Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, December 5
Manhattan, Kan.
9:30 AM
Kansas State University
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K-State Winter Invitational
Wildcats Pile on Wins at K-State Winter Invitational
Dec 05, 2020 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kansas – A flurry of individual victories set the stage for the Kansas State track and field teams at the K-State Winter Invitational on Saturday afternoon, as 10 athletes topped their respective events inside Ahearn Field House.
Among those feats included a meet-record performance from freshman Kyle Gale, who darted from the start of the 600-yard race to finish at a time of 1:11.05, which broke a 14-year mark held by Matt Baysinger of Kansas (1:11.32).
"When I woke up this morning, my body and my mind felt right and I was in the zone, so it was just on me to execute my race which I believe I did," said Gale.
Gale also credited his performance on his off-season regime.
"My preparation this year has been very intense, but with the likes of Coach Rovelto and teammate Justin Davis pushing me in training, I believe this was the main reason I was able to perform like I did today," Gale stated. "Also making sure my body was getting enough rest and recovery after training was essential. Going over the race strategy with Coach Rovelto to make sure I had it down pat was also helpful."
His performance paved the way for his teammates in the track portion the meet, as three other Wildcats posted first-place finishes against Oklahoma and Iowa State opponents. Sophomore Donovan Turner, junior Kassidy Johnson and junior Alex Ferguson recorded top marks in their respective events.
"There were some solid openers in sprints again, particularly by the newcomers," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "Both of the 600s were very good openers."
Turner, who raced in yesterday's Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon, nearly broke his personal best in the 60-meter hurdles, as the Naperville, Illinois, native crossed the finish line at a time of 8.05. His outing in the race also placed him No. 8 all-time in K-State history for the event.
Both Johnson and Ferguson followed Turner's performance with wins of their own, as Johnson paced herself to a 1000-meter victory with a time of 2:51.41 while Ferguson picked up right where she left off last indoor season with another 600-yard win in a time of 1:23.55.
Senior Cayli Hume also performed well in the 1000 meters, as she scored a runner-up finish just behind Johnson with a time of 2:51.85.
"I thought Cayli competed well in the 1000 today," said Rovelto.
It was a successful day in the field for K-State on Saturday morning, as six Wildcats recorded six combined victories in the weight throw, pole vault, triple jump and high jump events.
Newcomer Anigbata Chinonyelum delivered for K-State in the triple jump with a first-place outing, as she recorded a leap of 13.07m/42-10.75. Her jump boosted her all the way up to No. 5 all-time in K-State history for the indoor season.
"Women's triple was good, particularly the freshmen," stated Rovelto.
K-State put together victories in both the men's and women's high jump and pole vault events, which began with freshman Reagan Hukill. Hukill bolstered herself over the bar in the pole-vault competition at a mark of 3.55m/11-07.75 to clinch the 10th-best outing in school history.
Freshman Brian Simon took home the top spot in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.45m/14-07.25 in his first event as a Wildcat.
Senior Taylor Smith and sophomore Maddie Righter exerted all their energy to claim wins in the high jump, as Smith posted a height of 2.05m/6-08.75 in the men's competition while Righter landed a mark of 1.70m/5-7.00 in the women's event.
The weight throw event saw Colin Echols take charge and deliver a first-place performance, as the senior launched a throw of 20.37m/66-10.00 to seal the win.
"Colin had a good opener in the weight throw," said Rovelto. "That was a bright spot."
Impressive finishes from Taishia Pryce and Dy'Mond Wiley in the women's 300-meter race resulted in top-10 marks in school history, as Pryce's time of 39.27 pushed her all the way to No. 3 all-time for the indoor season while Wiley, who made her debut as a Wildcat today, recorded a time of 40.40 and the No. 8 spot on the all-time leaderboard.
The last win of the invitational came from the group of Lavaun Stephenson, O'Shalia Johnson, Shalysa Wray and Alex Ferguson in the 4x400 relay race. Those four secured a time of 3:49.32 to clinch the victory in the last race of the day.
K-State welcomed Ryan Crouser on Saturday, a former Texas Longhorn who currently holds the Olympic outdoor record for shot put. Crouser unleashed a throw of 22.58m during the shot-put event inside Ahearn Field House to nearly break his own personal record during the indoor season at 22.60m. His mark of 22.58m also upends former Wildcat Brett Neeley's meet record of 20.15m, which he recorded at the 2018 K-State Winter Invitational.
K-State will take a few weeks off before gearing up for the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, January 9 inside Ahearn Field House. The Wildcat Invitational makes its return to the indoor schedule for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
"The best thing is that we got to compete," Rovelto stated. "It has been a long time."
K-State Winter Invitational
Ahearn Field House
Manhattan, Kan.
Women's Weight Throw
2. Taylor Latimer, 18.25m/59-10.50
3. Emily Fuhr, 15.79m/51-09.75
Women's Pole Vault
1. Reagan Hukill, 3.55m/11-07.75
2. Jessica Williams, 3.40m/11-01.75
3. Victoria Maxton, 3.25m/10-08.00
Men's Pole Vault
1. Brian Simon, 4.45m/14-07.25
Men's Weight Throw
1. Colin Echols, 20.37m/66-10.00
3. Kade McCall, 16.89m/55-05.00
4. Jackson Gibbon, 15.94m/52-03.75
5. James Higgs, 14.99m/49-02.25
Women's Shot Put
4. Taylor Latimer, 14.87m/48-09.50
5. Emily Fuhr, 10.11m/33-02.00
Women's High Jump
1. Maddie Righter, 1.70m/5-7.00
Men's High Jump
1. Taylor Smith, 2.05m
Men's Shot Put
1. Ryan Crouser (NIKE), 22.58m/74-1.00 (Meet Record)
3. Jackson Gibbon, 14.88m/48-10.00
4. Colin Echols, 13.49m/44-03.25
5. James Higgs, 13.34m/43-09.25
Men's 60 Meters
6. Nate Hassed, 7.08
7. Parker McCafferty, 7.20
Women's 60 Meters
4. Shalysa Wray, 7.60
5. Wurrie Njadoe, 7.71
Women's 60m Hurdles
6. Lavaun Stephenson, 8.92
8. Maddie Righter, 9.34
Men's 60m Hurdles
1. Donovan Turner, 8.05
Women's 300 Meters
2. Taishia Pryce, 39.27
3. Dy'Mond Wiley, 40.40
Women's 600 Yards
1. Alex Ferguson, 1:23.55
6. Shiseido Robinson (UNA), 1:31.15
Men's 300 Meters
3. Sean Wilson, 35.49
5. Tim Lambert, 36.00
Women's Triple Jump
1. Anigbata Chinonyelum, 13.07m/42-10.75
2. Chantoba Bright, 12.89m/42-3.50
3. Rhianna Phipps, 12.81m/42-0.50
Women's 1000 Meters
1. Kassidy Johnson, 2:51.41
2. Cayli Hume, 2:51.85
Men's 600 Yards
1. Kyle Gale, 1:11.05 (Meet Record)
Women's 4x400 Relay
1. K-State A, 3:49.32
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Among those feats included a meet-record performance from freshman Kyle Gale, who darted from the start of the 600-yard race to finish at a time of 1:11.05, which broke a 14-year mark held by Matt Baysinger of Kansas (1:11.32).
"When I woke up this morning, my body and my mind felt right and I was in the zone, so it was just on me to execute my race which I believe I did," said Gale.
Gale also credited his performance on his off-season regime.
"My preparation this year has been very intense, but with the likes of Coach Rovelto and teammate Justin Davis pushing me in training, I believe this was the main reason I was able to perform like I did today," Gale stated. "Also making sure my body was getting enough rest and recovery after training was essential. Going over the race strategy with Coach Rovelto to make sure I had it down pat was also helpful."
His performance paved the way for his teammates in the track portion the meet, as three other Wildcats posted first-place finishes against Oklahoma and Iowa State opponents. Sophomore Donovan Turner, junior Kassidy Johnson and junior Alex Ferguson recorded top marks in their respective events.
"There were some solid openers in sprints again, particularly by the newcomers," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "Both of the 600s were very good openers."
Turner, who raced in yesterday's Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon, nearly broke his personal best in the 60-meter hurdles, as the Naperville, Illinois, native crossed the finish line at a time of 8.05. His outing in the race also placed him No. 8 all-time in K-State history for the event.
Both Johnson and Ferguson followed Turner's performance with wins of their own, as Johnson paced herself to a 1000-meter victory with a time of 2:51.41 while Ferguson picked up right where she left off last indoor season with another 600-yard win in a time of 1:23.55.
Senior Cayli Hume also performed well in the 1000 meters, as she scored a runner-up finish just behind Johnson with a time of 2:51.85.
"I thought Cayli competed well in the 1000 today," said Rovelto.
It was a successful day in the field for K-State on Saturday morning, as six Wildcats recorded six combined victories in the weight throw, pole vault, triple jump and high jump events.
Newcomer Anigbata Chinonyelum delivered for K-State in the triple jump with a first-place outing, as she recorded a leap of 13.07m/42-10.75. Her jump boosted her all the way up to No. 5 all-time in K-State history for the indoor season.
"Women's triple was good, particularly the freshmen," stated Rovelto.
K-State put together victories in both the men's and women's high jump and pole vault events, which began with freshman Reagan Hukill. Hukill bolstered herself over the bar in the pole-vault competition at a mark of 3.55m/11-07.75 to clinch the 10th-best outing in school history.
Keep grinding, keep working.#KStateTF pic.twitter.com/bsevq6Tr5h
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) December 5, 2020
Freshman Brian Simon took home the top spot in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.45m/14-07.25 in his first event as a Wildcat.
Senior Taylor Smith and sophomore Maddie Righter exerted all their energy to claim wins in the high jump, as Smith posted a height of 2.05m/6-08.75 in the men's competition while Righter landed a mark of 1.70m/5-7.00 in the women's event.
The weight throw event saw Colin Echols take charge and deliver a first-place performance, as the senior launched a throw of 20.37m/66-10.00 to seal the win.
"Colin had a good opener in the weight throw," said Rovelto. "That was a bright spot."
Impressive finishes from Taishia Pryce and Dy'Mond Wiley in the women's 300-meter race resulted in top-10 marks in school history, as Pryce's time of 39.27 pushed her all the way to No. 3 all-time for the indoor season while Wiley, who made her debut as a Wildcat today, recorded a time of 40.40 and the No. 8 spot on the all-time leaderboard.
The last win of the invitational came from the group of Lavaun Stephenson, O'Shalia Johnson, Shalysa Wray and Alex Ferguson in the 4x400 relay race. Those four secured a time of 3:49.32 to clinch the victory in the last race of the day.
K-State welcomed Ryan Crouser on Saturday, a former Texas Longhorn who currently holds the Olympic outdoor record for shot put. Crouser unleashed a throw of 22.58m during the shot-put event inside Ahearn Field House to nearly break his own personal record during the indoor season at 22.60m. His mark of 22.58m also upends former Wildcat Brett Neeley's meet record of 20.15m, which he recorded at the 2018 K-State Winter Invitational.
K-State will take a few weeks off before gearing up for the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, January 9 inside Ahearn Field House. The Wildcat Invitational makes its return to the indoor schedule for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
"The best thing is that we got to compete," Rovelto stated. "It has been a long time."
K-State Winter Invitational
Ahearn Field House
Manhattan, Kan.
Women's Weight Throw
2. Taylor Latimer, 18.25m/59-10.50
3. Emily Fuhr, 15.79m/51-09.75
Women's Pole Vault
1. Reagan Hukill, 3.55m/11-07.75
2. Jessica Williams, 3.40m/11-01.75
3. Victoria Maxton, 3.25m/10-08.00
Men's Pole Vault
1. Brian Simon, 4.45m/14-07.25
Men's Weight Throw
1. Colin Echols, 20.37m/66-10.00
3. Kade McCall, 16.89m/55-05.00
4. Jackson Gibbon, 15.94m/52-03.75
5. James Higgs, 14.99m/49-02.25
Women's Shot Put
4. Taylor Latimer, 14.87m/48-09.50
5. Emily Fuhr, 10.11m/33-02.00
Women's High Jump
1. Maddie Righter, 1.70m/5-7.00
Men's High Jump
1. Taylor Smith, 2.05m
Men's Shot Put
1. Ryan Crouser (NIKE), 22.58m/74-1.00 (Meet Record)
3. Jackson Gibbon, 14.88m/48-10.00
4. Colin Echols, 13.49m/44-03.25
5. James Higgs, 13.34m/43-09.25
Men's 60 Meters
6. Nate Hassed, 7.08
7. Parker McCafferty, 7.20
Women's 60 Meters
4. Shalysa Wray, 7.60
5. Wurrie Njadoe, 7.71
Women's 60m Hurdles
6. Lavaun Stephenson, 8.92
8. Maddie Righter, 9.34
Men's 60m Hurdles
1. Donovan Turner, 8.05
Women's 300 Meters
2. Taishia Pryce, 39.27
3. Dy'Mond Wiley, 40.40
Women's 600 Yards
1. Alex Ferguson, 1:23.55
6. Shiseido Robinson (UNA), 1:31.15
Men's 300 Meters
3. Sean Wilson, 35.49
5. Tim Lambert, 36.00
Women's Triple Jump
1. Anigbata Chinonyelum, 13.07m/42-10.75
2. Chantoba Bright, 12.89m/42-3.50
3. Rhianna Phipps, 12.81m/42-0.50
Women's 1000 Meters
1. Kassidy Johnson, 2:51.41
2. Cayli Hume, 2:51.85
Men's 600 Yards
1. Kyle Gale, 1:11.05 (Meet Record)
Women's 4x400 Relay
1. K-State A, 3:49.32
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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