Four Wildcats Claim All-American Distinctions at NCAA Indoor Championships
Mar 12, 2021 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Kansas State track and field teams jump started this year's edition of the NCAA Indoor Championships with four All-America honors on Friday (March 12) afternoon at the Randal Tyson Track Center, with senior Tejaswin Shankar and Taishia Pryce garnering first-team honors while juniors Chantoba Bright and Vitoria Alves picked up Second Team All-American distinctions.
Friday's events began with Shankar's outing in the men's high jump, as the New Delhi, India, native claimed the third-overall spot with a mark of 2.24m/7-4-25. After squeezing over the bar at 2.21m/7-3 on his third attempt, he needed another last-second effort to clear the bar at 2.24m/7-4.25 to secure K-State's first All-American distinction of the day.
"It felt pretty good competing at the highest level again," said Shankar. "It's been two years since we had the NCAA indoors. These are the top guys in the country, and they are the people you are going to see down the line representing their countries in a few years at global championships. I think I had another bar in me and would've been very happy with a 2.27 clearance today, but I had to settle for 2.24 and that's pretty much been my average this indoor season. So, I'm just looking forward to outdoor season and getting back into training mode."
Finishing in third for the meet, Shankar recorded his third-consecutive indoor All-American award in the high jump, which matches former Wildcat Christoff Bryan's stretch from 2015-17.
"TJ (Tejaswin Shankar) competed very well today," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto.
LSU's JuVaughn Harrison clinched the national title in the men's high jump field with leap of 2.30m/7-6.50, which boosted the Tigers to the NCAA lead. USC's Earnie Sears matched Shankar's mark of 2.24m/7-4.25 but finished in second place due to clearing the mark on his first attempt.
"JuVaughn Harrison was on another level from the rest of the field today, as evidenced by both his high jump and long jump," Rovelto stated. Harrison also won the NCAA title in the long jump.
The women's long jump took place a few hours later inside the Randal Tyson Track Center, and the Wildcats poured in another batch of All-American outings from Pryce and Bright, who finished seventh and 15th overall, respectively.
Pryce pulled out all the tricks today in the sand box, as the senior eclipsed her season best with a leap of 6.48m/21-3.25. That jump placed Pryce in the top eight of the standings, giving her First Team All-American credentials.
Finishing at 15th overall was Bright, who was competing in her first national championship as a Wildcat. The Wismar, Linden, Guyana, product exploded the down the track to record a mark of 6.19m/20-3.75, which earned her Second Team All-American accolades.
"The field was jumping very well today," said Rovelto. "Taishia (Pryce) looked a little more like herself. Chantoba (Bright) and Vitoria (Alves) performed solidly in their first national indoor meet."
Texas' Tara Davis went on to set the NCAA record in the long jump with an astounding mark of 6.93m/22-9, as she scooped up a national title for the Big 12 on Friday evening.
On the track, Alves was the lone K-State athlete to show off her speed at the NCAA indoor meet this year. Crossing the finish line in 8.35 seconds, she would collect Second Team All-American honors and become the first Wildcat hurdler since Akela Jones in 2016 to earn All-American accolades in the event.
The Wildcats will finish out the NCAA Indoor Championships with the men's triple jump tomorrow at 1 p.m., CT and then the women's triple jump competition at 5 p.m., CT inside the Randal Tyson Track Center. K-State will send out Shankar, Bright and freshman Rhianna Phipps for tomorrow's slate of events.
Men's High Jump Finals
1. JuVaughn Harrison (LSU), 2.30m/7-6.50
2. Earnie Sears (USC), 2.24m/7-4.25
3. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.24m/7-4.25
Women's Long Jump Finals
1. Tara Davis (UT), 6.93m/22-9 (NCAA Record)
2. Claire Bryant (UF), 6.70m/21-11.75
3. Tyra Gittens (Texas A&M), 6.68m/21-11
7. Taishia Pryce, 6.48m/21-3.25
15. Chantoba Bright, 6.19m/20-3.75
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Chanel Brissett (UT), 8.04 Q
2. Daszay Freeman (UA), 8.05 Q
3. Milan Young (LSU), 8.06 Q
13. Vitoria Alves, 8.35
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Friday's events began with Shankar's outing in the men's high jump, as the New Delhi, India, native claimed the third-overall spot with a mark of 2.24m/7-4-25. After squeezing over the bar at 2.21m/7-3 on his third attempt, he needed another last-second effort to clear the bar at 2.24m/7-4.25 to secure K-State's first All-American distinction of the day.
"It felt pretty good competing at the highest level again," said Shankar. "It's been two years since we had the NCAA indoors. These are the top guys in the country, and they are the people you are going to see down the line representing their countries in a few years at global championships. I think I had another bar in me and would've been very happy with a 2.27 clearance today, but I had to settle for 2.24 and that's pretty much been my average this indoor season. So, I'm just looking forward to outdoor season and getting back into training mode."
Finishing in third for the meet, Shankar recorded his third-consecutive indoor All-American award in the high jump, which matches former Wildcat Christoff Bryan's stretch from 2015-17.
"TJ (Tejaswin Shankar) competed very well today," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto.
LSU's JuVaughn Harrison clinched the national title in the men's high jump field with leap of 2.30m/7-6.50, which boosted the Tigers to the NCAA lead. USC's Earnie Sears matched Shankar's mark of 2.24m/7-4.25 but finished in second place due to clearing the mark on his first attempt.
"JuVaughn Harrison was on another level from the rest of the field today, as evidenced by both his high jump and long jump," Rovelto stated. Harrison also won the NCAA title in the long jump.
The women's long jump took place a few hours later inside the Randal Tyson Track Center, and the Wildcats poured in another batch of All-American outings from Pryce and Bright, who finished seventh and 15th overall, respectively.
Pryce pulled out all the tricks today in the sand box, as the senior eclipsed her season best with a leap of 6.48m/21-3.25. That jump placed Pryce in the top eight of the standings, giving her First Team All-American credentials.
Finishing at 15th overall was Bright, who was competing in her first national championship as a Wildcat. The Wismar, Linden, Guyana, product exploded the down the track to record a mark of 6.19m/20-3.75, which earned her Second Team All-American accolades.
"The field was jumping very well today," said Rovelto. "Taishia (Pryce) looked a little more like herself. Chantoba (Bright) and Vitoria (Alves) performed solidly in their first national indoor meet."
Texas' Tara Davis went on to set the NCAA record in the long jump with an astounding mark of 6.93m/22-9, as she scooped up a national title for the Big 12 on Friday evening.
On the track, Alves was the lone K-State athlete to show off her speed at the NCAA indoor meet this year. Crossing the finish line in 8.35 seconds, she would collect Second Team All-American honors and become the first Wildcat hurdler since Akela Jones in 2016 to earn All-American accolades in the event.
The Wildcats will finish out the NCAA Indoor Championships with the men's triple jump tomorrow at 1 p.m., CT and then the women's triple jump competition at 5 p.m., CT inside the Randal Tyson Track Center. K-State will send out Shankar, Bright and freshman Rhianna Phipps for tomorrow's slate of events.
Men's High Jump Finals
1. JuVaughn Harrison (LSU), 2.30m/7-6.50
2. Earnie Sears (USC), 2.24m/7-4.25
3. Tejaswin Shankar, 2.24m/7-4.25
Women's Long Jump Finals
1. Tara Davis (UT), 6.93m/22-9 (NCAA Record)
2. Claire Bryant (UF), 6.70m/21-11.75
3. Tyra Gittens (Texas A&M), 6.68m/21-11
7. Taishia Pryce, 6.48m/21-3.25
15. Chantoba Bright, 6.19m/20-3.75
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Chanel Brissett (UT), 8.04 Q
2. Daszay Freeman (UA), 8.05 Q
3. Milan Young (LSU), 8.06 Q
13. Vitoria Alves, 8.35
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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