K-State Records Surpassed in DeLoss Dodds Invitational Day 1

The K-State track and field teams saw multiple athletes give top-10 school performances on Friday (Jan. 31) during day one of the DeLoss Dodds Invitational at Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track with notable Division I competition.

Multiple Wildcats climbed up the K-State all-time top-10 record books, highlighted by junior Gary Moore Jr. breaking the men's weight throw facility record.

Moore Jr., landed at no. 2 in the K-State all-time records with a haul of 21.80m (71' 6 ¼"), his furthest by almost two feet and a new facility record, surpassing Kade McCall's throw last season of 21.75m. Senior Monique Hardy helped the Wildcats conduct a first-place sweep in the weight throw with a winning distance of 19.93m (65' 4 ¾"), a season best so far. Another K-State field victory was from junior Sharie Enoe in the women's high jump with a clearance of 1.81m (5' 11 ¼").

In the women's long jump, senior Shalom Olotu record with her best indoor jump of 6.32m (20' 9") in 3^rd place, which is now no. 4 in the K-State indoor records. Also competing in the long jump, senior Tesia Thomas recorded her best jump since 2022 at 6.26m (20' 6 ½"), tied for no. 6 in the books.

"The field events were just great," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "Gary again, doing some great things in a weight throw, number two all time in school history, Mo [Monique] with a two meter best for the season. And then the jumps, with Shalom and Tasia, personal best all-time top 10s. And the long jump, Enoe with a season best and really good looks at a national qualifying bar. And so I'm just really, really proud of the efforts."

In the first 5,000 meters ran at the DeLoss Dodds Invite, freshman Christine Jerono won with a time of 16:47.51, the no. 4 fastest time in K-State history. Finishing runner-up, junior Cecilia Fisher ran a time of 17:02.83 in a new personal best by 27 seconds.

"Christine finished off the night with a number four all time in school history and she just keeps getting better," Geopfert added. "You know, when she gets in some more races and understands the 5k even more, Coach [Kate] Buckham said she feels confident she can run significantly faster. And so a tremendous effort by her tonight out there, by herself in that 5k."

Junior Claire Bybee competed in the women's pole vault clearing a height of 3.97m (13' 0 ¼"), her best indoor height in three seasons while no. 5 in the top-10 records.

In the sprints, junior Safhia Hinds recorded a personal best in the 200 meter dash in 23.98 seconds in 3^rd place, the new no. 5 fastest time for a Wildcat. Also racing, sophomore Mikah Scott ran her fastest in 24.32 seconds with an 8^th place finish.

Running in the 1,000 meters for the first time, freshman Bree Newport won the middle distance event with a time of 2:52.50, just outside the all-time records.

Freshmen Tommaso Franze and Vera Gerasimova started competition in the combined events, Franze in the men's heptathlon against eight competitors and Gerasimova in the women's pentathlon in a pool of 21 women.

After the first four events, Franze is currently in 5^th place with 2,763 points. His best performances were during the long jump (3^rd; 6.86m, 22' 6 ¼") and the high jump (4^th; 1.89m, 6' 2 ¼").

Gerasimova finished 16^th with 3,557 points, recording her best results in the high jump (13^th; 1.64m, 5' 4 ½") and the shot put (15^th; 10.27m, 33' 8 ½").

Day two of competition begins at 12 p.m. with the heptathlon's final three events, starting with the 60 meter hurdles. Both the track and field events kick off at 2 p.m., with the men's 60 meter hurdles preliminary round and the women's shot put and triple jump.

FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the level of competition during the meet…
"I'm just super pleased with tonight's efforts. I mean, these kids just came out and competed great. I mean, there's some terrific competition here. Really appreciate the schools that came up, all the schools, Baylor made a long trip to come up, and their sprinters did extremely well. And it just gave us great competition."

On the level of performance from the team…
"You look for attitude and effort, and that's what these kids have to give. And these kids are bringing it. And I just, I just appreciate all of them and excited for more tomorrow."

DeLoss Dodds Invitational
Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track
Manhattan, Kan.

Women's Pentathlon: Vera Gerasimova
16. Overall, 3,557 points
19. 60 Meter Hurdles, 9.15 (PR)
13. High Jump, 1.64m (5' 4 ½") (PR)
15. Shot Put, 10.27m (33' 8 ½")
16. Long Jump, 5.37m (17' 7 ½")
18. 800 Meters, 2:30.59

Men's Heptathlon: Tommaso Franze
9. 60 Meter Dash, 7.33
3. Long Jump, 6.86m (22' 6 ¼")
9. Shot Put, 10.37m (34' 0 ¼")
4. High Jump, 1.89m (6' 2 ¼")

Women's Weight Throw
1. Monique Hardy, 19.93m (65' 4 ¾")
5. Charlotte Cattermole-Williams, 17.14m (56' 2 ¾")

Men's 1,000 Meters
5. Jack Steger, 2:26.93
6. Jacob Norris, 2:27.19
7. Devin Chappel, 2:30.08
9. Silas Miller, 2:34.60
10. Brock Olsen, 2:37.09

Women's 1,000 Meters
1. Bree Newport, 2:52.50
8. Paige Baker, 2:58.56

Men's Long Jump
3. Jhavor Bennett, 7.27m (23' 10 ¼")
7. Isaac Ativie, 6.57m (21' 6 ¾")

Women's High Jump
1. Sharie Enoe, 1.81m (5' 11 ¼")
9. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.56m (5' 1 ¼")

Men's 200 Meters
9. Nen Matlock, 21.74
14. Tyrique Lewis, 21.94

Women's 200 Meters
3. Safhia Hinds, 23.98 (PR)
8. Mikah Scott, 24.32 (PR)
17. Ariana Jackson, 25.01

Men's Weight Throw
1. Gary Moore Jr., 21.80m (71' 6 ¼") (PR)
8. Rilex Marx, 16.85m (55' 3 ½")

Women's Long Jump
3. Shalom Olotu, 6.32m (20' 9")
5. Tesia Thomas, 6.26m (20' 6 ½") (PR)

Women's Pole Vault
10. Claire Bybee, 3.97m (13' 0 ¼")

Women's 5,000 Meters
1. Christine Jerono, 16:47.51
2. Cecilia Fisher, 17:02.83 (PR)
5. Alexa Rios, 18:14.30
Gracie Jacobs, DNF

-- k-statesports.com --

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Kansas State University Athletics

K-State Records Surpassed in DeLoss Dodds Invitational Day 1

Players Mentioned

Isaac Ativie

Paige Baker

Jhavor Bennett

Claire Bybee

Charlotte Cattermole-Williams

Devin Chappel

Lindsey DeWitt

Sharie Enoe

Cecilia Fisher

Tommaso Franze

Vera Gerasimova

Monique Hardy

Safhia Hinds

Ariana Jackson

Gracie Jacobs

Christine Jerono

Tyrique Lewis

Nen Matlock

Kade McCall

Silas Miller

Gary Moore Jr.

Bree Newport

Jacob Norris

Shalom Olotu

Brock Olsen

Alexa Rios

Mikah Scott

Jack Steger

Tesia Thomas

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