Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, May 9
Manhattan, Kan.
1:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Ward Haylett Invitational
12 Wildcats Made Their Mark in Final Regular Season Meet
May 09, 2025 | Track & Field
K-State won multiple events in the lone outdoor home meet of the season
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State track and field teams recorded top marks and personal bests in the last meet of the regular season on Friday (May 9) in the Ward Haylett Invitational at R.V. Christian Track.
12 Wildcats won their respective events, including a new meet record in the men's 400 meters by sophomore Tavon Underwood in 45.75 seconds, also a new personal best and the no. 7 time in the K-State outdoor top-10.
"Phenomenal day on the track, big breakthrough day in the 400 meters with Tavon Underwood, 45.7, breaking the meet record, punching [his] ticket to the NCAA first rounds." head coach Travis Geopfert said.
The sprinters found success and landed in the record books in the hurdle events with their fastest times. In the 110 meter hurdles was senior James Ezeonu at 14.01, the new no. 10 time in the top-10. In their 400 meter hurdles respective events, junior Cyrus Ways ran 51.46 for a spot higher in the record books at no. 8, while senior Ludivine Aubert ran 57.49 for the no. 4 fastest women's time.
Multiple sprinters ran with top marks, freshman Quenton Rice (10.54) won the 100 meter dash, sophomore Nen Matlock (46.44) finished runner-up in the 400 meters in his fastest outdoor time.
The throwers were also victorious, junior Nate Collier (56.25m, 184' 6") in the men's discus throw and senior Jaycee Schroeder (16.30m, 53' 5 ¾") in the women's shot put. Also in the field events, senior Shalom Olotu won the women's long jump with her best distance of the season at 6.21m (20' 4 ½").
The distance crew claimed the top spots in both the men's and women's races. Senior Tommy Hazen ran a new personal best with a winning time of 3:51.46, freshman Jackson Esquibel crossed the finish line right behind Hazen as runner-up in 3:54.88.
In the women's 1,500 meters, sophomore Vienna Lahner crossed the finish line first in 4:22.99 with freshman Christine Jerono as runner-up in 4:25.02 and junior Grace Meyer in 3rd place with a time of 4:25.68.
Sophomore Pierson Carlisle finished runner-up in the men's pole vault at 5.21m (17' 1") after clearing two of his best heights. Seven inches higher from his previous best, he cleared both 5.07m and 5.21m on his first attempt, entering the outdoor K-State records for the first time at no. 3.
Junior Claire Bybee saw similar success in the pole vault by reaching a new personal best twice, finishing in 3rd place at 4.20m (13' 9 ¼"), six inches taller than her previous best. After going over 4.08m (13' 4 ½") she cleared 4.20m on her first attempt, also climbing the outdoor top-10 tied at no. 3.
"Coach Kip [Janvrin] had an unbelievable day today with his athletes, just a great job," Geopfert said. "Claire Bybee, I'm so excited for her, she jumped two personal bests today. Overall, I think it was a 15, maybe a 20 centimeter personal best, improvement in the pole vault, punching her ticket to the NCAA first round. Pierson, in the pole vault today, jumped 5.21, over 17 feet for the first time in his career, punching his ticket to the NCAA first rounds, having personal best by two bars."
Senior Jessi Brummett finished runner-up in the women's javelin throw with a new personal best throw at 47.00m (154' 2"), five feet further than her previous from two years ago. Fellow junior Saydee Tanking finished in 3rd place at a distance of 43.09m (141' 4"). Also throwing, junior Tamaiah Koonce finished runner-up in the women's discus throw at 52.49m (172' 2").
After qualifying for the NCAA Championship in the men's decathlon, senior Emil Uhlin still competed, recording personal bests in two throwing events, in the discus throw (3rd; 46.47m, 152' 5") and in the shot put (3rd; 14.58m, 47' 10").
The Wildcats will start the postseason with the Big 12 Championship on Thursday-Saturday (May 15-17) in Lawrence, Kan., at Rock Chalk Park.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the efforts from the senior in their final home meet…
"First and foremost, I want to give a shoutout to our 12 graduating seniors. It was a great night, a beautiful evening here at the R.V. Christian track and our seniors, we tried to send them out in style and just appreciate them and the great effort that they had today across all event areas."
On the excitement headed into the postseason…
"So awesome day, graduating seniors… bunch of NCAA tickets punched, excited to head into Big 12 next week and see if we can mix it up and go over there [Lawrence] and compete and move into championship season."
Ward Haylett Invitational
R.V. Christian Track
Manhattan, Kan.
Women's Javelin Throw
2. Jessi Brummett, 47.00m (154' 2") (PR)
3. Saydee Tanking, 43.09m (141' 4")
8. Brooklyn Jones, 38.13m (125' 1")
9. Vera Gerasimova, 30.52m (100' 1")
Women's Pole Vault
3. Claire Bybee, 4.20m (13' 9 ¼") (PR)
Women's Long Jump
1. Shalom Olotu, 6.21m (20' 4 ½") (2.0)
Women's High Jump
3. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.63m (5' 4 ¼")
Men's 800 Meters
7. Jack Steger, 1:51.28 (PR)
10. Alex Gutierrez, 1:52.38 (PR)
14. Ty Brechler, 1:58.38
15. Adam Snoke, 2:00.35
Women's 100 Meter Hurdles
4. Vera Gerasimova, 14.86 (0.9)
Men's 110 Meter Hurdles
1. James Ezeonu, 14.01 (2.2) (PR)
Men's 100 Meter Dash
1. Quenton Rice, 10.54 (0.4)
3. Isaac Ativie, 10.61 (0.4)
Men's Discus Throw
1. Nate Collier, 56.25m (184' 6")
3. Emil Uhlin, 46.47m (152' 5") (PR)
Women's Shot Put
1. Jaycee Schroeder, 16.30m (53' 5 ¾")
5. Grace Thompson, 15.06m (49' 5")
Men's 400 Meters
1. Tavon Underwood, 45.75 (PR)*
2. Nen Matlock, 46.44
5. Tyrique Lewis, 48.07
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Ludivine Aubert, 57.49 (PR)
3. Jourdin Edwards, 58.38
5. Delaney Wright, 1:00.74 (PR)
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Cyrus Ways, 51.46 (PR)
Thomas Canivet, DNF
Women's 1,500 Meters
1. Vienna Lahner, 4:22.99
2. Christine Jerono, 4:25.02
3. Grace Meyer, 4:25.68
11. Kate Kowalik, 5:28.62
Men's Pole Vault
2. Pierson Carlisle, 5.21m (17' 1") (PR)
9. Lance Owen, 4.62m (15' 1 ¾")
Men's 1,500 Meters
1. Tommy Hazen, 3:51.46 (PR)
2. Jackson Esquibel, 3:54.88
5. Devin Chappel, 3:58.02
8. Silas Miller, 4:09.27
Men's High Jump
T4. Bryce Collins, 2.04m (6' 8 ¼")
Men's Shot Put
3. Emil Uhlin, 14.58m (47' 10")(PR)
Women's 3,000 Meters
1. Paige Baker, 10:21.30
Women's Discus Throw
2. Tamaiah Koonce, 52.49m (172' 2")
Men's 3,000 Meters
1. Brock Olsen, 8:33.87
Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
3. Lucas Holdren, 9:34.88
Men's 4x400 Relay
2. K-State, 3:11.89
(Isaac Ativie, Tyrique Lewis, Quenton Rice, Jack Steger)
Women's 400 Meters
Mikah Scott, DNF
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.
12 Wildcats won their respective events, including a new meet record in the men's 400 meters by sophomore Tavon Underwood in 45.75 seconds, also a new personal best and the no. 7 time in the K-State outdoor top-10.
"Phenomenal day on the track, big breakthrough day in the 400 meters with Tavon Underwood, 45.7, breaking the meet record, punching [his] ticket to the NCAA first rounds." head coach Travis Geopfert said.
The sprinters found success and landed in the record books in the hurdle events with their fastest times. In the 110 meter hurdles was senior James Ezeonu at 14.01, the new no. 10 time in the top-10. In their 400 meter hurdles respective events, junior Cyrus Ways ran 51.46 for a spot higher in the record books at no. 8, while senior Ludivine Aubert ran 57.49 for the no. 4 fastest women's time.
Multiple sprinters ran with top marks, freshman Quenton Rice (10.54) won the 100 meter dash, sophomore Nen Matlock (46.44) finished runner-up in the 400 meters in his fastest outdoor time.
The throwers were also victorious, junior Nate Collier (56.25m, 184' 6") in the men's discus throw and senior Jaycee Schroeder (16.30m, 53' 5 ¾") in the women's shot put. Also in the field events, senior Shalom Olotu won the women's long jump with her best distance of the season at 6.21m (20' 4 ½").
The distance crew claimed the top spots in both the men's and women's races. Senior Tommy Hazen ran a new personal best with a winning time of 3:51.46, freshman Jackson Esquibel crossed the finish line right behind Hazen as runner-up in 3:54.88.
In the women's 1,500 meters, sophomore Vienna Lahner crossed the finish line first in 4:22.99 with freshman Christine Jerono as runner-up in 4:25.02 and junior Grace Meyer in 3rd place with a time of 4:25.68.
Sophomore Pierson Carlisle finished runner-up in the men's pole vault at 5.21m (17' 1") after clearing two of his best heights. Seven inches higher from his previous best, he cleared both 5.07m and 5.21m on his first attempt, entering the outdoor K-State records for the first time at no. 3.
Junior Claire Bybee saw similar success in the pole vault by reaching a new personal best twice, finishing in 3rd place at 4.20m (13' 9 ¼"), six inches taller than her previous best. After going over 4.08m (13' 4 ½") she cleared 4.20m on her first attempt, also climbing the outdoor top-10 tied at no. 3.
"Coach Kip [Janvrin] had an unbelievable day today with his athletes, just a great job," Geopfert said. "Claire Bybee, I'm so excited for her, she jumped two personal bests today. Overall, I think it was a 15, maybe a 20 centimeter personal best, improvement in the pole vault, punching her ticket to the NCAA first round. Pierson, in the pole vault today, jumped 5.21, over 17 feet for the first time in his career, punching his ticket to the NCAA first rounds, having personal best by two bars."
Senior Jessi Brummett finished runner-up in the women's javelin throw with a new personal best throw at 47.00m (154' 2"), five feet further than her previous from two years ago. Fellow junior Saydee Tanking finished in 3rd place at a distance of 43.09m (141' 4"). Also throwing, junior Tamaiah Koonce finished runner-up in the women's discus throw at 52.49m (172' 2").
After qualifying for the NCAA Championship in the men's decathlon, senior Emil Uhlin still competed, recording personal bests in two throwing events, in the discus throw (3rd; 46.47m, 152' 5") and in the shot put (3rd; 14.58m, 47' 10").
The Wildcats will start the postseason with the Big 12 Championship on Thursday-Saturday (May 15-17) in Lawrence, Kan., at Rock Chalk Park.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the efforts from the senior in their final home meet…
"First and foremost, I want to give a shoutout to our 12 graduating seniors. It was a great night, a beautiful evening here at the R.V. Christian track and our seniors, we tried to send them out in style and just appreciate them and the great effort that they had today across all event areas."
On the excitement headed into the postseason…
"So awesome day, graduating seniors… bunch of NCAA tickets punched, excited to head into Big 12 next week and see if we can mix it up and go over there [Lawrence] and compete and move into championship season."
Ward Haylett Invitational
R.V. Christian Track
Manhattan, Kan.
Women's Javelin Throw
2. Jessi Brummett, 47.00m (154' 2") (PR)
3. Saydee Tanking, 43.09m (141' 4")
8. Brooklyn Jones, 38.13m (125' 1")
9. Vera Gerasimova, 30.52m (100' 1")
Women's Pole Vault
3. Claire Bybee, 4.20m (13' 9 ¼") (PR)
Women's Long Jump
1. Shalom Olotu, 6.21m (20' 4 ½") (2.0)
Women's High Jump
3. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.63m (5' 4 ¼")
Men's 800 Meters
7. Jack Steger, 1:51.28 (PR)
10. Alex Gutierrez, 1:52.38 (PR)
14. Ty Brechler, 1:58.38
15. Adam Snoke, 2:00.35
Women's 100 Meter Hurdles
4. Vera Gerasimova, 14.86 (0.9)
Men's 110 Meter Hurdles
1. James Ezeonu, 14.01 (2.2) (PR)
Men's 100 Meter Dash
1. Quenton Rice, 10.54 (0.4)
3. Isaac Ativie, 10.61 (0.4)
Men's Discus Throw
1. Nate Collier, 56.25m (184' 6")
3. Emil Uhlin, 46.47m (152' 5") (PR)
Women's Shot Put
1. Jaycee Schroeder, 16.30m (53' 5 ¾")
5. Grace Thompson, 15.06m (49' 5")
Men's 400 Meters
1. Tavon Underwood, 45.75 (PR)*
2. Nen Matlock, 46.44
5. Tyrique Lewis, 48.07
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Ludivine Aubert, 57.49 (PR)
3. Jourdin Edwards, 58.38
5. Delaney Wright, 1:00.74 (PR)
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Cyrus Ways, 51.46 (PR)
Thomas Canivet, DNF
Women's 1,500 Meters
1. Vienna Lahner, 4:22.99
2. Christine Jerono, 4:25.02
3. Grace Meyer, 4:25.68
11. Kate Kowalik, 5:28.62
Men's Pole Vault
2. Pierson Carlisle, 5.21m (17' 1") (PR)
9. Lance Owen, 4.62m (15' 1 ¾")
Men's 1,500 Meters
1. Tommy Hazen, 3:51.46 (PR)
2. Jackson Esquibel, 3:54.88
5. Devin Chappel, 3:58.02
8. Silas Miller, 4:09.27
Men's High Jump
T4. Bryce Collins, 2.04m (6' 8 ¼")
Men's Shot Put
3. Emil Uhlin, 14.58m (47' 10")(PR)
Women's 3,000 Meters
1. Paige Baker, 10:21.30
Women's Discus Throw
2. Tamaiah Koonce, 52.49m (172' 2")
Men's 3,000 Meters
1. Brock Olsen, 8:33.87
Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
3. Lucas Holdren, 9:34.88
Men's 4x400 Relay
2. K-State, 3:11.89
(Isaac Ativie, Tyrique Lewis, Quenton Rice, Jack Steger)
Women's 400 Meters
Mikah Scott, DNF
-- 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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