20 Wildcats Selected to Compete in NCAA West Preliminary

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State track and field teams will be represented by 20 Wildcats in the NCAA West Preliminary from May 28-31 in College Station, Texas, at E.B. Cushing Stadium hosted by Texas A&M.

The NCAA Track and Field Committee selected the top 48 athletes from each event, and 24 relays teams, in the East and West region to compete for a top-12 spot and advance to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., on June 11-14 at Hayward Field.

"I'm excited for the athletes we have headed to the NCAA first rounds. It shows their hard work and dedication in focusing on the process," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "I appreciate these kids buying into the new coaches and consequently finding a large amount of success. This group of young women and men are headed to College Station as competitors, not participants. They're focused on the process and excited to go compete."

Senior Emil Uhlin automatically qualified for a spot in Eugene in the men's decathlon with the 14^th best performance in the nation after a new personal best score of 7,788 points at the Drake Relays on April 23-26.

All three outdoor Big 12 Champions, juniors Jhavor Bennett, Safhia Hinds and Gary Moore Jr., will compete after their recent personal best performances. Bennett won the men's triple jump at 16.21m (52' 2 ¼"), Hinds ran a winning time of 55.90 seconds in the women's 400 meter hurdles and Moore Jr. claimed the men's hammer throw title with a throw of 67.68m (222' 0"). Moore Jr. also qualified for the men's discus throw after a 7^th place finish at conference at 55.87m (183' 3").

Three other Wildcats qualified with top-10 spots in the West region. In the women's hammer throw, senior Monique Hardy is no. 7 with her best throw of 68.07m (223' 4"). Junior Sharie Enoe is no. 6 in the women's high jump after tying her personal best height of 1.88m (6' 2"). Sophomore Riley Marx reached 70 meters in the men's javelin throw in the first meet of the season at 70.83m (232' 4") for the no. 10 spot.

Senior Shalom Olotu was the only other athlete to qualify for two events, in the women's triple and long jump. Two more jumpers will also compete in the triple jump, sophomore Taylor Mayo and freshman Selva Prabhu.

This is the consecutive year two Wildcats will compete in the men's 400 meter dash, with sophomores Tavon Underwood and Nen Matlock after both reaching the conference finals race. Other sprinters to race for K-State include senior Ludivine Aubert and junior Jourdin Edwards in the women's 400 meter hurdles.

In back-to-back seasons, K-State will feature at least one runner in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with senior Tommy Hazen qualifying for a second time. Other Wildcats familiar with the NCAA first round includes throwers junior Tamaiah Koonce, a three-time women's discus qualifier, senior Jaycee Schroeder in the women's shot put and junior Nate Collier in the men's discus throw.

Two pole vaulters will compete in the West Prelims for the first time with junior Claire Bybee and sophomore Pierson Carlisle. This will also be the first appearance for senior Jessi Brummet in the women's javelin throw.

-- k-statesports.com --

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Kansas State University Athletics

20 Wildcats Selected to Compete in NCAA West Preliminary

Players Mentioned

Ludivine Aubert

Jhavor Bennett

Claire Bybee

Pierson Carlisle

Nate Collier

Jourdin Edwards

Sharie Enoe

Monique Hardy

Tommy Hazen

Safhia Hinds

Tamaiah Koonce

Riley Marx

Nen Matlock

Taylor Mayo

Gary Moore Jr.

Shalom Olotu

Selva Prabhu

Jaycee Schroeder

Emil Uhlin

Tavon Underwood

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