Kansas State University Athletics
Hardy Wins Weight Throw, Omalla Breaks 400 Meter Dash Records
Feb 23, 2024 | Track & Field
Day 1 Results (.pdf)Live ResultsSaturday Morning Live Stream (ESPN+)Saturday Evening Live Stream (ESPN+)
Day two will resume at 11 a.m. CT with the heptathlon 60 meter hurdles
LUBBOCK, Texas – Junior Monique Hardy winning the women's weight throw and multiple broken records by senior Eugene Omalla in the preliminary 400 meter dash highlighted K-State's performances on Friday (Feb. 23) in day one of the Big 12 Championship at the Sports Performance Center.
After the first day, the K-State women sit in 5th place with 22 points after six events, the men in 9th with 6 points after five events. Texas Tech leads the men with 36 points, the women led by Oklahoma State with 33 points.
Hardy stayed in the no. 1 spot all six rounds, her last throw of 21.11m/69-3.25 clinching the win. The last time K-State won the women's weight throw was in 2019 with Helene Ingvaldesen with a throw of 20.45m/67-1.25.
Omalla set a new K-State indoor, meet and facility record in the 400 meters preliminary round in 45.18 seconds. It was previously set at 45.19 seconds by Baylor's Wil London in 2019. He will compete in the final round tomorrow at 1:35 p.m. CT.
Senior Kade McCall recorded his third new personal best this season, a throw seven feet further than his previous, finishing 3rd with a throw of 21.94m/71-11.75.
Three other women competed in the weight throw, K-State having the most women in the final round at three. Senior Jasmine Greer medaled in 8th place with a throw of 18.02m/59-1.50, fellow senior Charlotte Cattermole-Williams right behind in 9th place at 17.53m/57-6.25. Sophomore Tamaiah Koonce finished 12th with a distance of 17.13m/56-2.50, in her first indoor championship meet.
Two Wildcats competed in the women's pentathlon, senior Urte Bacianskaite (5th; 4,052 points) and sophomore Vanessa Mercera (6th; 4,023 points) in a field of 18 competitors. Junior Emil Uhlin competed in the first four men's heptathlon events, ending the day in 6th place with 2,956 points.
Bacianskaite won the shot put with a throw of 15.42m/50-7.25, her next best finish in the long jump with a fifth place distance of 5.63m/18-5.75.
Mercera recorded her pentathlon person best by 206 points—previously 3,817 points from the NJCAA Championships last year. She recorded new bests in the high jump (2nd; 1.77m/5-9.75), 800 meters (4th; 2:18.29) and 60 meter hurdles (7th; 8.69 seconds).
Uhlin's top performance of the day was top-three in the shot put with a new personal best throw of 13.72m/45-0.25 and sixth place in the high jump, clearing a height of 1.90m/6-2.75.
The women's distance medley relay—consisting of senior Sydney Burton, sophomore Twaneise Johnson and seniors Aubry Donley and Hannah Stewart-- finished 5th with a time of 11:32.19, now the no. 6 spot in the K-State all-time top-10.
Sophomore Jourdin Edwards competed in the preliminary 60 meter hurdles, finishing 9th in 8.46 seconds, tying her personal best, one place behind qualifying for the final round. Senior Kyle Gale ran in the 400 meter dash in 46.32 seconds, also finishing in 9th, just behind the 8th place finisher in 46.29 seconds.
Freshman Nen Matlock competed in his first conference championship in the 600 yards, placing 13th in 1:10.38.
Day two of competition will resume at 11 a.m. CT with the men's heptathlon 60 meter hurdles, three field events starting at 1 p.m., the women's final 60 meter hurdles beginning at 2 p.m.
FROM THE TRACK
Assistant Coach Greg Watson (Throws)
On the performances from Monique and Kade...
"It was great to see Mo [Monique] win her first Big 12 title and Kade re-set his school record again! I was really proud of how they competed! They have been disciplined in their training all year so it's really nice when you are rewarded for that."
Big 12 Championship
Sports Performance Center
Lubbock, Texas
Women's Pentathlon 60 Meter Hurdles
7. Vanessa Mercera, 8.69 (PR)
16. Urte Bacianskaite, 8.92
Men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Dash
11. Emil Uhlin, 7.24
Women's Pentathlon High Jump
2. Vanessa Mercera, 1.77m/5-9.75 (PR)
12. Urte Bacianskaite, 1.65m/5-5
Men's Heptathlon Long Jump
11. Emil Uhlin, 6.65m/21-10
Men's Heptathlon Shot Put
3. Emil Uhlin, 13.72m/45-0.25 (PR)
Women's Pentathlon Shot Put
1. Urte Bacianskaite, 15.42m/50-7.25
15. Vanessa Mercera, 9.92m/32-6.50
Men's Heptathlon High Jump
6. Emil Uhlin, 1.90m/6-2.75
Men's Heptathlon Day 1 Score
6. Emil Uhlin, 2,956 points
Women's Pentathlon Long Jump
8. Urte Bacianskaite, 5.63m/18-5.75
9. Vanessa Mercera, 5.62m/18-5.25
Women's Pentathlon 800 Meters
4. Vanessa Mercera, 2:18.29 (PR)
13. Urte Bacianskaite, 2:29.17
Women's Pentathlon Overall Score
5. Urte Bacianskaite, 4,052 points
6. Vanessa Mercera, 4,023 points (PR)
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Preliminary
9. Jourdin Edwards, 8.46
Women's Weight Throw
1. Monique Hardy, 21.11m/69-3.25
8. Jasmine Greer, 18.02m/59-1.50
9. Charlotte Cattermole-Williams, 17.53m/57-6.25
12. Tamaiah Koonce, 17.13m/56-2.50
Men's 600 Yards Preliminary
13. Nen Matlock, 1:10.38
Men's 400 Meter Dash Preliminary
1. Eugene Omalla, 45.18 (Q)*
9. Kyle Gale, 46.32
14. Jaimie Omalla, 46.81
*School/Meet/Facility Record
Women's 1000 Meters Preliminary
13. Sydney Burton, 2:50.71
18. Grace Meyer, 2:59.31
Men's 200 Meter Dash Preliminary
20. Darian Clarke, 21.56
Men's Weight Throw
3. Kade McCall, 21.94m/71-11.75 (PR)
Women's Long Jump
17. Shalom Olotu, 5.73m/18-9.75
Men's Long Jump
16. Jhavor Bennett, 6.67m/21-10.75
Women's Distance Medley Relay
5. K-State, 11:32.19
(Sydney Burton, Twaneise Johnson, Aubry Donley, Hannah Stewart)
Men's Distance Medley Relay
10. K-State, 10:09.32
(Kyle Johnston, Tim Lambert, Will Carroll, Alex Gutierrez)
Women's 5000 Meters
Josphine Wanjiku, DNF
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Instagram.
After the first day, the K-State women sit in 5th place with 22 points after six events, the men in 9th with 6 points after five events. Texas Tech leads the men with 36 points, the women led by Oklahoma State with 33 points.
Hardy stayed in the no. 1 spot all six rounds, her last throw of 21.11m/69-3.25 clinching the win. The last time K-State won the women's weight throw was in 2019 with Helene Ingvaldesen with a throw of 20.45m/67-1.25.
Omalla set a new K-State indoor, meet and facility record in the 400 meters preliminary round in 45.18 seconds. It was previously set at 45.19 seconds by Baylor's Wil London in 2019. He will compete in the final round tomorrow at 1:35 p.m. CT.
Senior Kade McCall recorded his third new personal best this season, a throw seven feet further than his previous, finishing 3rd with a throw of 21.94m/71-11.75.
Three other women competed in the weight throw, K-State having the most women in the final round at three. Senior Jasmine Greer medaled in 8th place with a throw of 18.02m/59-1.50, fellow senior Charlotte Cattermole-Williams right behind in 9th place at 17.53m/57-6.25. Sophomore Tamaiah Koonce finished 12th with a distance of 17.13m/56-2.50, in her first indoor championship meet.
Two Wildcats competed in the women's pentathlon, senior Urte Bacianskaite (5th; 4,052 points) and sophomore Vanessa Mercera (6th; 4,023 points) in a field of 18 competitors. Junior Emil Uhlin competed in the first four men's heptathlon events, ending the day in 6th place with 2,956 points.
Bacianskaite won the shot put with a throw of 15.42m/50-7.25, her next best finish in the long jump with a fifth place distance of 5.63m/18-5.75.
Mercera recorded her pentathlon person best by 206 points—previously 3,817 points from the NJCAA Championships last year. She recorded new bests in the high jump (2nd; 1.77m/5-9.75), 800 meters (4th; 2:18.29) and 60 meter hurdles (7th; 8.69 seconds).
Uhlin's top performance of the day was top-three in the shot put with a new personal best throw of 13.72m/45-0.25 and sixth place in the high jump, clearing a height of 1.90m/6-2.75.
The women's distance medley relay—consisting of senior Sydney Burton, sophomore Twaneise Johnson and seniors Aubry Donley and Hannah Stewart-- finished 5th with a time of 11:32.19, now the no. 6 spot in the K-State all-time top-10.
Sophomore Jourdin Edwards competed in the preliminary 60 meter hurdles, finishing 9th in 8.46 seconds, tying her personal best, one place behind qualifying for the final round. Senior Kyle Gale ran in the 400 meter dash in 46.32 seconds, also finishing in 9th, just behind the 8th place finisher in 46.29 seconds.
Freshman Nen Matlock competed in his first conference championship in the 600 yards, placing 13th in 1:10.38.
Day two of competition will resume at 11 a.m. CT with the men's heptathlon 60 meter hurdles, three field events starting at 1 p.m., the women's final 60 meter hurdles beginning at 2 p.m.
FROM THE TRACK
Assistant Coach Greg Watson (Throws)
On the performances from Monique and Kade...
"It was great to see Mo [Monique] win her first Big 12 title and Kade re-set his school record again! I was really proud of how they competed! They have been disciplined in their training all year so it's really nice when you are rewarded for that."
Big 12 Championship
Sports Performance Center
Lubbock, Texas
Women's Pentathlon 60 Meter Hurdles
7. Vanessa Mercera, 8.69 (PR)
16. Urte Bacianskaite, 8.92
Men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Dash
11. Emil Uhlin, 7.24
Women's Pentathlon High Jump
2. Vanessa Mercera, 1.77m/5-9.75 (PR)
12. Urte Bacianskaite, 1.65m/5-5
Men's Heptathlon Long Jump
11. Emil Uhlin, 6.65m/21-10
Men's Heptathlon Shot Put
3. Emil Uhlin, 13.72m/45-0.25 (PR)
Women's Pentathlon Shot Put
1. Urte Bacianskaite, 15.42m/50-7.25
15. Vanessa Mercera, 9.92m/32-6.50
Men's Heptathlon High Jump
6. Emil Uhlin, 1.90m/6-2.75
Men's Heptathlon Day 1 Score
6. Emil Uhlin, 2,956 points
Women's Pentathlon Long Jump
8. Urte Bacianskaite, 5.63m/18-5.75
9. Vanessa Mercera, 5.62m/18-5.25
Women's Pentathlon 800 Meters
4. Vanessa Mercera, 2:18.29 (PR)
13. Urte Bacianskaite, 2:29.17
Women's Pentathlon Overall Score
5. Urte Bacianskaite, 4,052 points
6. Vanessa Mercera, 4,023 points (PR)
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Preliminary
9. Jourdin Edwards, 8.46
Women's Weight Throw
1. Monique Hardy, 21.11m/69-3.25
8. Jasmine Greer, 18.02m/59-1.50
9. Charlotte Cattermole-Williams, 17.53m/57-6.25
12. Tamaiah Koonce, 17.13m/56-2.50
Men's 600 Yards Preliminary
13. Nen Matlock, 1:10.38
Men's 400 Meter Dash Preliminary
1. Eugene Omalla, 45.18 (Q)*
9. Kyle Gale, 46.32
14. Jaimie Omalla, 46.81
*School/Meet/Facility Record
Women's 1000 Meters Preliminary
13. Sydney Burton, 2:50.71
18. Grace Meyer, 2:59.31
Men's 200 Meter Dash Preliminary
20. Darian Clarke, 21.56
Men's Weight Throw
3. Kade McCall, 21.94m/71-11.75 (PR)
Women's Long Jump
17. Shalom Olotu, 5.73m/18-9.75
Men's Long Jump
16. Jhavor Bennett, 6.67m/21-10.75
Women's Distance Medley Relay
5. K-State, 11:32.19
(Sydney Burton, Twaneise Johnson, Aubry Donley, Hannah Stewart)
Men's Distance Medley Relay
10. K-State, 10:09.32
(Kyle Johnston, Tim Lambert, Will Carroll, Alex Gutierrez)
Women's 5000 Meters
Josphine Wanjiku, DNF
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Instagram.
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