Kansas State University Athletics
Four More Wildcats Finish Top-8 During Big 12 Championship Day Two
May 16, 2025 | Track & Field
K-State has seven podium finishes prior to the final day of competition
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The K-State track and field teams featured four more Wildcats on the podium on Friday (May 16) during the second day of the Big 12 Championship at Rock Chalk Park.
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Three more Wildcats medaled in the field events and the first one on the track for a current tally of seven podium finishes. After eight events the men's team sits in 8th place with 19 points, the women's team in 11th place with 11.33 points.
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Senior Shalom Olotu was the first Wildcat on the podium during day two with a 6th place finish in the women's long jump with a distance of 6.30m (20' 8"), three inches shy of her personal best. Olotu will compete again on Saturday (May 17) in the women's triple jump.
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Senior Jaycee Schroeder medaled in the shot put for a consecutive outdoor season with a 7th place distance of 15.96m (52' 4 ½").
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Junior Claire Bybee tied for 8th in the women's pole vault, earning her first conference medal, after clearing a height of 4.06m (13' 3 ¾"). This is the consecutive week that Bybee has cleared 4.06m on her first attempt, doing so for the first time at the Ward Haylett Invitational on May 9.
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Senior Tommy Hazen finished 8th in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:52.88, scoring in the event for a third straight season.
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Sophomores Nen Matlock and Tavon Underwood qualified for the men's 400 meters final race with top-9 finishes in the preliminary event. Matlock ran a new personal best time of 46.14 seconds finishing 7th overall, with K-State's new no. 10 fastest outdoor time. Finishing 9th overall, Underwood ran a time of 46.24 seconds automatically qualifying by winning his heat. The final race will take place on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
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The final day of competition will wrap up on Saturday (May 17) starting at 2 p.m. with the men's discus throw. Track events will start at 5:05 pm with the men's 4x100 relay. Single session tickets start at $15 for the last day of competition. The day's events will be streamed on ESPN+.
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FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On multiple athletes contributing to the team score…
"You know, one thing that we want to get across is the value of scoring points in the Championship. And for a few of those kids, it is their first time doing it, and they're contributing to something bigger than themselves and that team concept. The throwers all got together and had a picture afterwards and surrounded Jaycee, and so I'm just really, really happy with the team effort."
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On more qualifying performances on the track…
"We had a great day, some fantastic efforts on the track. The 400 meter dash, those guys executed extremely well. Tavon went out and did the race plan exactly as he was told to do, Nen finished strong, did what his coaches told him to do. Both those guys made the final, the Big 12 Championship, a huge personal best for Nen, I'm excited for them, and they're going to be ready tomorrow."
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Big 12 Championship
Rock Chalk Park
Lawrence, Kan.
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Men's 110 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary)
19. James Ezeonu, 14.27 (-1.0)
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Men's 800 Meters (Preliminary)
24. Jack Steger, 1:52.91
31. Alex Gutierrez, 1:55.36
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Women's Long Jump
6. Shalom Olotu, 6.30m (20' 8') (2.7)
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Men's Shot Put
20. Gary Moore Jr., 16.82m (55' 2 ¼")
27. Emil Uhlin, 14.00m (45' 11 ¼")
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Men's 400 Meters (Preliminary)
7. Nen Matlock, 46.14 (PR)*
9. Tavon Underwood, 46.42*
34. Tyrique Lewis, 48.30
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Women's 400 Meters (Preliminary)
23. Mikah Scott, 57.47
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Men's 100 Meter Dash (Preliminary)
17. Issac Ativie, 10.65
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Women's Pole Vault
T8. Claire Bybee, 4.06m (13' 3 ¾")
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Men's High Jump
13. Bryce Collins, 1.96m (6' 5")
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Women's Shot Put
7. Jaycee Schroeder, 15.96m (52' 4 ½")
15. Grace Thompson, 14.44m (47' 4 ½")
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Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
8. Tommy Hazen, 8:52.88
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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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Three more Wildcats medaled in the field events and the first one on the track for a current tally of seven podium finishes. After eight events the men's team sits in 8th place with 19 points, the women's team in 11th place with 11.33 points.
Â
Senior Shalom Olotu was the first Wildcat on the podium during day two with a 6th place finish in the women's long jump with a distance of 6.30m (20' 8"), three inches shy of her personal best. Olotu will compete again on Saturday (May 17) in the women's triple jump.
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Senior Jaycee Schroeder medaled in the shot put for a consecutive outdoor season with a 7th place distance of 15.96m (52' 4 ½").
Â
Junior Claire Bybee tied for 8th in the women's pole vault, earning her first conference medal, after clearing a height of 4.06m (13' 3 ¾"). This is the consecutive week that Bybee has cleared 4.06m on her first attempt, doing so for the first time at the Ward Haylett Invitational on May 9.
Â
Senior Tommy Hazen finished 8th in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:52.88, scoring in the event for a third straight season.
Â
Sophomores Nen Matlock and Tavon Underwood qualified for the men's 400 meters final race with top-9 finishes in the preliminary event. Matlock ran a new personal best time of 46.14 seconds finishing 7th overall, with K-State's new no. 10 fastest outdoor time. Finishing 9th overall, Underwood ran a time of 46.24 seconds automatically qualifying by winning his heat. The final race will take place on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
Â
The final day of competition will wrap up on Saturday (May 17) starting at 2 p.m. with the men's discus throw. Track events will start at 5:05 pm with the men's 4x100 relay. Single session tickets start at $15 for the last day of competition. The day's events will be streamed on ESPN+.
Â
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On multiple athletes contributing to the team score…
"You know, one thing that we want to get across is the value of scoring points in the Championship. And for a few of those kids, it is their first time doing it, and they're contributing to something bigger than themselves and that team concept. The throwers all got together and had a picture afterwards and surrounded Jaycee, and so I'm just really, really happy with the team effort."
Â
On more qualifying performances on the track…
"We had a great day, some fantastic efforts on the track. The 400 meter dash, those guys executed extremely well. Tavon went out and did the race plan exactly as he was told to do, Nen finished strong, did what his coaches told him to do. Both those guys made the final, the Big 12 Championship, a huge personal best for Nen, I'm excited for them, and they're going to be ready tomorrow."
Â
Big 12 Championship
Rock Chalk Park
Lawrence, Kan.
Â
Men's 110 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary)
19. James Ezeonu, 14.27 (-1.0)
Â
Men's 800 Meters (Preliminary)
24. Jack Steger, 1:52.91
31. Alex Gutierrez, 1:55.36
Â
Women's Long Jump
6. Shalom Olotu, 6.30m (20' 8') (2.7)
Â
Men's Shot Put
20. Gary Moore Jr., 16.82m (55' 2 ¼")
27. Emil Uhlin, 14.00m (45' 11 ¼")
Â
Men's 400 Meters (Preliminary)
7. Nen Matlock, 46.14 (PR)*
9. Tavon Underwood, 46.42*
34. Tyrique Lewis, 48.30
Â
Women's 400 Meters (Preliminary)
23. Mikah Scott, 57.47
Â
Men's 100 Meter Dash (Preliminary)
17. Issac Ativie, 10.65
Â
Women's Pole Vault
T8. Claire Bybee, 4.06m (13' 3 ¾")
Â
Men's High Jump
13. Bryce Collins, 1.96m (6' 5")
Â
Women's Shot Put
7. Jaycee Schroeder, 15.96m (52' 4 ½")
15. Grace Thompson, 14.44m (47' 4 ½")
Â
Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
8. Tommy Hazen, 8:52.88
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-- 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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