Kansas State University Athletics
Shankar Collects USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week Honors
Dec 08, 2020 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Setting the pentathlon school record once again to open the 2020-21 season, senior Tejaswin Shankar was tabbed as the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week today (December 8), which is his second national honor in as many years. Â
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The New Delhi, India, native scorched his previous record of 4,137 points in the pentathlon with a new mark of 4,343 points on December 4. His mark of 4,343 points is the fourth-best mark in NCAA history for any men's athlete in the pentathlon event. Those 4,343 points also broke Steve Fritz's meet record of 4,251 points set at the 1993 Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon.
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"Last year when I did the pentathlon, it started it out as a challenge," said Shankar after his record-setting outing. "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. 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. 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."
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Shankar's trophy list now includes multiple USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week distinctions, two All-American certificates, two Big 12 high jump titles, and a pentathlon school record during the indoor season for his career at K-State.
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This is the third-straight year a K-State male athlete has garnered National Athlete of the Week honors from the USTFCCCA, with the third award coming from former Wildcat Brett Neeley in the 2018-19 campaign.
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The Wildcats will have a few weeks off before returning to Ahearn Field House for the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, January 9.
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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The New Delhi, India, native scorched his previous record of 4,137 points in the pentathlon with a new mark of 4,343 points on December 4. His mark of 4,343 points is the fourth-best mark in NCAA history for any men's athlete in the pentathlon event. Those 4,343 points also broke Steve Fritz's meet record of 4,251 points set at the 1993 Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon.
Â
"Last year when I did the pentathlon, it started it out as a challenge," said Shankar after his record-setting outing. "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. 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. 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."
Â
Shankar's trophy list now includes multiple USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week distinctions, two All-American certificates, two Big 12 high jump titles, and a pentathlon school record during the indoor season for his career at K-State.
Â
This is the third-straight year a K-State male athlete has garnered National Athlete of the Week honors from the USTFCCCA, with the third award coming from former Wildcat Brett Neeley in the 2018-19 campaign.
Â
The Wildcats will have a few weeks off before returning to Ahearn Field House for the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, January 9.
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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