Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Finishes Strong on Final Day at Iowa State Classic, Tyson Invitational
Feb 15, 2020 | Track & Field
AMES, Iowa – Another day, another productive outing for the Kansas State men's and women's track and field teams on Saturday as both squads ended the final segment of the Iowa State Classic and Tyson Invitational on a high note in Ames, Iowa and Fayetteville, Arkansas, respectively.
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"Cam (Cameron Lewis) had a PR in the shot put and TJ (Tejaswin Shankar) jumped better in the high jump," said Director of Track and Field Cliff Rovelto. "The girls in the 800 all ran solid, as did the girls in the hurdles. Both of the 4x4's ran well. Unfortunately, the 'A' team didn't have the competition we needed. The men's 'B' team made up of decs and TJ ran well on the day. The men's 'A' team was led off by Antoni (Hoyte-Small), and he pulled up at the 350 meters with a hamstring issue. He was leading and running very well at that point. The guys were ready to run well, so that was unfortunate."
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Pulling off a similar outing to Friday's performances, Saturday offered similar results for K-State as three victories were achieved amongst the track and the field in the Iowa State Classic, which included first-place honors from seniors Cameron Lewis (shot put) and Ariel Okorie (60-meter hurdles), as well as junior Tejaswin Shankar (high jump).
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Lewis keeps improving each week in his throw events as the Mesa, Arizona native recorded the ninth-best mark in school history during the shot put, launching a throw of 18.43m/60-5.75 to post a personal best.
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The 60-meter hurdles featured a new winner this week at the Iowa State Classic as Okorie outlasted four other Wildcats in the final round of the race to claim the top spot with a time of 8.43.
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Preparing to repeat at the Big 12 Indoor Championships in the high jump event, Shankar met all expectations for the weekend as the New Delhi, India native recorded a mark of 2.25m/7-04.50, which was plenty enough for the victory inside the Lied Recreation Center.
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For the two-day stretch, K-State compiled seven victories as Taishia Pryce (long jump), Shaelyn Ward (weight throw), Kimisha Chambers (400 meters) and Edgaras Benkunskas also tallied wins during Friday's schedule.
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Down south at the Tyson Invitational, senior Jullane Walker finished the men's 200-meter race with a blazing time of 20.95, which is the second-best mark in school history in reference to the indoor season. Walker faced off against a tough field of participants during the race, resulting in a spot at seventh place.
"We are extremely grateful for a good experience and walking away healthy from this," said Assistant Coach Vincent Johnson. "He has run faster than he has run in the indoor. It's a personal best for him. I think he ran well from the competition and could have ran well with the faster heats today. He did a good job managing his own heat. We will continue to work and look forward to Big 12's."
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Back at the Iowa State Classic, there was another battle in the women's 800-meter event. Junior Macy Heinz and sophomore Kassidy Johnson were neck-and-neck with each other for the entirety of the race until Heinz edged Johnson in the final leg. Heinz' time of 2:06.52 earned her a spot at third all-time in school history with Johnson coming in less than a second later at a pace of 2:06.61, good for fourth in the K-State record book.
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Staying on the track, the men's 60-meter hurdles event featured freshmen Oscar Smith and Donovan Turner in the final round of the race. Smith was able to carve out a third-place spot with a spring of 8.09 seconds, while Turner managed his way through the tight race to earn a seventh-place finish at 8.30 seconds.
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Turning back to the field, freshman Urte Bacianskiate delivered a top-10 performance in the women's shot put to place ninth with a throw of 13.49m/44-03.25. Teammate Ashley Petr grabbed the last spot in the top 10 with a mark of 13.16m/43-02.25.
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"Getting familiar with the surface, rings, runways, etc., absolutely helps," said Rovelto on competing in the same facility the conference championship will be held. "We have a number of younger athletes who had never been here before, so we hope this helps them in their preparations for the conference meet in a couple of weeks."
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The Wildcats return home for the final home indoor meet of the season in Ahearn Field House on Saturday, February 22 during the Steve Miller Open. The home meet will serve as one final tune up before heading back to Ames for the Big 12 Indoor Championships, located at the Lied Recreation Center.Â
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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Iowa State Classic
Lied Recreation Center
Ames, Iowa
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Men's Shot Put
1. Cameron Lewis, 18.43m/60-5.75
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Women's Shot Put
9. Urte Bacianskaite, 13.49m/44-03.25
10. Ashley Petr, 13.16m/43-02.25
15. Shaelyn Ward, 12.56m/41-02.50
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Women's Pole Vault
8. Jessica Williams, 3.73m/12-02.75
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Men's High Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.25m/7-04.50
6. Kyle Alcine, 2.08m/6-09.75
8. Taylor Smith, 2.03m/6-08.00
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Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
1. Ariel Okorie, 8.43
3. Kimisha Chambers, 8.45
4. Lauren Taubert, 8.48
5. Vitoria Alves, 8.49
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Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
3. Oscar Smith, 8.09
6. Donovan Turner, 8.30
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Women's Mile Run
35. Emma Wren, 4:58.37
38. Hannah Stewart, 4:59.77
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Men's Mile Run
25. Hadley Splechter, 4:09.11
41. Mike Rohlinger, 4:15.34
51. Noah Stevenson, 4:19.40
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Men's 200 Meters
21. Parker McCafferty, 22.96
23. Nate Hassed, 23.09
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Women's 800 Meters
4. Macy Heinz, 2:06.52
5. Kassidy Johnson, 2:06.61
17. Alex Ferguson, 2;09.72
19. Cayli Hume, 2:10.87
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Men's 800 Meters
16. Travis Hodge, 1:51.87
26. Dylan Brenneman, 1:53.42
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Tyson Invitational
Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Men's 200 Meters
7. Jullane Walker, 20.95
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Men's Triple Jump
12. Angelo Gordon, 14.38m/47-2.25
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Women's Triple Jump
7. Konstantina Romaiou, 12.29m/40-4.00
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"Cam (Cameron Lewis) had a PR in the shot put and TJ (Tejaswin Shankar) jumped better in the high jump," said Director of Track and Field Cliff Rovelto. "The girls in the 800 all ran solid, as did the girls in the hurdles. Both of the 4x4's ran well. Unfortunately, the 'A' team didn't have the competition we needed. The men's 'B' team made up of decs and TJ ran well on the day. The men's 'A' team was led off by Antoni (Hoyte-Small), and he pulled up at the 350 meters with a hamstring issue. He was leading and running very well at that point. The guys were ready to run well, so that was unfortunate."
Â
Pulling off a similar outing to Friday's performances, Saturday offered similar results for K-State as three victories were achieved amongst the track and the field in the Iowa State Classic, which included first-place honors from seniors Cameron Lewis (shot put) and Ariel Okorie (60-meter hurdles), as well as junior Tejaswin Shankar (high jump).
Â
Lewis keeps improving each week in his throw events as the Mesa, Arizona native recorded the ninth-best mark in school history during the shot put, launching a throw of 18.43m/60-5.75 to post a personal best.
Â
The 60-meter hurdles featured a new winner this week at the Iowa State Classic as Okorie outlasted four other Wildcats in the final round of the race to claim the top spot with a time of 8.43.
Â
Preparing to repeat at the Big 12 Indoor Championships in the high jump event, Shankar met all expectations for the weekend as the New Delhi, India native recorded a mark of 2.25m/7-04.50, which was plenty enough for the victory inside the Lied Recreation Center.
Â
For the two-day stretch, K-State compiled seven victories as Taishia Pryce (long jump), Shaelyn Ward (weight throw), Kimisha Chambers (400 meters) and Edgaras Benkunskas also tallied wins during Friday's schedule.
Â
Down south at the Tyson Invitational, senior Jullane Walker finished the men's 200-meter race with a blazing time of 20.95, which is the second-best mark in school history in reference to the indoor season. Walker faced off against a tough field of participants during the race, resulting in a spot at seventh place.
"We are extremely grateful for a good experience and walking away healthy from this," said Assistant Coach Vincent Johnson. "He has run faster than he has run in the indoor. It's a personal best for him. I think he ran well from the competition and could have ran well with the faster heats today. He did a good job managing his own heat. We will continue to work and look forward to Big 12's."
Â
Back at the Iowa State Classic, there was another battle in the women's 800-meter event. Junior Macy Heinz and sophomore Kassidy Johnson were neck-and-neck with each other for the entirety of the race until Heinz edged Johnson in the final leg. Heinz' time of 2:06.52 earned her a spot at third all-time in school history with Johnson coming in less than a second later at a pace of 2:06.61, good for fourth in the K-State record book.
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Staying on the track, the men's 60-meter hurdles event featured freshmen Oscar Smith and Donovan Turner in the final round of the race. Smith was able to carve out a third-place spot with a spring of 8.09 seconds, while Turner managed his way through the tight race to earn a seventh-place finish at 8.30 seconds.
Â
Turning back to the field, freshman Urte Bacianskiate delivered a top-10 performance in the women's shot put to place ninth with a throw of 13.49m/44-03.25. Teammate Ashley Petr grabbed the last spot in the top 10 with a mark of 13.16m/43-02.25.
Â
"Getting familiar with the surface, rings, runways, etc., absolutely helps," said Rovelto on competing in the same facility the conference championship will be held. "We have a number of younger athletes who had never been here before, so we hope this helps them in their preparations for the conference meet in a couple of weeks."
Â
The Wildcats return home for the final home indoor meet of the season in Ahearn Field House on Saturday, February 22 during the Steve Miller Open. The home meet will serve as one final tune up before heading back to Ames for the Big 12 Indoor Championships, located at the Lied Recreation Center.Â
For the latest on K-State track and field, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Â
Iowa State Classic
Lied Recreation Center
Ames, Iowa
Â
Men's Shot Put
1. Cameron Lewis, 18.43m/60-5.75
Â
Women's Shot Put
9. Urte Bacianskaite, 13.49m/44-03.25
10. Ashley Petr, 13.16m/43-02.25
15. Shaelyn Ward, 12.56m/41-02.50
Â
Women's Pole Vault
8. Jessica Williams, 3.73m/12-02.75
Â
Men's High Jump
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.25m/7-04.50
6. Kyle Alcine, 2.08m/6-09.75
8. Taylor Smith, 2.03m/6-08.00
Â
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
1. Ariel Okorie, 8.43
3. Kimisha Chambers, 8.45
4. Lauren Taubert, 8.48
5. Vitoria Alves, 8.49
Â
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
3. Oscar Smith, 8.09
6. Donovan Turner, 8.30
Â
Women's Mile Run
35. Emma Wren, 4:58.37
38. Hannah Stewart, 4:59.77
Â
Men's Mile Run
25. Hadley Splechter, 4:09.11
41. Mike Rohlinger, 4:15.34
51. Noah Stevenson, 4:19.40
Â
Men's 200 Meters
21. Parker McCafferty, 22.96
23. Nate Hassed, 23.09
Â
Women's 800 Meters
4. Macy Heinz, 2:06.52
5. Kassidy Johnson, 2:06.61
17. Alex Ferguson, 2;09.72
19. Cayli Hume, 2:10.87
Â
Men's 800 Meters
16. Travis Hodge, 1:51.87
26. Dylan Brenneman, 1:53.42
Â
Tyson Invitational
Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Â
Men's 200 Meters
7. Jullane Walker, 20.95
Â
Men's Triple Jump
12. Angelo Gordon, 14.38m/47-2.25
Â
Women's Triple Jump
7. Konstantina Romaiou, 12.29m/40-4.00
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