K-State Returns to Ahearn Field House for Wildcat Invitational on Saturday

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State men's and women's track and field teams begin the 2021 portion of their schedule this Saturday (January 9) inside Ahearn Field House with the Wildcat Invitational. The Wildcat Invitational marks the third of seven home meets for K-State during the 2020-21 indoor season.

Saturday's slate starts at 9 a.m., CT, with field events and then track events will follow suit at 1:30 p.m., CT. The Wildcats will host four other programs on Saturday, which includes North Texas, Langston, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Iowa State.

The invitational makes its return to the Wildcats' schedule for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The 2019 meet featured a whopping 20 victories for the 'Cats against four opponents (North Texas, Kansas City, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Langston).

"We have Arkansas-Pine Bluff, North Texas, Langston and a group from Iowa State coming in," stated Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "Competition will be great for what we are looking for at this point. We will have some athletes who will not be able to compete yet due to a required quarantine period. Those that were able to get back earlier have been able to do quarantine and get tested so that they may compete this weekend. We will have more athletes competing this weekend than in December and we look forward to seeing how good of a job folks did over the break of getting work done."

Tuning into the Wildcat Invitational

Fans wanting to follow along with meet on Saturday can use the live results link provided by Heartland Timing. For more information on the Wildcat Invitational, including a full schedule of events, records and more can be found on kstatesports.com by clicking here.

Under COVID-19 guidelines, no fans or spectators will be allowed inside Ahearn Field House this weekend.

Shankar Collects Second USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week

Breaking his own school record in the pentathlon back on December 4 at the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon, senior Tejaswin Shankar pocketed his second USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honor with his performance in the men's pentathlon. Shankar, who resides from New Delhi, India, posted 4,343 points to break his previous school record set back at the 2019 Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon. His score of 4,343 points also boosted him all the way up to No. 4 all-time in NCAA history for any men's athlete in the pentathlon competition. His USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award marks the third time in as many years a K-State men's athlete has recorded the weekly honor as Shankar grabbed both the 2019 and 2020 accolades while former Wildcat Brett Neelly notched his award during the 2018 season.

USTFCCCA Top-10 Marks of the Week (Dec. 1-7)

With two meets under the team's belt, K-State posted multiple USTFCCCA top-10 marks amongst the collegiate field during the week of December 1-7. Ten Wildcats scored in the top 10 for their respective events during the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon and K-State Winter Invitational, which includes seniors Colin Echols (No. 5, Weight Throw), Wurrie Njadoe (No. 7, 60 Meters), Tejaswin Shankar (No. 1 in High Jump/Pentathlon and No. 2 in the Long Jump) and Taylor Latimer (No. 7 in Shot Put and Weight Throw), junior Chantoba Bright (No. 2, Triple Jump), sophomores Donovan Turner (No. 3, 60m Hurdles), Maddie Righter (No. 5, High Jump) and Shalysa Wray (No. 4, 60 Meters), and freshmen Anigbata Chinonyelum (No.1, Triple Jump) and Rhianna Phipps (No. 3, Triple Jump).

Gale Sprints to K-State Winter Invitational Meet Record

Freshman Kyle Gale blasted out the gates in the men's mile race with a scorching time of 4:11.54, which would end up being a new meet record for the K-State Winter Invitational last year. Hodge's time ousted former Wildcat Michael Pierce's record by one second, as Pierce would finish the 800-meter race at 4:12.26 back in 2008. For the entirety of the K-State Winter Invitational, 11 Wildcats posted first-place finishes in their respective events.

Earning the Top Spot

The K-State Winter Invitational featured nine other Wildcats who placed first in their respective events back on December 5. K-State held off the field to clinch victories in the pole vault, high jump, 600 yards, 1000 meters, triple jump, weight throw and 60-meter hurdles events.

Moving Up the Indoor Top-10 List

Four Wildcats cemented themselves amongst the all-time greats in school history for the indoor season, as Anigbata Chinonyelum, Donovan Turner, Taishia Pryce and Dy'Mond Wiley all secured spots in the Indoor Top-10 list during their events at the K-State Winter Invitational. Chinonyelum, who leaped her way to a victory in the women's triple jump at a mark of 13.07m/42-10.75, moved all the way up to fifth all-time in school history with her performance in the sand. Turner nearly bested his personal record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.05, but his sprint locked him into the ninth-best outing in team history for the indoor season. Both Pryce and Wiley each competed in the women's 300-meter dash, which resulted in Pryce taking home a spot at second overall while Wiley clinched a third-place finish in the race. Pryce bolted around the track in 39.27 seconds, placing her third all-time in school history for the event and Wiley's time of 40.40 boosted her into the eighth-overall spot for the indoor top-10 list for the race.

Up Next

The Wildcats will remain at home next week on Saturday, January 16, as the team will host the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular. K-State took home the triangular trophy in last year's bout against Kansas and Wichita State down in Wichita, Kansas.

For the latest on K-State Track and Field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

K-State Returns to Ahearn Field House for Wildcat Invitational on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Chantoba Bright

Colin Echols

Kyle Gale

Taylor Latimer

Brett Neelly

Wurrie Njadoe

Rhianna Phipps

Taishia Pryce

Tejaswin Shankar

Donovan Turner

Dy'Mond Wiley

Shalysa Wray

Kansas State University Athletics