Kansas State University Athletics
K-State’s Moore Jr. Claims Hammer Throw Title, More Top-3 Finishes After Day One
May 15, 2025 | Track & Field
Wildcats finished top-3 in the first three field events of the day
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior Gary Moore Jr. kicked off the first day of the Big 12 Championship on Thursday (May 15) with the first K-State individual title of the meet in the men's hammer throw at Rock Chalk Park.
In his sixth and final attempt, Moore Jr. threw a new personal best to claim the 1st place spot at 67.68m (222' 0") a personal best by just three inches, still no. 2 in the K-State records. This is the first time K-State has claimed consecutive hammer throw titles, senior Kade McCall taking home the title in 2024. It is the second title for Moore Jr. after winning the weight throw title during the indoor Big 12 Championship.
"Gary Moore Jr., I'm just so proud of that guy, won a Big 12 Conference title on his very last throw," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "It was awesome. The competition didn't go the way he had expected and I was really proud of how he just kind of worked through it. Him and coach [John] Newell, working together and staying calm and patient and him [Moore Jr.] just figuring it out. Just super, super impressed by him."
The Wildcats finished top-3 in two more field events, the men's team in 3rd place in the team scores with a total of 18 points after day one. On the track two women qualified for the 400 meter hurdles finals.
Sophomore Riley Marx finished runner-up in the men's javelin throw with a throw of 68.11m (223' 5"). His throw was two inches further than his finish in last year's Championship where he took home third place.
Senior Monique Hardy finished 3rd in the women's hammer throw at 68.07m (223' 4") with a new personal best of nine inches after four years. She now holds the no. 3 best throw in the K-State all-time top-10. Her previous best throw as a Wildcat was 65.31m (214' 3") during the Oregon Open on April 19.
Juniors Safhia Hinds and Jourdin Edwards both qualified for the women's 400 meter hurdles final race with personal bests in the preliminary round. The final race will be contested on Saturday (May 17) at 7:15 p.m.
Hinds finished overall runner-up in 56.75 seconds, the no. 3 fastest time in K-State history. Edwards finished in 5th place in 57.58 seconds also climbing up the K-State record books to no. 5.
Day two of the Championship begins on Friday (May 16) at 4 p.m. for the Cats with the women's pole vault and long jump. The men's preliminary 110 meter hurdles will start on the track at 5 p.m. Single session tickets start at $15 for the remaining two days of competition. The day's events will be streamed on ESPN+.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the other top-3 finishes today…
"Monique Hardy, another personal best in the final round, and top three all-conference performance for her. And she was just elated after that, she competed so well, the series of her life. That throws group and coach Newell and all of them just getting after it, Riley Marx today, it was tough, the surface was difficult. He slipped a bunch of times, but he found a way to get it done and got second place runner up in the Big 12, which is a big deal."
Big 12 Championship
Rock Chalk Park
Lawrence, Kan.
Men's Hammer Throw
1. Gary Moore Jr., 67.68m (222' 0") (PR)
Women's Hammer Throw
3. Monique Hardy, 68.07m (223' 4") (PR)
Men's Javelin Throw
2. Riley Marx, 68.11m (223' 5")
Men's 1,500 Meters (Preliminary)
27. Alex Gutierrez, 3:54.31
Women's 1,500 Meters (Preliminary)
10. Vienna Lahner, 4:32.57
19. Grace Meyer, 4:36.88
Women's Javelin Throw
11. Saydee Tanking, 42.71m (140' 1")
12. Jessi Brummett, 42.28m (138' 8")
15. Brooklyn Jones, 38.15m (125' 2")
Men's 200 Meters (Preliminary)
22. Quenton Rice, 21.27 (1.4)
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary)
14. Cyrus Ways, 51.56
17. Thomas Canivet, 51.84
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary)
2. Safhia Hinds, 56.75 (PR)*
5. Jourdin Edwards, 57.58 (PR)*
10. Ludivine Aubert, 58.51
23. Delaney Wright, 1:00.17 (PR)
Men's 10,000 Meters
14. Jackson Esquibel, 30:44.50
Women's 10,000 Meters
19. Christine Jerono, 36:01.24
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 sixth and final attempt, Moore Jr. threw a new personal best to claim the 1st place spot at 67.68m (222' 0") a personal best by just three inches, still no. 2 in the K-State records. This is the first time K-State has claimed consecutive hammer throw titles, senior Kade McCall taking home the title in 2024. It is the second title for Moore Jr. after winning the weight throw title during the indoor Big 12 Championship.
"Gary Moore Jr., I'm just so proud of that guy, won a Big 12 Conference title on his very last throw," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "It was awesome. The competition didn't go the way he had expected and I was really proud of how he just kind of worked through it. Him and coach [John] Newell, working together and staying calm and patient and him [Moore Jr.] just figuring it out. Just super, super impressed by him."
The Wildcats finished top-3 in two more field events, the men's team in 3rd place in the team scores with a total of 18 points after day one. On the track two women qualified for the 400 meter hurdles finals.
Sophomore Riley Marx finished runner-up in the men's javelin throw with a throw of 68.11m (223' 5"). His throw was two inches further than his finish in last year's Championship where he took home third place.
Senior Monique Hardy finished 3rd in the women's hammer throw at 68.07m (223' 4") with a new personal best of nine inches after four years. She now holds the no. 3 best throw in the K-State all-time top-10. Her previous best throw as a Wildcat was 65.31m (214' 3") during the Oregon Open on April 19.
Juniors Safhia Hinds and Jourdin Edwards both qualified for the women's 400 meter hurdles final race with personal bests in the preliminary round. The final race will be contested on Saturday (May 17) at 7:15 p.m.
Hinds finished overall runner-up in 56.75 seconds, the no. 3 fastest time in K-State history. Edwards finished in 5th place in 57.58 seconds also climbing up the K-State record books to no. 5.
Day two of the Championship begins on Friday (May 16) at 4 p.m. for the Cats with the women's pole vault and long jump. The men's preliminary 110 meter hurdles will start on the track at 5 p.m. Single session tickets start at $15 for the remaining two days of competition. The day's events will be streamed on ESPN+.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the other top-3 finishes today…
"Monique Hardy, another personal best in the final round, and top three all-conference performance for her. And she was just elated after that, she competed so well, the series of her life. That throws group and coach Newell and all of them just getting after it, Riley Marx today, it was tough, the surface was difficult. He slipped a bunch of times, but he found a way to get it done and got second place runner up in the Big 12, which is a big deal."
Big 12 Championship
Rock Chalk Park
Lawrence, Kan.
Men's Hammer Throw
1. Gary Moore Jr., 67.68m (222' 0") (PR)
Women's Hammer Throw
3. Monique Hardy, 68.07m (223' 4") (PR)
Men's Javelin Throw
2. Riley Marx, 68.11m (223' 5")
Men's 1,500 Meters (Preliminary)
27. Alex Gutierrez, 3:54.31
Women's 1,500 Meters (Preliminary)
10. Vienna Lahner, 4:32.57
19. Grace Meyer, 4:36.88
Women's Javelin Throw
11. Saydee Tanking, 42.71m (140' 1")
12. Jessi Brummett, 42.28m (138' 8")
15. Brooklyn Jones, 38.15m (125' 2")
Men's 200 Meters (Preliminary)
22. Quenton Rice, 21.27 (1.4)
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary)
14. Cyrus Ways, 51.56
17. Thomas Canivet, 51.84
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary)
2. Safhia Hinds, 56.75 (PR)*
5. Jourdin Edwards, 57.58 (PR)*
10. Ludivine Aubert, 58.51
23. Delaney Wright, 1:00.17 (PR)
Men's 10,000 Meters
14. Jackson Esquibel, 30:44.50
Women's 10,000 Meters
19. Christine Jerono, 36:01.24
-- 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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