.
"It's fun to use this meet to see where our team's at, see where you're at, personally, because we kind of treat it like conference meets, some of the bigger meets, where you can only bring 26 of each gender," Johnson said. "So, it's just a good point in the season for it. It's early in the season, so you see where you're at but also throw some competition in there, have some bragging rights and see who can be the best Kansas school that year."
Players Mentioned
/ 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