Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, December 4
Manhattan, Kan.
10:00 AM
Kansas State University
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Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon
Shankar Scorches Pentathlon School Record as K-State Opens Indoor Season with Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon
Dec 04, 2020 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Another record-setting outing from senior Tejaswin Shankar highlighted Friday's action inside Ahearn Field House, as the Kansas State track and field teams competed in the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon to kick off the 2020-21 campaign.
Shankar, a native of New Delhi, India, broke his own school record in the men's pentathlon, as the senior collected 4,343 points for the fourth-best performance all-time in the event in NCAA history. His mark also surpassed Steve Fritz's meet record of 4,251 points set at the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon back in 1993.
His score of 4,343 points became possible due in part to his pentathlon marks in the long jump (7.48m/24-6.50), high jump (2.24m/7-4.25) and 1000 meters (2:39.35). In return, those three performances resulted in the best marks in school history for pentathlon competitions.
Displaying great athleticism throughout Ahearn Field House, Shankar showed he could be a serious contender for any event he competes in this indoor season.
"Overall, because I wanted to aim for the best mark possible, I was really happy with the score I was able to execute in all the events," said Shankar. "Especially after nine months without competing, that was the most important moment for me today. I think this was a good stride today and I just have to keep working."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto praised Shankar for keeping the course and delivering a special outing today.
"TJ (Tejaswin Shankar) had a great meet," said Rovelto. "For a guy to go out and score 4,300-mid in December, he did a phenomenal job. His performance was special. He has gotten to a level that not many people have been too."
However, Shankar was not always near the top of each event for Friday's slate, as sophomore Donovan Turner and senior Kyle Parr went toe-to-toe with their fellow teammate in the 60-meter hurdles and shot put events. Turner bolted out of the gates and zipped down the track in 8.04 seconds to claim the 60-meter hurdles victory. His time of 8.04 bumped him up the all-time pentathlon leaderboard in K-State history to second overall.
Besides not completing the pentathlon with five-consecutive victories, Shankar relished the fact he could go out and compete again for his school.
"The fact this was an opportunity to compete after nine months was great," said Shankar. "This was a good practice meet and motivating myself to compete at a high level was important today. I had to psych myself up with the fact we were competing alone today. I think I did a good job at motivating myself today."
The women's pentathlon featured multiple unattached participants, which also included seniors Lauren Taubert and Ariel Okorie. Even though the two Wildcats did not officially represent K-State today, the two athletes still showed out on the track once again.
Taubert used 4,168 points to outlast Okorie in the pentathlon and brought home the crown once again. Her time of 2:20.45 in the 800-meter race sealed her victory on the day. The Casper, Wyoming, native also recorded wins in the long jump, high jump and 60-meter hurdle events against a tough field of athletes.
Sophomore Urte Bacianskaite represented K-State in the women's pentathlon, and she posted a fifth-place outing with 2,823 points. Bacianskaite boosted her Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon shot put mark with a throw of 13.81m/45-3.75, which now places her second all-time in the event.
"The girls have not done hardly any technical work since really mid-October, but the hurdles were solid, the long jumps were solid, the high jump was actually very good and they all threw well in the shot," said Rovelto. "When you look at the total scores, compared to what they normally do this time of year was really solid."
Overall, six different marks for the K-State All-Time Top-10 List for pentathlon competitions were improved on Friday afternoon by three athletes (Shankar, Turner and Bacianskaite).
The Wildcats will return to Ahearn Field House tomorrow morning for the K-State Invitational. The Invitational will start at 9:30 a.m., with field events taking place first for Saturday's slate.
"I think we are going to have some really good performances tomorrow," Rovelto stated. "I think we will see some quality stuff tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing some of the new kids compete."
Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon
Ahearn Field House
Manhattan, Kan.
Men's Pentathlon 60m Hurdles
1. Donovan Turner, 8.04 (P.R.)
2. Tejaswin Shankar, 8.34
3. Kyle Parr (UNA), 8.66
Women's Pentathlon 60m Hurdles
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 8.53
2. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 8.56
6. Urte Bacianskaite, 9.59
Men's Pentathlon Long Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 7.48m
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 6.41m
Women's Pentathlon High Jump
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 1.73m
3. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 1.70m
6. Urte Bacianskaite, 1.52m
Men's Pentathlon Shot Put
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 11.94m
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 11.16m
Women's Pentathlon Shot Put
2. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 11.72m
3. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 11.70m
5. Urte Bacianskaite, 13.81m
Men's Pentathlon High Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.24m
Women's Pentathlon Long Jump
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 5.86m/19-02.75
2. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 5.81m/19-0.75
6. Urte Bacianskaite (KSU), 3.97m/13-0.25
Men's Pentathlon 1000 Meters
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2:39.35
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 2:47.83
Women's Pentathlon 800 Meters
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 2:20.45
3. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 2:37:35
Men's Pentathlon Scores
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 4,343 points (Meet & School Record)
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 2,844 points
Women's Pentathlon Scores
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 4,168 points
2. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 3,859 points
5. Urte Bacianskaite, 2,823 points
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Shankar, a native of New Delhi, India, broke his own school record in the men's pentathlon, as the senior collected 4,343 points for the fourth-best performance all-time in the event in NCAA history. His mark also surpassed Steve Fritz's meet record of 4,251 points set at the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon back in 1993.
"You look at Steve Fritz, who had the meet record before this, and turns out he was also great at the decathlon as well," said Shankar. "What I had in mind is that I was trying to go over 4,400 points. Last year when I did the pentathlon, it started it out as a challenge. I did it my first year and I really had to be great in every event, not just good. After that, I took it as a challenge to compete in the multi-events to keep me in shape for the high jump and to keep me motivated to do better in everything."Legendary🐐#KStateTF's TJ Shankar breaks his own school record in the men's pentathlon, as he scores 4,343 points!!
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) December 4, 2020
He now ranks fourth all-time in NCAA history with his outing inside Ahearn Field House today😼 pic.twitter.com/J1Emb8QNy4
His score of 4,343 points became possible due in part to his pentathlon marks in the long jump (7.48m/24-6.50), high jump (2.24m/7-4.25) and 1000 meters (2:39.35). In return, those three performances resulted in the best marks in school history for pentathlon competitions.
Displaying great athleticism throughout Ahearn Field House, Shankar showed he could be a serious contender for any event he competes in this indoor season.
"Overall, because I wanted to aim for the best mark possible, I was really happy with the score I was able to execute in all the events," said Shankar. "Especially after nine months without competing, that was the most important moment for me today. I think this was a good stride today and I just have to keep working."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto praised Shankar for keeping the course and delivering a special outing today.
"TJ (Tejaswin Shankar) had a great meet," said Rovelto. "For a guy to go out and score 4,300-mid in December, he did a phenomenal job. His performance was special. He has gotten to a level that not many people have been too."
However, Shankar was not always near the top of each event for Friday's slate, as sophomore Donovan Turner and senior Kyle Parr went toe-to-toe with their fellow teammate in the 60-meter hurdles and shot put events. Turner bolted out of the gates and zipped down the track in 8.04 seconds to claim the 60-meter hurdles victory. His time of 8.04 bumped him up the all-time pentathlon leaderboard in K-State history to second overall.
Besides not completing the pentathlon with five-consecutive victories, Shankar relished the fact he could go out and compete again for his school.
"The fact this was an opportunity to compete after nine months was great," said Shankar. "This was a good practice meet and motivating myself to compete at a high level was important today. I had to psych myself up with the fact we were competing alone today. I think I did a good job at motivating myself today."
The women's pentathlon featured multiple unattached participants, which also included seniors Lauren Taubert and Ariel Okorie. Even though the two Wildcats did not officially represent K-State today, the two athletes still showed out on the track once again.
Taubert used 4,168 points to outlast Okorie in the pentathlon and brought home the crown once again. Her time of 2:20.45 in the 800-meter race sealed her victory on the day. The Casper, Wyoming, native also recorded wins in the long jump, high jump and 60-meter hurdle events against a tough field of athletes.
Sophomore Urte Bacianskaite represented K-State in the women's pentathlon, and she posted a fifth-place outing with 2,823 points. Bacianskaite boosted her Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon shot put mark with a throw of 13.81m/45-3.75, which now places her second all-time in the event.
"The girls have not done hardly any technical work since really mid-October, but the hurdles were solid, the long jumps were solid, the high jump was actually very good and they all threw well in the shot," said Rovelto. "When you look at the total scores, compared to what they normally do this time of year was really solid."
Overall, six different marks for the K-State All-Time Top-10 List for pentathlon competitions were improved on Friday afternoon by three athletes (Shankar, Turner and Bacianskaite).
The Wildcats will return to Ahearn Field House tomorrow morning for the K-State Invitational. The Invitational will start at 9:30 a.m., with field events taking place first for Saturday's slate.
"I think we are going to have some really good performances tomorrow," Rovelto stated. "I think we will see some quality stuff tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing some of the new kids compete."
Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon
Ahearn Field House
Manhattan, Kan.
Men's Pentathlon 60m Hurdles
1. Donovan Turner, 8.04 (P.R.)
2. Tejaswin Shankar, 8.34
3. Kyle Parr (UNA), 8.66
Women's Pentathlon 60m Hurdles
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 8.53
2. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 8.56
6. Urte Bacianskaite, 9.59
Men's Pentathlon Long Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 7.48m
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 6.41m
Women's Pentathlon High Jump
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 1.73m
3. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 1.70m
6. Urte Bacianskaite, 1.52m
Men's Pentathlon Shot Put
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 11.94m
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 11.16m
Women's Pentathlon Shot Put
2. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 11.72m
3. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 11.70m
5. Urte Bacianskaite, 13.81m
Men's Pentathlon High Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.24m
Women's Pentathlon Long Jump
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 5.86m/19-02.75
2. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 5.81m/19-0.75
6. Urte Bacianskaite (KSU), 3.97m/13-0.25
Men's Pentathlon 1000 Meters
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2:39.35
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 2:47.83
Women's Pentathlon 800 Meters
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 2:20.45
3. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 2:37:35
Men's Pentathlon Scores
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 4,343 points (Meet & School Record)
2. Kyle Parr (UNA), 2,844 points
Women's Pentathlon Scores
1. Lauren Taubert (UNA), 4,168 points
2. Ariel Okorie (UNA), 3,859 points
5. Urte Bacianskaite, 2,823 points
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
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