Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, May 26
College Station, Texas
Kansas State University
vs
NCAA West Preliminary (Day 1)
Wolfley, Walker Excel on Day One of NCAA West Regional
May 26, 2021 | Track & Field
The seniors both qualify for the NCAA Championships
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Seniors Logan Wolfley and Jullane Walker each earned spots at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the men's javelin and men's long jump on Wednesday afternoon with impressive performances on day one of the NCAA West Regional at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
Wolfley advances to the NCAA Championships for the first time in his career, while Walker makes his second consecutive appearance after qualifying in the event in 2019. Wolfley is the first Wildcat to advance to the national meet in the javelin since Ivan Hartung earned All-America honors with a 16th-place finish in 2014. Walker will attempt to improve upon his 19th-place finish in the long jump (7.44m/24-5) at the 2019 Championships.
In addition to Wolfley and Walker's efforts, junior Travis Hodge earned the 24th and final qualifying spot in the quarterfinals of the 800 meters by finishing third in the fifth heat with a time of 1:51.11. He will compete for a shot at the NCAA Championships in the event on Friday night at 7:35 p.m., CT.
The performances highlighted a busy day for the Wildcats at the NCAA West Regional, as eight athletes vied for spots at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Wednesday-Saturday, June 9-12. The top 12 competitors from each individual event will advance to the national meet.
"For some this meet is all about just taking care of business and moving on," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "Logan and Jullane did that. For others, we look for them to improve on their ranking coming into the meet and in head-to-head competition and most did that as well, so a pretty solid day."
Wolfley and Walker join fellow seniors Ariel Okorie and Lauren Taubert, who already punched their tickets to the national meet in the heptathlon after posting scores that rank among the top-24 nationally.
A native of Silver Lake, Kansas, Wolfley saved his best for his last attempt in the javelin, as he crushed the competition with a toss of 72.40m/237-6 to rocket from 11th place to the top of the standings. The mark is the second-best of his career behind his school-record toss of 73.08m/239-9 to win the Wildcats' first Big 12 title in the event on May 14 and the fourth time this season he has posted a throw of more than 70 meters.
Competing in the last of three flights in the event, Wolfley fouled his first attempt before posting a mark of 64.59m/211-11, which placed him 11th and just one spot above the qualifying for the national meet heading into his third and final attempt. He was one of just two athletes (along with BYU's Cameron Bates) at the West Regional to earn a mark of 70 meters or better.
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Walker grabbed one of the 12 automatic bids to the NCAA Championships in the long jump with a leap of 7.72m/25-4 on his second attempt to finish in ninth place. The mark was a big improvement from his first attempt of 7.48m/24-6 ½ that left him in 16th place. He posted a jump of 7.65m/25-1 ¼ on his third and final attempt. Although his mark was well short of his season-high of 7.96m/26-1 ½ at the Big 12 Championships on May 16, Walker did place two spots ahead of Texas' O'Brien Wasome, who grabbed the bronze medal ahead of Walker at the Big 12 Championship.
Wolfley wasn't the only Wildcat to compete in the men's javelin on Wednesday afternoon, as freshman Luke Ralston registered a throw of 60.95m/199-11 on his first attempt before fouling on his final two tosses to place 28th in his first appearance at the West Regional. It was a solid first season for Ralston, the Overland Park, Kansas native, who threw better than 60 meters in five of six meets this season, including a season-best mark of 63.89m/209-7 to place fifth in the javelin at the Big 12 Championships on May 14.
Ralston wasn't the only promising freshman to perform well on Wednesday, as fellow rookie Kade McCall placed 19th in the men's hammer with a toss of 62.95m/206-6. The Boise, Idaho native threw better than 61 meters on all three attempts in the event in his first appearance at the West Regional. He registered throws of 60 meters or better in the hammer in seven of his eight outdoor meets this season.
Senior Justin Davis and freshman Tim Lambert, Jr., did not qualify for the quarterfinals of their respective events. Davis finished seventh in the first heat and 31st overall in the men's 400 meters with a time of 47.08, while Lambert was eighth in the fourth heat and 45th overall in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.38.
However, Davis and Lambert still have an opportunity to advance to the NCAA Championships, as each will run a leg for the Wildcats' 4x400-meter relay team at 9:15 p.m., CT on Friday night.
Freshman Cooper Schroeder capped off Wednesday's action by finishing 32nd in the men's 10,000 meters with a time of 30:29.54. It was just the rookie's second attempt in the event this outdoor season after posting a sixth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship with a time of 29:05.62, which was the second-best time in school history and the best since Mathew Chesang in 2005.
Action continues at the West Regional on day two on Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., CT with the trio of seniors Helene Ingvaldsen and Ashley Petr and junior Shaelyn Ward in the women's hammer and freshman Briana Lowe in the women's javelin. In all, 12 Wildcats will be in action in various events on Thursday.
Wednesday's Results
Men's Hammer
19. Kade McCall – 62.95m/206-6
Men's Javelin
1. Logan Wolfley – 72.40m/237-6
28. Luke Ralston – 60.95m/199-11
Men's Long Jump
9. Jullane Walker – 7.72m/25-4
Men's 800 meters
33. Travis Hodge – 1:51.11 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Men's 400 meters
31. Justin Davis – 47.08
Men's 400-meter Hurdles
45. Tim Lambert, Jr. – 53.38
Men's 10,000 meters
32. Cooper Schroeder – 30:29.54
Thursday's Schedule of Events
1:30 pm – Helene Ingvaldsen, Ashley Petr and Shaelyn Ward, Women's Hammer
1:30 pm – Briana Lowe, Women's Javelin
3:00 pm – Chantoba Bright, Taishia Pryce and Wurrie Njadoe, Women's Long Jump
6:00 pm – Taylor Latimer, Women's Shot Put
6:00 pm – Vitoria Alves and Kimisha Chambers, Women's 100-meter Hurdles (First Round)
7:00 pm – Wurrie Njadoe, Women's 100 meters (First Round)
7:25 pm – O'shalia Johnson, Women's 400 meters (First Round)
7:50 pm – Kassidy Johnson, Women's 800 meters (First Round)
8:20 pm – Kimisha Chambers, Women's 400-meter Hurdles (First Round)
8:45 pm – Wurrie Njadoe, Women's 200 meters (First Round)
Wolfley advances to the NCAA Championships for the first time in his career, while Walker makes his second consecutive appearance after qualifying in the event in 2019. Wolfley is the first Wildcat to advance to the national meet in the javelin since Ivan Hartung earned All-America honors with a 16th-place finish in 2014. Walker will attempt to improve upon his 19th-place finish in the long jump (7.44m/24-5) at the 2019 Championships.
In addition to Wolfley and Walker's efforts, junior Travis Hodge earned the 24th and final qualifying spot in the quarterfinals of the 800 meters by finishing third in the fifth heat with a time of 1:51.11. He will compete for a shot at the NCAA Championships in the event on Friday night at 7:35 p.m., CT.
The performances highlighted a busy day for the Wildcats at the NCAA West Regional, as eight athletes vied for spots at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Wednesday-Saturday, June 9-12. The top 12 competitors from each individual event will advance to the national meet.
"For some this meet is all about just taking care of business and moving on," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. "Logan and Jullane did that. For others, we look for them to improve on their ranking coming into the meet and in head-to-head competition and most did that as well, so a pretty solid day."
Wolfley and Walker join fellow seniors Ariel Okorie and Lauren Taubert, who already punched their tickets to the national meet in the heptathlon after posting scores that rank among the top-24 nationally.
A native of Silver Lake, Kansas, Wolfley saved his best for his last attempt in the javelin, as he crushed the competition with a toss of 72.40m/237-6 to rocket from 11th place to the top of the standings. The mark is the second-best of his career behind his school-record toss of 73.08m/239-9 to win the Wildcats' first Big 12 title in the event on May 14 and the fourth time this season he has posted a throw of more than 70 meters.
Competing in the last of three flights in the event, Wolfley fouled his first attempt before posting a mark of 64.59m/211-11, which placed him 11th and just one spot above the qualifying for the national meet heading into his third and final attempt. He was one of just two athletes (along with BYU's Cameron Bates) at the West Regional to earn a mark of 70 meters or better.
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Walker grabbed one of the 12 automatic bids to the NCAA Championships in the long jump with a leap of 7.72m/25-4 on his second attempt to finish in ninth place. The mark was a big improvement from his first attempt of 7.48m/24-6 ½ that left him in 16th place. He posted a jump of 7.65m/25-1 ¼ on his third and final attempt. Although his mark was well short of his season-high of 7.96m/26-1 ½ at the Big 12 Championships on May 16, Walker did place two spots ahead of Texas' O'Brien Wasome, who grabbed the bronze medal ahead of Walker at the Big 12 Championship.
Wolfley wasn't the only Wildcat to compete in the men's javelin on Wednesday afternoon, as freshman Luke Ralston registered a throw of 60.95m/199-11 on his first attempt before fouling on his final two tosses to place 28th in his first appearance at the West Regional. It was a solid first season for Ralston, the Overland Park, Kansas native, who threw better than 60 meters in five of six meets this season, including a season-best mark of 63.89m/209-7 to place fifth in the javelin at the Big 12 Championships on May 14.
Ralston wasn't the only promising freshman to perform well on Wednesday, as fellow rookie Kade McCall placed 19th in the men's hammer with a toss of 62.95m/206-6. The Boise, Idaho native threw better than 61 meters on all three attempts in the event in his first appearance at the West Regional. He registered throws of 60 meters or better in the hammer in seven of his eight outdoor meets this season.
Senior Justin Davis and freshman Tim Lambert, Jr., did not qualify for the quarterfinals of their respective events. Davis finished seventh in the first heat and 31st overall in the men's 400 meters with a time of 47.08, while Lambert was eighth in the fourth heat and 45th overall in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.38.
However, Davis and Lambert still have an opportunity to advance to the NCAA Championships, as each will run a leg for the Wildcats' 4x400-meter relay team at 9:15 p.m., CT on Friday night.
Freshman Cooper Schroeder capped off Wednesday's action by finishing 32nd in the men's 10,000 meters with a time of 30:29.54. It was just the rookie's second attempt in the event this outdoor season after posting a sixth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship with a time of 29:05.62, which was the second-best time in school history and the best since Mathew Chesang in 2005.
Action continues at the West Regional on day two on Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., CT with the trio of seniors Helene Ingvaldsen and Ashley Petr and junior Shaelyn Ward in the women's hammer and freshman Briana Lowe in the women's javelin. In all, 12 Wildcats will be in action in various events on Thursday.
Wednesday's Results
Men's Hammer
19. Kade McCall – 62.95m/206-6
Men's Javelin
1. Logan Wolfley – 72.40m/237-6
28. Luke Ralston – 60.95m/199-11
Men's Long Jump
9. Jullane Walker – 7.72m/25-4
Men's 800 meters
33. Travis Hodge – 1:51.11 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Men's 400 meters
31. Justin Davis – 47.08
Men's 400-meter Hurdles
45. Tim Lambert, Jr. – 53.38
Men's 10,000 meters
32. Cooper Schroeder – 30:29.54
Thursday's Schedule of Events
1:30 pm – Helene Ingvaldsen, Ashley Petr and Shaelyn Ward, Women's Hammer
1:30 pm – Briana Lowe, Women's Javelin
3:00 pm – Chantoba Bright, Taishia Pryce and Wurrie Njadoe, Women's Long Jump
6:00 pm – Taylor Latimer, Women's Shot Put
6:00 pm – Vitoria Alves and Kimisha Chambers, Women's 100-meter Hurdles (First Round)
7:00 pm – Wurrie Njadoe, Women's 100 meters (First Round)
7:25 pm – O'shalia Johnson, Women's 400 meters (First Round)
7:50 pm – Kassidy Johnson, Women's 800 meters (First Round)
8:20 pm – Kimisha Chambers, Women's 400-meter Hurdles (First Round)
8:45 pm – Wurrie Njadoe, Women's 200 meters (First Round)
Best in the West @LoganWolfley ✈️ Eugene, OR#KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/OXcbLwwM6H
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2021
🎟 TICKET PUNCHED 🎟
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2021
Jullane Walker cleared 7.72m (25-4 ft) to fly into 9th place in the Men's Long Jump and secure his spot at the 2021 @NCAATrackField Outdoor Championships! #KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/EBktmCasFZ
🎟 TICKET PUNCHED 🎟@LoganWolfley launches a throw of 72.40m (237-6 ft) on his final attempt to catapult him into 1st place and earn a trip to the 2021 @NCAATrackField Outdoor Championships! #KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/6w4nZPWT7c
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2021
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