Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, January 29
Manhattan, Kan.
10:00 AM
Kansas State University
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DeLoss Dodds Invitational
Shankar Shatters Heptathlon Meet Record, Wildcats Close Out DeLoss Dodds Invitational in Style
Jan 30, 2021 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Another record-setting outing from senior Tejaswin Shankar highlighted the second day of the DeLoss Dodds Invitational inside Ahearn Field House on Saturday (January 30) afternoon.
Shankar broke the heptathlon meet record on the final event of the competition to score 5,650 points, which is the seventh-best mark in school history, while also usurping Colorado State's Josh Cogdill's mark of 5,217 points set back at the 2017 meet.
"In a word, TJ's (Tejaswin Shankar) performance was outstanding," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "First time he has ever competed in the heptathlon, first time he has ever vaulted in his life. He touched a pole for the first time three months ago. Typically, that is a top 10, top-15 mark in the nation. It was pretty remarkable to do what he did, especially the degree of difficulty that it presents."
There was a lot of firsts for Shankar this weekend, as the New Delhi, India, product not only competed in his first heptathlon event for his college career, but he ended up testing his skills in the pole vault event, which he has never attempted before Saturday's competition.
"The cumulative was what I was expecting, and I was happy to get the record," Shankar said. "I was so naive to think I could put all my personal bests together and get 6000 points. Turns out, there is no room for error. I was able to average all my personal bests together, which is how I got to 5600 points. This goal should be good enough to make nationals. It would be cool to make it to nationals in the high jump, triple jump, and the heptathlon. The only hurdle between myself and the heptathlon was the pole vault. Once I learned how to hold the pole, I was good to go."
K-State continued its hot streak on the track for Saturday's portion of events, as three Wildcats entered the indoor top-10 list for school history in their respective events. Junior Vitoria Alves showcased once again why she is in the upper echelon for the 60-meter hurdles in the nation, as the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native produced a new personal record at a blazing mark of 8.21 seconds. Alves remains second all-time in school history for the race after her victory.
"She has done a really good job of training on her own," said Rovelto on Alves' outing. "When she was able to begin training last year, she did a really good job of getting the work in. It was great to see her overcome yesterday's race and come out and grab a PR."
In the 400 meters, sophomore's Shalysa Wray and O'shalia Johnson each made their way into the record books, as Wray finished the race with the seventh-best time in school history at 54.77 seconds, while Johnson followed just behind with the eighth-best mark at 54.81 seconds.
"The girls in the 400, I thought they ran well," said Rovelto. "I know for O'shalia, that's fast for what she would run in outdoors. I thought those two were really good."
Those who made their mark on the Ward Haylett Track but ran unattached for Saturday's slate included seniors Jah Strange and Travis Hodge. Strange showcased his all-around athleticism with a victory in the men's 200 meters, as the Indio, California, native crossed the line at a sizzling 21.81 seconds. He nearly grabbed another win in the 60-meter race with a mark of 6.94 seconds but fell just short and finished second overall.
Hodge brought another level of versatility on Saturday afternoon with a win in the mile race. The senior jolted down the stretch to claim his stake at first place with a time of 4:15.90.
Freshman Kyle Gale nearly clinched another meet record for himself in the 600 yards, as the Bridgetown, Barbados, product fell just two seconds short of owning the best time in meet history. However, Gale found success once again with another win at a pace of 1:11.19.
Even after Shankar's performance in the high jump on Friday, K-State still registered another quality mark with sophomore Devon Richardson's winning jump of 2.11m/6-11.00 in the second stanza of the high jump, which was a new personal record.
The women's team found success in the back half of Saturday's track schedule, as juniors Alex Ferguson (800 Meters), Kassidy Johnson (1000 Meters), and Cara Melgares (Mile Run) captured first-place finishes in their distance events.
"There were some good middle-distance times today," stated Rovelto.
Senior Wurrie Njadoe exploded out of the gates in her two sprints, as the Shoreline, Washington, native secured victories in the 60 meters (7.52) and 200 meters (24.69).
K-State controlled the shot-put ring and locked up another two wins in the field, with junior Taylor Latimer and freshman James Higgs taking both shot put crowns. Latimer used a mark of 15.70m/51-6.25 to clinch the women's title, while Higgs set a personal best in his win with a throw of 13.59m/44-7.00.
"The athletes select the travel roster," Rovelto said. "We are going to take the 26 best athletes that we got and get ready for next week. It is not about numbers. It is about quality and who can get it done."
DeLoss Dodds Invitational
Ahearn Field House
Manhattan, Kan.
Men's Heptathlon Scores
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 5,650 points (Meet Record)
3. Matas Adamonis, 4,921 points
Men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Hurdles
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 8.32
2. Matas Adamonis, 8.73
Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault
2. Matas Adamonis, 4.25m/13-11.25
4. Tejaswin Shankar, 3.75m/12-3.50 (P.R.)
Men's Heptathlon 1000 Meters
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2:41.22
3. Matas Adamonis, 3:05.31
Women's Shot Put
1. Taylor Latimer, 15.70m/51-6.25
2. Jaycee Schroeder, 13.27m/43-6.50
3. Emily Fuhr, 11.45m/37-6.75 (P.R.)
Men's Shot Put
1. James Higgs, 13.59m/44-7.00 (P.R.)
Men's High Jump
1. Devon Richardson, 2.11m/6-11.00
Women's High Jump
2. Janique Burgher, 1.68m/5-6.00
Women's Mile Run
1. Cara Melgares, 5:14.87
3. Cailan Steward, 5:19.77
Men's Mile Run
1. Travis Hodge (UNA), 4:15.90
4. Jack Moore, 4:25.23
8. Will Carroll, 4:36.40 (P.R.)
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
1. Vitoria Alves, 8.21 (P.R.)
2. Kimisha Chambers (UNA), 8.28 (P.R.)
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
1. Kyle Parr (UNA), 8.58
Women's 60 Meters
1. Wurrie Njadoe, 7.52
2. Chantoba Bright, 7.58 (P.R.)
Men's 60 Meters
1. Jah Strange (UNA), 6.94
3. Darian Clarke, 7.00
4. Nate Hassed, 7.12
Women's 400 Meters
1. Shalysa Wray, 54.77 (P.R.)
2. O'shalia Johnson, 54.81 (P.R.)
Men's 400 Meters
1. Tim Lambert Jr., 49.08
2. Sean Wilson, 50.33
3. Gabriel Louw, 51.57 (P.R.)
Men's 600 Yards
1. Kyle Gale, 1:11.19
Women's 800 Meters
1. Alex Ferguson, 2:12.42
2. Jessica Caraway, 2:18.07 (P.R.)
Men's 800 Meters
2. Dylan Brenneman, 1:55.64
3. Kyle Johnston, 1:59.39
5. Ryan Derry, 2:01.33 (P.R.)
Women's 200 Meters
1. Wurrie Njadoe, 24.69
3. Rhianna Phipps, 26.50 (P.R.)
Men's 200 Meters
1. Jah Strange (UNA), 21.81 (P.R.)
Women's 1000 Meters
1. Kassidy Johnson, 2:50.81
2. Sydney Burton, 2:52.70 (P.R.)
3. Hannah Stewart, 2:55.91
4. Delaney Kemp, 3:01.67
Men's 1000 Meters
1. Mike Rohlinger, 2:27.05 (P.R.)
2. Hadley Splechter, 2:27.26 (P.R.)
3. Stephen Kielhofner, 2:30.41 (P.R.)
Women's 3000 Meters
2. Helen Giefer, 11:00.52 (P.R.)
Men's 3000 Meters
2. Aiden Higgerson, 8:52.85 (P.R.)
4. Jack Thomas, 9:06.60
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 broke the heptathlon meet record on the final event of the competition to score 5,650 points, which is the seventh-best mark in school history, while also usurping Colorado State's Josh Cogdill's mark of 5,217 points set back at the 2017 meet.
"In a word, TJ's (Tejaswin Shankar) performance was outstanding," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "First time he has ever competed in the heptathlon, first time he has ever vaulted in his life. He touched a pole for the first time three months ago. Typically, that is a top 10, top-15 mark in the nation. It was pretty remarkable to do what he did, especially the degree of difficulty that it presents."
There was a lot of firsts for Shankar this weekend, as the New Delhi, India, product not only competed in his first heptathlon event for his college career, but he ended up testing his skills in the pole vault event, which he has never attempted before Saturday's competition.
.@TejaswinShankar gets the lucky bounce in his first ever pole vault event😺#KStateTF pic.twitter.com/bdX4lUOl3j
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) January 30, 2021
"The cumulative was what I was expecting, and I was happy to get the record," Shankar said. "I was so naive to think I could put all my personal bests together and get 6000 points. Turns out, there is no room for error. I was able to average all my personal bests together, which is how I got to 5600 points. This goal should be good enough to make nationals. It would be cool to make it to nationals in the high jump, triple jump, and the heptathlon. The only hurdle between myself and the heptathlon was the pole vault. Once I learned how to hold the pole, I was good to go."
🏆Heptathlon Champ🏆@TejaswinShankar ➡️ 5,650 points#KStateTF pic.twitter.com/HieRYQE08u
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) January 30, 2021
K-State continued its hot streak on the track for Saturday's portion of events, as three Wildcats entered the indoor top-10 list for school history in their respective events. Junior Vitoria Alves showcased once again why she is in the upper echelon for the 60-meter hurdles in the nation, as the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native produced a new personal record at a blazing mark of 8.21 seconds. Alves remains second all-time in school history for the race after her victory.
"She has done a really good job of training on her own," said Rovelto on Alves' outing. "When she was able to begin training last year, she did a really good job of getting the work in. It was great to see her overcome yesterday's race and come out and grab a PR."
In the 400 meters, sophomore's Shalysa Wray and O'shalia Johnson each made their way into the record books, as Wray finished the race with the seventh-best time in school history at 54.77 seconds, while Johnson followed just behind with the eighth-best mark at 54.81 seconds.
"The girls in the 400, I thought they ran well," said Rovelto. "I know for O'shalia, that's fast for what she would run in outdoors. I thought those two were really good."
Those who made their mark on the Ward Haylett Track but ran unattached for Saturday's slate included seniors Jah Strange and Travis Hodge. Strange showcased his all-around athleticism with a victory in the men's 200 meters, as the Indio, California, native crossed the line at a sizzling 21.81 seconds. He nearly grabbed another win in the 60-meter race with a mark of 6.94 seconds but fell just short and finished second overall.
Hodge brought another level of versatility on Saturday afternoon with a win in the mile race. The senior jolted down the stretch to claim his stake at first place with a time of 4:15.90.
Freshman Kyle Gale nearly clinched another meet record for himself in the 600 yards, as the Bridgetown, Barbados, product fell just two seconds short of owning the best time in meet history. However, Gale found success once again with another win at a pace of 1:11.19.
Even after Shankar's performance in the high jump on Friday, K-State still registered another quality mark with sophomore Devon Richardson's winning jump of 2.11m/6-11.00 in the second stanza of the high jump, which was a new personal record.
The women's team found success in the back half of Saturday's track schedule, as juniors Alex Ferguson (800 Meters), Kassidy Johnson (1000 Meters), and Cara Melgares (Mile Run) captured first-place finishes in their distance events.
Another great day on the track👟😺#KStateTF x DeLoss Dodds Invitational pic.twitter.com/TXnVdA7t7u
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) January 30, 2021
"There were some good middle-distance times today," stated Rovelto.
Senior Wurrie Njadoe exploded out of the gates in her two sprints, as the Shoreline, Washington, native secured victories in the 60 meters (7.52) and 200 meters (24.69).
K-State controlled the shot-put ring and locked up another two wins in the field, with junior Taylor Latimer and freshman James Higgs taking both shot put crowns. Latimer used a mark of 15.70m/51-6.25 to clinch the women's title, while Higgs set a personal best in his win with a throw of 13.59m/44-7.00.
The Wildcats will take their talents to Fayetteville, Arkansas, next week for the Arkansas Invitational on Friday, February 6, located inside the Randal Tyson Track Center.Far from finished.#KStateTF pic.twitter.com/KbeWmQlPdc
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) January 30, 2021
"The athletes select the travel roster," Rovelto said. "We are going to take the 26 best athletes that we got and get ready for next week. It is not about numbers. It is about quality and who can get it done."
DeLoss Dodds Invitational
Ahearn Field House
Manhattan, Kan.
Men's Heptathlon Scores
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 5,650 points (Meet Record)
3. Matas Adamonis, 4,921 points
Men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Hurdles
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 8.32
2. Matas Adamonis, 8.73
Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault
2. Matas Adamonis, 4.25m/13-11.25
4. Tejaswin Shankar, 3.75m/12-3.50 (P.R.)
Men's Heptathlon 1000 Meters
1. Tejaswin Shankar, 2:41.22
3. Matas Adamonis, 3:05.31
Women's Shot Put
1. Taylor Latimer, 15.70m/51-6.25
2. Jaycee Schroeder, 13.27m/43-6.50
3. Emily Fuhr, 11.45m/37-6.75 (P.R.)
Men's Shot Put
1. James Higgs, 13.59m/44-7.00 (P.R.)
Men's High Jump
1. Devon Richardson, 2.11m/6-11.00
Women's High Jump
2. Janique Burgher, 1.68m/5-6.00
Women's Mile Run
1. Cara Melgares, 5:14.87
3. Cailan Steward, 5:19.77
Men's Mile Run
1. Travis Hodge (UNA), 4:15.90
4. Jack Moore, 4:25.23
8. Will Carroll, 4:36.40 (P.R.)
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
1. Vitoria Alves, 8.21 (P.R.)
2. Kimisha Chambers (UNA), 8.28 (P.R.)
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
1. Kyle Parr (UNA), 8.58
Women's 60 Meters
1. Wurrie Njadoe, 7.52
2. Chantoba Bright, 7.58 (P.R.)
Men's 60 Meters
1. Jah Strange (UNA), 6.94
3. Darian Clarke, 7.00
4. Nate Hassed, 7.12
Women's 400 Meters
1. Shalysa Wray, 54.77 (P.R.)
2. O'shalia Johnson, 54.81 (P.R.)
Men's 400 Meters
1. Tim Lambert Jr., 49.08
2. Sean Wilson, 50.33
3. Gabriel Louw, 51.57 (P.R.)
Men's 600 Yards
1. Kyle Gale, 1:11.19
Women's 800 Meters
1. Alex Ferguson, 2:12.42
2. Jessica Caraway, 2:18.07 (P.R.)
Men's 800 Meters
2. Dylan Brenneman, 1:55.64
3. Kyle Johnston, 1:59.39
5. Ryan Derry, 2:01.33 (P.R.)
Women's 200 Meters
1. Wurrie Njadoe, 24.69
3. Rhianna Phipps, 26.50 (P.R.)
Men's 200 Meters
1. Jah Strange (UNA), 21.81 (P.R.)
Women's 1000 Meters
1. Kassidy Johnson, 2:50.81
2. Sydney Burton, 2:52.70 (P.R.)
3. Hannah Stewart, 2:55.91
4. Delaney Kemp, 3:01.67
Men's 1000 Meters
1. Mike Rohlinger, 2:27.05 (P.R.)
2. Hadley Splechter, 2:27.26 (P.R.)
3. Stephen Kielhofner, 2:30.41 (P.R.)
Women's 3000 Meters
2. Helen Giefer, 11:00.52 (P.R.)
Men's 3000 Meters
2. Aiden Higgerson, 8:52.85 (P.R.)
4. Jack Thomas, 9:06.60
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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