Wildcats Cruise on Day Two of UTSA Invitational
Mar 19, 2021 | Track & Field
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Kansas State track and field teams fired on all cylinders on day two of the UTSA Invitational on Friday (March 19) afternoon, recording seven victories at the Park West Athletics Complex.
Resuming her outdoor career this weekend, senior Lauren Taubert got things rolling for the Wildcats, as she dominated the field and added another heptathlon trophy to her resume. Taubert obtained six of the possible seven victories in the competition en route to 5,713 points.
The final two events sealed the title for Taubert in the heptathlon, converting a strike of 36.25m/118-11 in the javelin throw and a blazing time of 2:19.25 in her trademark race, the 800 meters. She also notched a personal best in the long jump, flying across the sandbox to land a mark of 6.01m/19-08.75.
"It has been a long two years and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be competing again," said Taubert. "I am happy with my performance. I was able to score well with posting one PR, so I know there is room for improvement. I am looking forward to getting back to training and making gains in each event!"
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto gave his take on Taubert's heptathlon victory.
"Lauren (Taubert) had a very strong opener, particularly this early in the season," said Rovelto.
Senior Ariel Okorie and sophomore Urte Bacianskaite kept up with Taubert in the standings, finishing second and third, respectively, in the heptathlon. Okorie scored 5,064 points on the strength of third-place finishes on each of Friday's events (800 meters, long jump and javelin), while Bacianskaite collected 4,857 points which included a second-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 35.68m/117-01.
"Ariel (Okorie) struggled a bit," Rovelto said. "She lost some time due to illness and is playing catch up right now."
Junior Matas Adamonis followed up in Taubert's victory in the heptathlon with a win in the decathlon with 7,293 points, defeating runner-up Corbett Fong of Rice by more than 500 points.
Adamonis paved his way to the top with wins in the pole vault (4.20m/13-09.25) and discus throw (46.37m/152-01) events and a runner-up finish in the javelin (55.60m/182-05).
"Matas had a PR and really did a nice job in his first decathlon in a couple of years," stated Rovelto.
The momentum from the combined events carried over into the field for K-State with seniors Helene Ingvaldsen and Cameron Lewis showing little mercy to their opponents, as both athletes acquired new personal bests in their respective events.
The men's shot put was all but over after Lewis dropped in a mark of 17.87m/58-7.50 to take the victory. His outing placed him in the school record books for the outdoor season, as the Mesa, Arizona, product moved into top-10 list at ninth all-time for the shot put event.
Breaking the bank at Park West Athletics Complex was Ingvaldsen, who shook off the winter rust and notched a new personal best in the hammer throw at 64.75m/212-05, while locking up the top podium position in the women's field.
Featuring another highly touted shot-put thrower was junior Taylor Latimer, who broke loose with a mark of 17.12m/56-2.00 to score another win in the field for the women's team.
The anticipated season debut of senior Logan Wolfley came into fruition on Friday evening, and he delivered on the hype, rifling a shot of 70.92/232-08 in the javelin competition, which ended up being the second-best outing in school history for any athlete.
Freshman Kade McCall followed suit with a record-book performance of his own, tossing a mark of 61.79m/202-09 in the hammer throw to record the fifth-best outing in school history.
"The throws went great today," said Rovelto. "Helene (Ingvaldsen) opened very well and Kade (McCall) was spectacular in his first hammer throw as a collegiate. But all of them did a nice job. Taylor (Latimer) had a strong series and Cam (Cameron Lewis) did a nice job in his opener, particularly given how much training he has missed due to injury. The javelin guys threw very well. Logan (Wolfley) has risen to another level as a thrower. The girls, all freshman, had solid openers in the javelin in not ideal throwing conditions. I was very impressed with all of our throwers today. Lots of PR's and strong performances."
K-State took part in one race on the track - the men's 3000 steeplechase - and found plenty of room to score the final win of the night. Sophomore Hadley Splechter found his stride and crossed the finish line with a pace of 9:20.74, placing him with his other fellow Wildcats at the top of the podium.
"Hadley (Splechter) ran a strong steeple in his first time in the event," Rovelto said.
The final day of the UTSA Invitational will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m., CT with field events and then track events will kick off at 2 p.m., CT.
Women's Heptathlon Final Standings
1. Lauren Taubert, 5,713 points
2. Ariel Okorie, 5,063 points
3. Urte Bacianskaite, 4,857 points
Men's Decathlon Final Standings
1. Matas Adamonis, 7,293 points
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Resuming her outdoor career this weekend, senior Lauren Taubert got things rolling for the Wildcats, as she dominated the field and added another heptathlon trophy to her resume. Taubert obtained six of the possible seven victories in the competition en route to 5,713 points.
The final two events sealed the title for Taubert in the heptathlon, converting a strike of 36.25m/118-11 in the javelin throw and a blazing time of 2:19.25 in her trademark race, the 800 meters. She also notched a personal best in the long jump, flying across the sandbox to land a mark of 6.01m/19-08.75.
"It has been a long two years and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be competing again," said Taubert. "I am happy with my performance. I was able to score well with posting one PR, so I know there is room for improvement. I am looking forward to getting back to training and making gains in each event!"
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto gave his take on Taubert's heptathlon victory.
"Lauren (Taubert) had a very strong opener, particularly this early in the season," said Rovelto.
Senior Ariel Okorie and sophomore Urte Bacianskaite kept up with Taubert in the standings, finishing second and third, respectively, in the heptathlon. Okorie scored 5,064 points on the strength of third-place finishes on each of Friday's events (800 meters, long jump and javelin), while Bacianskaite collected 4,857 points which included a second-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 35.68m/117-01.
"Ariel (Okorie) struggled a bit," Rovelto said. "She lost some time due to illness and is playing catch up right now."
Junior Matas Adamonis followed up in Taubert's victory in the heptathlon with a win in the decathlon with 7,293 points, defeating runner-up Corbett Fong of Rice by more than 500 points.
Adamonis paved his way to the top with wins in the pole vault (4.20m/13-09.25) and discus throw (46.37m/152-01) events and a runner-up finish in the javelin (55.60m/182-05).
"Matas had a PR and really did a nice job in his first decathlon in a couple of years," stated Rovelto.
The momentum from the combined events carried over into the field for K-State with seniors Helene Ingvaldsen and Cameron Lewis showing little mercy to their opponents, as both athletes acquired new personal bests in their respective events.
The men's shot put was all but over after Lewis dropped in a mark of 17.87m/58-7.50 to take the victory. His outing placed him in the school record books for the outdoor season, as the Mesa, Arizona, product moved into top-10 list at ninth all-time for the shot put event.
Breaking the bank at Park West Athletics Complex was Ingvaldsen, who shook off the winter rust and notched a new personal best in the hammer throw at 64.75m/212-05, while locking up the top podium position in the women's field.
Featuring another highly touted shot-put thrower was junior Taylor Latimer, who broke loose with a mark of 17.12m/56-2.00 to score another win in the field for the women's team.
The anticipated season debut of senior Logan Wolfley came into fruition on Friday evening, and he delivered on the hype, rifling a shot of 70.92/232-08 in the javelin competition, which ended up being the second-best outing in school history for any athlete.
Freshman Kade McCall followed suit with a record-book performance of his own, tossing a mark of 61.79m/202-09 in the hammer throw to record the fifth-best outing in school history.
"The throws went great today," said Rovelto. "Helene (Ingvaldsen) opened very well and Kade (McCall) was spectacular in his first hammer throw as a collegiate. But all of them did a nice job. Taylor (Latimer) had a strong series and Cam (Cameron Lewis) did a nice job in his opener, particularly given how much training he has missed due to injury. The javelin guys threw very well. Logan (Wolfley) has risen to another level as a thrower. The girls, all freshman, had solid openers in the javelin in not ideal throwing conditions. I was very impressed with all of our throwers today. Lots of PR's and strong performances."
K-State took part in one race on the track - the men's 3000 steeplechase - and found plenty of room to score the final win of the night. Sophomore Hadley Splechter found his stride and crossed the finish line with a pace of 9:20.74, placing him with his other fellow Wildcats at the top of the podium.
"Hadley (Splechter) ran a strong steeple in his first time in the event," Rovelto said.
The final day of the UTSA Invitational will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m., CT with field events and then track events will kick off at 2 p.m., CT.
Women's Heptathlon Final Standings
1. Lauren Taubert, 5,713 points
2. Ariel Okorie, 5,063 points
3. Urte Bacianskaite, 4,857 points
Men's Decathlon Final Standings
1. Matas Adamonis, 7,293 points
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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