SE: At USA Olympic Trials, K-State Ties Run Deep
Jun 28, 2021 | Track & Field, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Logan Wolfley never stopped believing in Subway.
Somewhere on his journey from state champion at Silver Lake High School to All-American javelin thrower at Kansas State, Wolfley cut out most of his favorite foods from his diet.
"I love biscuits and gravy. I love pancakes. Fast food. Greasy food. That was something I would always eat," he said. "But I cut that out and the results stated to show for themselves. I'm happy I went all-in."
The one exception, the one staple of Wolfley's pre-competition routine, is a footlong Italian sandwich from Subway. Even on the day of the USA Olympic Trials last week.
"My tension is always super high, and I just know what's best for me to relax going into the competition," he said. "Just ready to do what I've been training the last year for."
Wolfley was one of six athletes to represent K-State Track & Field at the Olympic Trials in Oregon, held a year late due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was joined by K-State teammates Taylor Latimer, Ashley Petr, Jah Strange and alumni Janee' Kassanavoid and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Erik Kynard Jr.
While none of the Wildcats in the competition qualified for Tokyo, the event was a reminder of just how much talent has come through Manhattan during one of the most challenging seasons in program history. Start with the Kansas kids.
Both Wolfley and Latimer gave K-State a pair of Big 12 champions at the Olympics Trials, in the javelin and shot put respectively.
Latimer launched a season-best mark in the shot put at the Big 12 Championship in Manhattan before grabbing All-American honors earlier this month.
At the Olympic Trials, both Latimer and Wolfley closed their season with a top-20 finish. But even for a senior like Wolfley, this isn't the end of the road.
"We're hosting the Track & Field World Championships back in Eugene next year…There's really big competitions every year, so I think that would be a good goal to shoot for," he said. "Just keep trying my best and see what happens."
Petr and Strange also ended their K-State careers at the Olympic Trials, a pair of transfers who elevated their performance during their time in Manhattan.
Petr, a transfer from Division II Nebraska-Kearney, and Strange, who joined K-State from Purdue in 2020, were All-Americans this season.
Strange's 11th-place finish in the men's triple jump was the highest of any current Wildcat in Oregon.
Among the Wildcat alumni, both Kassanavoid and Kynard left Oregon with their status among the best in the world fully intact.
Kassanavoid graduated from K-State in 2018 and came into the Olympic Trials ranked No. 4 in the United States in the hammer throw, settling for a fourth-place finish in Oregon.
Kynard also placed fourth after jumping 2.27m (7-5.25ft) in the high jump. The former Wildcat was the Olympic silver medalist in 2012, before that medal was upgraded to gold in 2021 following an investigation into systemic doping on the Russian Track & Field team.
When the Olympic Trials wrapped on Sunday, K-State Track & Field could claim two alumni with top-five finishes, four athletes at the most competitive track meet in the country and a future Wildcat, high school jumper Kamyren Garrett, with a 13th-place finish in the high jump.
The message in Manhattan hasn't changed.
"Any person has a chance to compete at one of the highest levels in the country if they're willing to put in the time and the work," Wolfley said. "Everyone has potential, it's just how hard are you willing to go to find it."
Logan Wolfley never stopped believing in Subway.
Somewhere on his journey from state champion at Silver Lake High School to All-American javelin thrower at Kansas State, Wolfley cut out most of his favorite foods from his diet.
"I love biscuits and gravy. I love pancakes. Fast food. Greasy food. That was something I would always eat," he said. "But I cut that out and the results stated to show for themselves. I'm happy I went all-in."
The one exception, the one staple of Wolfley's pre-competition routine, is a footlong Italian sandwich from Subway. Even on the day of the USA Olympic Trials last week.
"My tension is always super high, and I just know what's best for me to relax going into the competition," he said. "Just ready to do what I've been training the last year for."
Wolfley was one of six athletes to represent K-State Track & Field at the Olympic Trials in Oregon, held a year late due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Logan Wolfley finishes in 20th (64.08m / 210-3ft) in the Men's Javelin at the #TrackFieldTrials21.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 19, 2021
What a year it was for the Silver Lake, KS kid. #KStateTF x @LoganWolfley pic.twitter.com/SsGmw5BLHy
He was joined by K-State teammates Taylor Latimer, Ashley Petr, Jah Strange and alumni Janee' Kassanavoid and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Erik Kynard Jr.
While none of the Wildcats in the competition qualified for Tokyo, the event was a reminder of just how much talent has come through Manhattan during one of the most challenging seasons in program history. Start with the Kansas kids.
Both Wolfley and Latimer gave K-State a pair of Big 12 champions at the Olympics Trials, in the javelin and shot put respectively.
Latimer launched a season-best mark in the shot put at the Big 12 Championship in Manhattan before grabbing All-American honors earlier this month.
At the Olympic Trials, both Latimer and Wolfley closed their season with a top-20 finish. But even for a senior like Wolfley, this isn't the end of the road.
"We're hosting the Track & Field World Championships back in Eugene next year…There's really big competitions every year, so I think that would be a good goal to shoot for," he said. "Just keep trying my best and see what happens."
Petr and Strange also ended their K-State careers at the Olympic Trials, a pair of transfers who elevated their performance during their time in Manhattan.
Petr, a transfer from Division II Nebraska-Kearney, and Strange, who joined K-State from Purdue in 2020, were All-Americans this season.
Strange's 11th-place finish in the men's triple jump was the highest of any current Wildcat in Oregon.
Among the Wildcat alumni, both Kassanavoid and Kynard left Oregon with their status among the best in the world fully intact.
Kassanavoid graduated from K-State in 2018 and came into the Olympic Trials ranked No. 4 in the United States in the hammer throw, settling for a fourth-place finish in Oregon.
Janee' Kassanavoid finishes in 4th place (73.45m) at the #TrackFieldTrials21.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 27, 2021
The journey is just getting started... 💜#KStateTF x @JaneeNae24 pic.twitter.com/CQdKSp2VA1
Kynard also placed fourth after jumping 2.27m (7-5.25ft) in the high jump. The former Wildcat was the Olympic silver medalist in 2012, before that medal was upgraded to gold in 2021 following an investigation into systemic doping on the Russian Track & Field team.
When the Olympic Trials wrapped on Sunday, K-State Track & Field could claim two alumni with top-five finishes, four athletes at the most competitive track meet in the country and a future Wildcat, high school jumper Kamyren Garrett, with a 13th-place finish in the high jump.
The message in Manhattan hasn't changed.
"Any person has a chance to compete at one of the highest levels in the country if they're willing to put in the time and the work," Wolfley said. "Everyone has potential, it's just how hard are you willing to go to find it."
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