Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, April 18
Eugene, Ore.
2:50 p.m. CT
Kansas State University
at
Oregon Open
Wildcats Find Their Stride in Oregon Open at Hayward Field
Apr 18, 2025 | Track & Field
Multiple personal best were achieved in the first day of competition in Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. – The K-State track and field teams began the second weekend of the outdoor season competition on Friday (April 18) in the Oregon Open at Hayward Field, highlighted by 1st place finishes and personal bests in the field events.
"I think we had a really good first day. The weather was perfect," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "The team was excited to be here at historic Hayward field and the energy was good."
Senior Tommy Hazen kicked off the track events by recording a new personal best in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase. With a 3rd place time of 8:48.93 he still the no. 5 time in the K-State all-time top-10.
Four Wildcats competed in the triple jump event—freshman Selva Prabhu made his K-State debut with a winning jump of 15.51m (50' 10 ¾"). Junior Jhavor Bennett jumped a new personal best as runner-up with a distance of 15.36m (50' 4 ¾").
In the women's event, senior Shalom Olotu and sophomore Taylor Mayo claimed the 2nd and 3rd place spots. Olotu jumped over 13 meters at 13.04m (42' 9 ½"), Mayo just five inches behind at 12.92m (42' 4 ¾").
Junior Jourdin Edwards won the women's 400 meter hurdles in her fastest time of 58.36, still the no. 10 time in the K-State records. Freshman Ariana Jackson won the women's 400 meters in her fastest time of 55.83 seconds.
Senior Emil Uhlin recorded two significant personal bests in the throws events, in the shot put in a 4th place finish of 14.45m (47' 5") and in his second event in the discus throw, he launched a throw over nine feet further than his best at 46.14m (151' 4"), finishing 6th. Also in the throws, sophomore Riley Marx finished runner-up in the men's javelin at 66.35m (217' 8").
In the men's pole vault, freshmen Tommaso Franze (6th; 4.76m, 15' 7 ¼") and Lance Owen (7th; 4.66m, 15' 3 ½") both cleared their best heights by over two feet.
In the men's 200 meter dash, freshman Quenton Rice finished runner-up in 21.38 seconds while sophomore Isaac Ativie ran his fastest time in 21.58 seconds in 6th place. In the women's 200 meters, sophomore Mikah Scott finished 4th in 24.09 seconds.
The distance runners ended the night with the 5,000 meters, freshmen Lucas Holdren (3rd; 14:51.98) and Brock Olsen (4th; 14:53.76) finishing back to back, Holdren with a new personal best.
The Wildcats will continue competition on Saturday (April 19) in the Oregon Team Invitational. The field events start at 6 p.m. CT, with the women's discus, the women's 1,500 meters begins at 7:04 p.m. CT. Other competing teams include Texas A&M, Wichita State, Oklahoma State, Oregon State and Utah.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the achievements of the jumps squad…
"The triple jumpers, I think, just did a phenomenal job. Punched their tickets to the first round of the NCAA's. Shalom and Taylor did a great job, full approach season openers for them. In the men's triple jump, Selva Prabhu, with his short approach season opener win in the event, just did a fantastic job, proud of him. Jhavor, also another [personal best] in the triple jump and really gaining confidence. So, I'm proud of all those jumpers, they did a great job today."
Oregon Open
Hayward Field
Eugene, Ore.
Men's Javelin
2. Riley Marx, 66.35m (217' 8")
Women's Long Jump
7. Vera Gerasimova, 4.99m (16' 4 ½")
Women's Pole Vault
5. Claire Bybee, 3.98m (13' 0 ¾")
Women's Javelin Throw
8. Jessi Brummett, 45.05m (147' 9")
11. Saydee Tanking, 42.75m (140' 3")
15. Brooklyn Jones, 37.99m (124' 7")
Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
3. Tommy Hazen, 8:48.93 (PR)
Women's 1,500 Meters
25. Kate Kowalik, 5:12.96 (PR)
Men's 1,500 Meters
17. Silas Miller, 4:01.23 (PR)
Men's Shot Put
4. Emil Uhlin, 14.45m (47' 5") (PR)
Women's Triple Jump
2. Shalom Olotu, 13.04m (42' 9 ½")
3. Taylor Mayo, 12.92m (42' 4 ¾")
Men's 110 Meter Hurdles
8. Tommaso Franze, 15.53 (1.4) (PR)
Women's 400 Meters
1. Ariana Jackson, 55.83 (PR)
Men's 800 Meters
9. Adam Snoke, 1:52.44
17. Ty Brechler, 1:58.31
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Jourdin Edwards, 58.36 (PR)
6. Ludivine Aubert, 1:00.23
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles
4. Cyrus Ways, 51.79
14. Thomas Canivet, 1:01.47
Men's Pole Vault
6. Tommaso Franze, 4.76m (15' 7 ¼") (PR)
7. Lance Owen, 4.66m (15' 3 ½") (PR)
Pierson Carlisle, NH
Women's 200 Meters
4. Mikah Scott, 24.09 (0.1)
19. Vera Gerasimova, 27.50 (0.3)
Men's Triple Jump
1. Selva Prabhu, 15.51m (50' 10 ¾")
2. Jhavor Bennett, 15.36m (50' 4 ¾") (PR)
Men's 200 Meters
2. Quenton Rice, 21.38
6. Isaac Ativie, 21.58 (PR)
12. James Ezeonu, 22.22
Tyrique Lewis, DNF
Men's Discus Throw
6. Emil Uhlin, 46.14m (151' 4") (PR)
Women's 5,000 Meters
9. Paige Baker, 17:45.46
10. Alexa Rios, 17:52.07
Men's 5,000 Meters
3. Lucas Holdren, 14:51.98 (PR)
4. Brock Olsen, 14:53.76
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.
"I think we had a really good first day. The weather was perfect," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "The team was excited to be here at historic Hayward field and the energy was good."
Senior Tommy Hazen kicked off the track events by recording a new personal best in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase. With a 3rd place time of 8:48.93 he still the no. 5 time in the K-State all-time top-10.
Four Wildcats competed in the triple jump event—freshman Selva Prabhu made his K-State debut with a winning jump of 15.51m (50' 10 ¾"). Junior Jhavor Bennett jumped a new personal best as runner-up with a distance of 15.36m (50' 4 ¾").
In the women's event, senior Shalom Olotu and sophomore Taylor Mayo claimed the 2nd and 3rd place spots. Olotu jumped over 13 meters at 13.04m (42' 9 ½"), Mayo just five inches behind at 12.92m (42' 4 ¾").
Junior Jourdin Edwards won the women's 400 meter hurdles in her fastest time of 58.36, still the no. 10 time in the K-State records. Freshman Ariana Jackson won the women's 400 meters in her fastest time of 55.83 seconds.
Senior Emil Uhlin recorded two significant personal bests in the throws events, in the shot put in a 4th place finish of 14.45m (47' 5") and in his second event in the discus throw, he launched a throw over nine feet further than his best at 46.14m (151' 4"), finishing 6th. Also in the throws, sophomore Riley Marx finished runner-up in the men's javelin at 66.35m (217' 8").
In the men's pole vault, freshmen Tommaso Franze (6th; 4.76m, 15' 7 ¼") and Lance Owen (7th; 4.66m, 15' 3 ½") both cleared their best heights by over two feet.
In the men's 200 meter dash, freshman Quenton Rice finished runner-up in 21.38 seconds while sophomore Isaac Ativie ran his fastest time in 21.58 seconds in 6th place. In the women's 200 meters, sophomore Mikah Scott finished 4th in 24.09 seconds.
The distance runners ended the night with the 5,000 meters, freshmen Lucas Holdren (3rd; 14:51.98) and Brock Olsen (4th; 14:53.76) finishing back to back, Holdren with a new personal best.
The Wildcats will continue competition on Saturday (April 19) in the Oregon Team Invitational. The field events start at 6 p.m. CT, with the women's discus, the women's 1,500 meters begins at 7:04 p.m. CT. Other competing teams include Texas A&M, Wichita State, Oklahoma State, Oregon State and Utah.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the achievements of the jumps squad…
"The triple jumpers, I think, just did a phenomenal job. Punched their tickets to the first round of the NCAA's. Shalom and Taylor did a great job, full approach season openers for them. In the men's triple jump, Selva Prabhu, with his short approach season opener win in the event, just did a fantastic job, proud of him. Jhavor, also another [personal best] in the triple jump and really gaining confidence. So, I'm proud of all those jumpers, they did a great job today."
Oregon Open
Hayward Field
Eugene, Ore.
Men's Javelin
2. Riley Marx, 66.35m (217' 8")
Women's Long Jump
7. Vera Gerasimova, 4.99m (16' 4 ½")
Women's Pole Vault
5. Claire Bybee, 3.98m (13' 0 ¾")
Women's Javelin Throw
8. Jessi Brummett, 45.05m (147' 9")
11. Saydee Tanking, 42.75m (140' 3")
15. Brooklyn Jones, 37.99m (124' 7")
Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
3. Tommy Hazen, 8:48.93 (PR)
Women's 1,500 Meters
25. Kate Kowalik, 5:12.96 (PR)
Men's 1,500 Meters
17. Silas Miller, 4:01.23 (PR)
Men's Shot Put
4. Emil Uhlin, 14.45m (47' 5") (PR)
Women's Triple Jump
2. Shalom Olotu, 13.04m (42' 9 ½")
3. Taylor Mayo, 12.92m (42' 4 ¾")
Men's 110 Meter Hurdles
8. Tommaso Franze, 15.53 (1.4) (PR)
Women's 400 Meters
1. Ariana Jackson, 55.83 (PR)
Men's 800 Meters
9. Adam Snoke, 1:52.44
17. Ty Brechler, 1:58.31
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Jourdin Edwards, 58.36 (PR)
6. Ludivine Aubert, 1:00.23
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles
4. Cyrus Ways, 51.79
14. Thomas Canivet, 1:01.47
Men's Pole Vault
6. Tommaso Franze, 4.76m (15' 7 ¼") (PR)
7. Lance Owen, 4.66m (15' 3 ½") (PR)
Pierson Carlisle, NH
Women's 200 Meters
4. Mikah Scott, 24.09 (0.1)
19. Vera Gerasimova, 27.50 (0.3)
Men's Triple Jump
1. Selva Prabhu, 15.51m (50' 10 ¾")
2. Jhavor Bennett, 15.36m (50' 4 ¾") (PR)
Men's 200 Meters
2. Quenton Rice, 21.38
6. Isaac Ativie, 21.58 (PR)
12. James Ezeonu, 22.22
Tyrique Lewis, DNF
Men's Discus Throw
6. Emil Uhlin, 46.14m (151' 4") (PR)
Women's 5,000 Meters
9. Paige Baker, 17:45.46
10. Alexa Rios, 17:52.07
Men's 5,000 Meters
3. Lucas Holdren, 14:51.98 (PR)
4. Brock Olsen, 14:53.76
-- 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.
Players Mentioned
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
K-State T&F | Gear Reveal
Saturday, August 30
K-State TF | NCAA Championship Recap
Tuesday, June 17
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Women's Finals
Monday, June 16
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Men's Finals
Saturday, June 14