K-State Jumpstarts 2021 Outdoor Season at UTSA Invitational

MANHATTAN, Kan. – After a successful stint at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Kansas State track and field teams will switch gears and head to San Antonio, Texas for the first meet of the 2021 outdoor season, as the Wildcats will participate in the UTSA Invitational from Thursday-Saturday, March 18-20 at the Park West Athletics Complex.

The three-day competition will kick off on Thursday with combined events, as the heptathlon and decathlon will roll over into Friday's slate of events. Friday's action will begin with combined events at 10 a.m., CT, followed by field events on Saturday at 11 a.m., CT.

"We do have quite a few athletes who have not competed in quite some time," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "Obviously, they are very happy to get the opportunity to compete. It appears we will have good weather, so hopefully we will have some strong performances right off the bat. Combined eventers, javelin, hammer and discus throwers, and the sprint relays groups have not competed in these events for quite some time. I look forward to watching them have the chance to get back at it."

Tuning into the UTSA Invitational

Fans wanting to follow along with the UTSA Invitational can use the live results link provided by Hy-Tek Results

Under COVID-19 and NCAA guidelines, no fans or spectators will be allowed at the Park West Athletics Complex this weekend.

For more information on the outdoor meet, including a full schedule of events, records and more can be found on kstatesports.com by clicking here.

'Cats at the NCAA Indoor Championships

Five Wildcats received invitations to last weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and they did not disappoint, picking up seven All-American certificates inside the Randal Tyson Track Center. Senior Tejaswin Shankar (High Jump and Triple Jump) and junior Chantoba Bright (Long Jump and Triple Jump) led the way with two All-American distinctions each. The trio of Rhianna Phipps (Triple Jump), Taishia Pryce (Long Jump) and Vitoria Alves (60-Meter Hurdles) earned Second-Team All-American accolades in their respective events at the national indoor meet.

Coming Off the Unattached List

Competing off the unattached list for the 2021 indoor season, the Wildcats will now have multiple high-caliber athletes returning to the active roster when the outdoor season begins. Notable names returning for the outdoor
campaign include All-Americans Lauren Taubert, Ariel Okorie, Helene Ingvaldsen, Akia Guerrier and Jah Strange, who transferred to K-State from Purdue after a stellar outing at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Hosting the Conference Championship

The 2021 Big 12 Outdoor Championship will be held at the R.V. Christian Track and Field Complex on Friday-Sunday, May 14-16. This will be the first time since 2012 that K-State will get to host the prominent outdoor event. Over the previous seven seasons, the K-State women have finished sixth or higher at the Big 12 outdoors, which also features back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.

High Jump U

If there is one event the Wildcats can stake their claim as one of the best in the country, it is the high jump. Since 1998, K-State has pocketed seven national titles in its trademark event, including one from current senior Tejaswin Shankar. At the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Shankar posted a mark of 2.24m/7-04.25 in the high jump to stake his name at the highest summit in collegiate track and field.

2019 Outdoor Season Review

K-State last competed in the outdoor season nearly two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the 2020 slate. During the 2019 campaign, the Wildcats reached the pinnacle of track and field, as both teams competed in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, held in Eugene, Oregon. K-State collected six All-American certificates, which featured a whopping six First Team All-American honors. Former Wildcat Shardia Lawrence became the first triple jump national champion in school history on her last attempt in the event, landing in the sand at a mark of 13.99m/45-10.75. The K-State men earned a 26th-place finish at the outdoor national meet with the women placing in the top 20 at 16th overall (16 points). Six athletes notched Big 12 outdoor titles in their respective events during the conference championship in Norman, Oklahoma. Tejaswin Shankar led the men's team, as he garnered the high jump title, while Taishia Pryce (Long Jump), Taylor Latimer (Shot Put) and Helene Ingvaldsen (Hammer Throw) scooped up three of the first-place honors in the women's field.

Up Next

The Wildcats will return to the Sunflower State to compete in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, March 27 at the Shocker Invitational.

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 Jumpstarts 2021 Outdoor Season at UTSA Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chantoba Bright

Akia Guerrier

Helene Ingvaldsen

Taylor Latimer

Shardia Lawrence

Ariel Okorie

Rhianna Phipps

Taishia Pryce

Tejaswin Shankar

Jah Strange

Lauren Taubert

Kansas State University Athletics