Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, February 7
Manhattan, Kan.
1:45 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Steve Miller Invitational
Moore Jr. Breaks Weight Throw School Record at Steve Miller Invitational
Feb 07, 2025 | Track & Field
Moore Jr. previously held the no. 2 spot before breaking two records
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State track and field teams competed in the final home meet of the season on Friday (Feb. 7) in the Steve Miller Invitational, highlighted by junior Gary Moore Jr. breaking the men's weight throw school record while multiple Wildcats gave top-10 all-time performances at the Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track.
In his second throw, Moore Jr. threw for 22.36m (73' 4 ½"), a new best by almost two feet, breaking the previous school record set by Kade McCall last season at 21.94m (71' 11 ¾") and his own facility record.
"The throwers were phenomenal and so I'm really proud of all of them," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "Coach [John] Newell, the work that he's putting in with that crew is just awesome. Highlighted by Big G, Gary Moore, school record in the weight throw, which was fantastic, top-15 mark in the country right now in the weight throw, which is great."
In the invitational sections in the afternoon, the Cats flew on the track, including redshirt sophomore Tavon Underwood in the men's 400 meter invite with a winning time of 46.17 seconds, the new no. 2 fastest time in K-State indoor history.
In the middle distance events, sophomore Vienna Lahner won the women's mile invite with a time of 4:50.69, a new meet record by five seconds, surpassing the previous time of 4:55.20 from Hannah Stewart in 2023. Also winning a distance event in the invite section, freshman Peyton Willbanks crossed the finish line first in the men's 3,000 meters in 8:27.90, his fastest by 10 seconds.
Freshman Stella Miner ran in the women's 800 meter invite, her first attempt at that distance, finishing 4th with a time of 2:07.08, no. 7 in the all-time list.
"I'm really, really pleased with the middle distance crew," Geopfert added. "Stella Miner did a great job in her first 800 tonight, and just a fantastic opener. Vienna showed a ton of guts taking it out, trying to break that school record in the mile, still held on for the win, and just did a great job. Those two are competing extremely well. The rest of the crew is just doing a great job as well."
Sophomore Mikah Scott ran her fastest time in two races, the 60 meter dash final (4th; 7.44) a new no. 5 in the top-10, and the 200 meter dash invite (3rd; 24.09) the no. 8 best time. On the men's side, sophomore Nen Matlock won the 200 meters tying his personal best of 21.60 seconds, the no. 10 time all-time.
Senior Shalom Olotu won the women's triple jump with a new personal best of 13.29m (43' 7 ¼"), the no. 6 best distance in the record books. Two more Wildcats rounded out the top-3, senior Tesia Thomas (2nd; 12.72m, 41' 8 ¾") and sophomore Taylor Mayo (3rd; 12.63m, 41' 5 ¼").
"Really happy with the triple jump, 1,2,3 in the triple jump, which was awesome," Geopfert said. "Shalom, leading the way, 13.29m, another all-time, top-five school mark in the triple jump for her, which was fantastic."
Senior Daisy Monie finished runner-up in the women's shot put with a new personal best throw of 16.56m (54' 4"), still claiming the no. 5 spot in the top-10. In the men's shot put, junior Nate Collier threw a best by almost four feet at 17.44m (57' 2 ¾") in 5th place.
On the Wildcats very own Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track, Austen Dalquist (Arkansas '18) achieved the fastest indoor mile on Kansas soil with a time of 3:56.22, the previous time set at 3:58.39 in 2021 by Brett Meyer.
K-State hits the road next week for the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Feb. 14-15 at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the atmosphere of the last indoor home meet…
"We had a great track meet tonight. The crowd was unbelievable, I really appreciate the community supporting and coming out. All the Olympians were here signing autographs and, I mean, we were standing room only, so it was absolutely awesome. And the team performed."
On the number of athletes competing unattached…
"You know, Tavon Underwood is redshirting, Vanessa Mercera is redshirting as well. But then those two, they're putting the work in and running some great 400s right now, and so I'm excited for the present team, we're going to continue to get after it, but I'm also excited for the future, and those red shirts that are going to be running in the uniform next year."
On the team hitting the road again for an away meet…
"We're going to take a smaller crew down to Arkansas at the Tyson Invitational, and we're going to roll the open 400, the 4x4, with a lot of our ladies, and then the throwers are going to keep that rocking down there as well, a few jumpers down there. It's going to be a good atmosphere, so, looking forward to taking the crew down there and keeping this thing rolling."
Steve Miller Invitational
Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track
Manhattan, Kan.
Men's Weight Throw
1. Gary Moore Jr., 22.36m (73' 4 ½") (PR)*
8. Riley Marx, 17.01m (55' 9 ¾")
Women's 200 Meters
5. Delaney Wright, 24.73 (PR)
20. Vera Gerasimova, 27.71
Men's 200 Meters
1. Nen Matlock, 21.60
12. Isaac Ativie, 22.09
Women's Mile
4. Paige Baker, 5:04.26 (PR)
Men's Mile
4. Devin Chappel, 4:19.01
6. Silas Miller, 4:23.56 (PR)
Women's Long Jump
13. Vera Gerasimova, 5.21m (17' 1 ¼")
Men's 1,000 Meters
3. Alex Gutierrez, 2:27.04
Matthew Hauser, DNF
Women's High Jump
1. Sharie Enoe, 1.77m (5' 9 ¾")
T6. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.62m (5' 3 ¾")
Men's High Jump
4. Bryce Collins, 1.98m (6' 6")
Men's Long Jump
T12. Isaac Ativie, 6.62m (21' 8 ¾")
Women's Weight Throw
4. Monique Hardy, 20.11m (65' 11 ¾")
10. Tamaiah Koonce, 17.05m (55' 11 ¼")
12. Charlotte Cattermole-Williams, 16.61m (54' 6")
Women's Pole Vault
12. Claire Bybee, 3.77m (12' 4 ½")
Women's 400 Meters
5. Ludivine Aubert, 56.91
Men's 400 Meters
3. Tyrique Lewis, 47.97 (PR)
Women's 800 Meters
4. Bree Newport, 2:15.61
Men's 800 Meters
2. Ty Brechler, 1:56.40
Women's 3,000 Meters
4. Alexa Rios, 10:28.11
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
3. Jourdin Edwards, 8.60 q
16. Vera Gerasimova, 9.48
Men's 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
7. James Ezeonu, 8.06 q
21. Tommaso Franze, 8.73
Women's 60 Meter Dash Prelims
4. Mikah Scott, 7.51 q
6. Safhia Hinds, 7.58 Q
18. Ariana Jackson, 7.92
Men's 60 Meter Dash Prelims
13. Nen Matlock, 6.95
19. Bryce Collins, 7.06 (PR)
20. Isaac Ativie, 7.07
Men's Shot Put
5. Nate Collier, 17.44m (57' 2 ¾") (PR)
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Finals
2. Jourdin Edwards, 8.51
Women's 60 Meter Dash Finals
4. Mikah Scott, 7.44 (PR)
Women's Triple Jump
1. Shalom Olotu, 13.29m (43' 7 ¼") (PR)
2. Tesia Thomas, 12.72m (41' 8 ¾")
3. Taylor Mayo, 12.63m (41' 5 ¼")
Men's 3,000 Meters Invite
1. Peyton Willbanks, 8:27.90 (PR)
7. Brock Olsen, 8:37.23
8. Lucas Holdren, 8:37.93 (PR)
Men's Pole Vault
8. Pierson Carlise, 4.89m (16' 0 ½")
Tommaso Franze, NH
Lance Owen, NH
Women's 800 Meters Invite
4. Stella Miner, 2:08.07
Men's 800 Meter Invite
4. Jack Steger, 1:52.14 (PR)
Women's Shot Put
2. Daisy Monie, 16.56m (54' 4") (PR)
4. Jaycee Schroeder, 16.30m (53' 5 ¾")
8. Grace Thompson, 15.12m (49' 7 ¼")
Women's 200 Meters Invite
4. Mikah Scott, 24.09 (PR)
Men's 200 Meters Invite
8. James Ezeonu, 22.05
Women's Mile Invite
1. Vienna Lahner, 4:50.69
4. Grace Meyer, 4:58.48
Men's Mile Invite
6. Tommy Hazen, 4:15.68
Women's 4x400 Relay
3. K-State, 3:42.90
(Ariana Jackson, Delaney Wright, Jourdin Edwards, Safhia Hinds)
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), Instagram and Facebook.
In his second throw, Moore Jr. threw for 22.36m (73' 4 ½"), a new best by almost two feet, breaking the previous school record set by Kade McCall last season at 21.94m (71' 11 ¾") and his own facility record.
"The throwers were phenomenal and so I'm really proud of all of them," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "Coach [John] Newell, the work that he's putting in with that crew is just awesome. Highlighted by Big G, Gary Moore, school record in the weight throw, which was fantastic, top-15 mark in the country right now in the weight throw, which is great."
In the invitational sections in the afternoon, the Cats flew on the track, including redshirt sophomore Tavon Underwood in the men's 400 meter invite with a winning time of 46.17 seconds, the new no. 2 fastest time in K-State indoor history.
In the middle distance events, sophomore Vienna Lahner won the women's mile invite with a time of 4:50.69, a new meet record by five seconds, surpassing the previous time of 4:55.20 from Hannah Stewart in 2023. Also winning a distance event in the invite section, freshman Peyton Willbanks crossed the finish line first in the men's 3,000 meters in 8:27.90, his fastest by 10 seconds.
Freshman Stella Miner ran in the women's 800 meter invite, her first attempt at that distance, finishing 4th with a time of 2:07.08, no. 7 in the all-time list.
"I'm really, really pleased with the middle distance crew," Geopfert added. "Stella Miner did a great job in her first 800 tonight, and just a fantastic opener. Vienna showed a ton of guts taking it out, trying to break that school record in the mile, still held on for the win, and just did a great job. Those two are competing extremely well. The rest of the crew is just doing a great job as well."
Sophomore Mikah Scott ran her fastest time in two races, the 60 meter dash final (4th; 7.44) a new no. 5 in the top-10, and the 200 meter dash invite (3rd; 24.09) the no. 8 best time. On the men's side, sophomore Nen Matlock won the 200 meters tying his personal best of 21.60 seconds, the no. 10 time all-time.
Senior Shalom Olotu won the women's triple jump with a new personal best of 13.29m (43' 7 ¼"), the no. 6 best distance in the record books. Two more Wildcats rounded out the top-3, senior Tesia Thomas (2nd; 12.72m, 41' 8 ¾") and sophomore Taylor Mayo (3rd; 12.63m, 41' 5 ¼").
"Really happy with the triple jump, 1,2,3 in the triple jump, which was awesome," Geopfert said. "Shalom, leading the way, 13.29m, another all-time, top-five school mark in the triple jump for her, which was fantastic."
Senior Daisy Monie finished runner-up in the women's shot put with a new personal best throw of 16.56m (54' 4"), still claiming the no. 5 spot in the top-10. In the men's shot put, junior Nate Collier threw a best by almost four feet at 17.44m (57' 2 ¾") in 5th place.
On the Wildcats very own Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track, Austen Dalquist (Arkansas '18) achieved the fastest indoor mile on Kansas soil with a time of 3:56.22, the previous time set at 3:58.39 in 2021 by Brett Meyer.
K-State hits the road next week for the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Feb. 14-15 at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the atmosphere of the last indoor home meet…
"We had a great track meet tonight. The crowd was unbelievable, I really appreciate the community supporting and coming out. All the Olympians were here signing autographs and, I mean, we were standing room only, so it was absolutely awesome. And the team performed."
On the number of athletes competing unattached…
"You know, Tavon Underwood is redshirting, Vanessa Mercera is redshirting as well. But then those two, they're putting the work in and running some great 400s right now, and so I'm excited for the present team, we're going to continue to get after it, but I'm also excited for the future, and those red shirts that are going to be running in the uniform next year."
On the team hitting the road again for an away meet…
"We're going to take a smaller crew down to Arkansas at the Tyson Invitational, and we're going to roll the open 400, the 4x4, with a lot of our ladies, and then the throwers are going to keep that rocking down there as well, a few jumpers down there. It's going to be a good atmosphere, so, looking forward to taking the crew down there and keeping this thing rolling."
Steve Miller Invitational
Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track
Manhattan, Kan.
Men's Weight Throw
1. Gary Moore Jr., 22.36m (73' 4 ½") (PR)*
8. Riley Marx, 17.01m (55' 9 ¾")
Women's 200 Meters
5. Delaney Wright, 24.73 (PR)
20. Vera Gerasimova, 27.71
Men's 200 Meters
1. Nen Matlock, 21.60
12. Isaac Ativie, 22.09
Women's Mile
4. Paige Baker, 5:04.26 (PR)
Men's Mile
4. Devin Chappel, 4:19.01
6. Silas Miller, 4:23.56 (PR)
Women's Long Jump
13. Vera Gerasimova, 5.21m (17' 1 ¼")
Men's 1,000 Meters
3. Alex Gutierrez, 2:27.04
Matthew Hauser, DNF
Women's High Jump
1. Sharie Enoe, 1.77m (5' 9 ¾")
T6. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.62m (5' 3 ¾")
Men's High Jump
4. Bryce Collins, 1.98m (6' 6")
Men's Long Jump
T12. Isaac Ativie, 6.62m (21' 8 ¾")
Women's Weight Throw
4. Monique Hardy, 20.11m (65' 11 ¾")
10. Tamaiah Koonce, 17.05m (55' 11 ¼")
12. Charlotte Cattermole-Williams, 16.61m (54' 6")
Women's Pole Vault
12. Claire Bybee, 3.77m (12' 4 ½")
Women's 400 Meters
5. Ludivine Aubert, 56.91
Men's 400 Meters
3. Tyrique Lewis, 47.97 (PR)
Women's 800 Meters
4. Bree Newport, 2:15.61
Men's 800 Meters
2. Ty Brechler, 1:56.40
Women's 3,000 Meters
4. Alexa Rios, 10:28.11
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
3. Jourdin Edwards, 8.60 q
16. Vera Gerasimova, 9.48
Men's 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
7. James Ezeonu, 8.06 q
21. Tommaso Franze, 8.73
Women's 60 Meter Dash Prelims
4. Mikah Scott, 7.51 q
6. Safhia Hinds, 7.58 Q
18. Ariana Jackson, 7.92
Men's 60 Meter Dash Prelims
13. Nen Matlock, 6.95
19. Bryce Collins, 7.06 (PR)
20. Isaac Ativie, 7.07
Men's Shot Put
5. Nate Collier, 17.44m (57' 2 ¾") (PR)
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Finals
2. Jourdin Edwards, 8.51
Women's 60 Meter Dash Finals
4. Mikah Scott, 7.44 (PR)
Women's Triple Jump
1. Shalom Olotu, 13.29m (43' 7 ¼") (PR)
2. Tesia Thomas, 12.72m (41' 8 ¾")
3. Taylor Mayo, 12.63m (41' 5 ¼")
Men's 3,000 Meters Invite
1. Peyton Willbanks, 8:27.90 (PR)
7. Brock Olsen, 8:37.23
8. Lucas Holdren, 8:37.93 (PR)
Men's Pole Vault
8. Pierson Carlise, 4.89m (16' 0 ½")
Tommaso Franze, NH
Lance Owen, NH
Women's 800 Meters Invite
4. Stella Miner, 2:08.07
Men's 800 Meter Invite
4. Jack Steger, 1:52.14 (PR)
Women's Shot Put
2. Daisy Monie, 16.56m (54' 4") (PR)
4. Jaycee Schroeder, 16.30m (53' 5 ¾")
8. Grace Thompson, 15.12m (49' 7 ¼")
Women's 200 Meters Invite
4. Mikah Scott, 24.09 (PR)
Men's 200 Meters Invite
8. James Ezeonu, 22.05
Women's Mile Invite
1. Vienna Lahner, 4:50.69
4. Grace Meyer, 4:58.48
Men's Mile Invite
6. Tommy Hazen, 4:15.68
Women's 4x400 Relay
3. K-State, 3:42.90
(Ariana Jackson, Delaney Wright, Jourdin Edwards, Safhia Hinds)
-- k-statesports.com --
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), Instagram and Facebook.
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