
Women’s 4x400 Relay Team Breaks School Record on Day Two
Feb 14, 2026 | Track & Field
During the Tyson Invitational three school records were broken
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The K-State track and field teams wrapped up competition in the Tyson Invitational on Saturday (February 14) with the women's 4x400 relay team ending the day with a school record time at Randal Tyson Track Center.
The relay team, consisting of freshmen Desirae Riehle, Delaney Brinker, Anastasiia Kretova and senior Vanessa Mercera, finished runner-up with a time of 3:33.59. It surpasses the previous record of 3:34.27 from 2015 with Sonia Gaskin, Tia' Gamble, A'Keyla Mitchell and Erica Twiss.
"That women's 4x400, they broke the school record and I'm just so happy," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "Desirae on the front of that, a true freshman, handled everything really well, Anastasiia also on there, a true freshman, Delaney Brinker on there, a true freshman, and then anchored by the senior in Vanessa. Three true freshmen on the school record relay, I'm just proud of these kids and we're on a good trajectory heading into championship season."
In the men's 4x400 relay race, juniors Nen Matlock, Tavon Underwood, Bongumusa Nkosi and senior Cyrus Ways, finished 6th with a time of 3:08.42, now the no. 4 fastest time in the K-State top-10.
One Wildcat walked away a winner in the field events, junior Daniela Wamokpego won the women's triple jump university with a leap of 13.59m (44' 7"), three inches shy of her personal best. That jump is currently the third best distance in the NCAA as well as the no. 5 performance in the K-State indoor records.
Senior Devin Loudermilk competed in one of the final World Athletics sanctioned Silver events, the men's high jump, where he finished 3rd with a clearance of 2.19m (7' 2.25").
During the men's triple jump championship, junior Aaron Antoine competed for just the second time in the event at 16.22m (53' 2.75") in 5th place.
On the track two distance runners ran their fastest mile times, sophomore Jackson Esquibel with a top-three time at 4:05.83 and senior Julian Avila in 6th place at 4:07.20, in a field of 32 runners.
The Wildcats will finish the regular season with one last home meet on Friday (February 20) in the Steve Miller Invitational at Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On multiple school records broken this meet…
"Vanessa, again, breaking her own school record in the 400, running 52-high, she's incredible, just love what she's been able to do. And then Gary Moore Jr. in the weight throw, again, competing against the best athletes in the country with poise, and just executed so well in the plan that coach [John] Newell has."
On the team performing in the first road meet with elite competition…
"Super pleased with everything, attitudes, the efforts. I guess more than anything, the efforts, these kids they got after it and competed like veterans. You know, we got a lot of new athletes to this stage, this was a big track meet, and they handled themselves with poise, executed their individual plans and competed like veterans so I'm super pleased."
Tyson Invitational
Randal Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's 5000 Meters
2. Logan Beckman, 14:34.21
Women's 5000 Meters
3. Alexa Rios, 17:51.11
4. Payton Fink, 17:51.92
Men's Mile
3. Jackson Esquibel, 4:05.83 (PR)
6. Julian Avila, 4:07.20 (PR)
Women's Mile
31. Anna Pozdeeva, 4:54.85
39. Hanna Keltner, 4:56.90 (PR)
Women's Pole Vault
14. Claire Bybee, 3.85m (12' 7.5")
Men's Triple Jump
6. Jhavor Bennett, 15.67m (51' 5")
Men's Shot Put
23. Ricardo Hayles, 15.86m (52' 0.5")
Women's Triple Jump
1. Daniela Wamokpego, 13.59m (44' 7")
8. Destini Smith, 13.05m (42' 9.75") (PR)
10. Aaliyah Lindsay, 12.92m (42' 4.75")
12. Taylor Mayo, 12.72m (41' 8.75")
Women's 200 Meters
50. Reese Kasper, 24.89
Women's High Jump (Championship)
10. Shanniqua Williams, 1.76m (5' 9.25")
Sharie Enoe, NH
Men's High Jump (WA Championship)
3. Devin Loudermilk, 2.19m (7' 2.25")
Men's Triple Jump (Championship)
5. Aaron Antoine, 16.22m (53' 2.75")
Men's 4x400 Relay
6. K-State, 3:08.42
(N. Matlock, T. Underwood, B. Nkosi, C. Ways)
Women's 4x400 Relay
2. K-State A, 3:33.59
(D. Riehle, D. Brinker, A. Kretova, V. Mercera)
13. K-State B, 3:42.67
(D. Wright, J. Edwards, A. Jackson, L. Pouzancre-Hoyer)
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.
The relay team, consisting of freshmen Desirae Riehle, Delaney Brinker, Anastasiia Kretova and senior Vanessa Mercera, finished runner-up with a time of 3:33.59. It surpasses the previous record of 3:34.27 from 2015 with Sonia Gaskin, Tia' Gamble, A'Keyla Mitchell and Erica Twiss.
"That women's 4x400, they broke the school record and I'm just so happy," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "Desirae on the front of that, a true freshman, handled everything really well, Anastasiia also on there, a true freshman, Delaney Brinker on there, a true freshman, and then anchored by the senior in Vanessa. Three true freshmen on the school record relay, I'm just proud of these kids and we're on a good trajectory heading into championship season."
In the men's 4x400 relay race, juniors Nen Matlock, Tavon Underwood, Bongumusa Nkosi and senior Cyrus Ways, finished 6th with a time of 3:08.42, now the no. 4 fastest time in the K-State top-10.
One Wildcat walked away a winner in the field events, junior Daniela Wamokpego won the women's triple jump university with a leap of 13.59m (44' 7"), three inches shy of her personal best. That jump is currently the third best distance in the NCAA as well as the no. 5 performance in the K-State indoor records.
Senior Devin Loudermilk competed in one of the final World Athletics sanctioned Silver events, the men's high jump, where he finished 3rd with a clearance of 2.19m (7' 2.25").
During the men's triple jump championship, junior Aaron Antoine competed for just the second time in the event at 16.22m (53' 2.75") in 5th place.
On the track two distance runners ran their fastest mile times, sophomore Jackson Esquibel with a top-three time at 4:05.83 and senior Julian Avila in 6th place at 4:07.20, in a field of 32 runners.
The Wildcats will finish the regular season with one last home meet on Friday (February 20) in the Steve Miller Invitational at Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On multiple school records broken this meet…
"Vanessa, again, breaking her own school record in the 400, running 52-high, she's incredible, just love what she's been able to do. And then Gary Moore Jr. in the weight throw, again, competing against the best athletes in the country with poise, and just executed so well in the plan that coach [John] Newell has."
On the team performing in the first road meet with elite competition…
"Super pleased with everything, attitudes, the efforts. I guess more than anything, the efforts, these kids they got after it and competed like veterans. You know, we got a lot of new athletes to this stage, this was a big track meet, and they handled themselves with poise, executed their individual plans and competed like veterans so I'm super pleased."
Tyson Invitational
Randal Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's 5000 Meters
2. Logan Beckman, 14:34.21
Women's 5000 Meters
3. Alexa Rios, 17:51.11
4. Payton Fink, 17:51.92
Men's Mile
3. Jackson Esquibel, 4:05.83 (PR)
6. Julian Avila, 4:07.20 (PR)
Women's Mile
31. Anna Pozdeeva, 4:54.85
39. Hanna Keltner, 4:56.90 (PR)
Women's Pole Vault
14. Claire Bybee, 3.85m (12' 7.5")
Men's Triple Jump
6. Jhavor Bennett, 15.67m (51' 5")
Men's Shot Put
23. Ricardo Hayles, 15.86m (52' 0.5")
Women's Triple Jump
1. Daniela Wamokpego, 13.59m (44' 7")
8. Destini Smith, 13.05m (42' 9.75") (PR)
10. Aaliyah Lindsay, 12.92m (42' 4.75")
12. Taylor Mayo, 12.72m (41' 8.75")
Women's 200 Meters
50. Reese Kasper, 24.89
Women's High Jump (Championship)
10. Shanniqua Williams, 1.76m (5' 9.25")
Sharie Enoe, NH
Men's High Jump (WA Championship)
3. Devin Loudermilk, 2.19m (7' 2.25")
Men's Triple Jump (Championship)
5. Aaron Antoine, 16.22m (53' 2.75")
Men's 4x400 Relay
6. K-State, 3:08.42
(N. Matlock, T. Underwood, B. Nkosi, C. Ways)
Women's 4x400 Relay
2. K-State A, 3:33.59
(D. Riehle, D. Brinker, A. Kretova, V. Mercera)
13. K-State B, 3:42.67
(D. Wright, J. Edwards, A. Jackson, L. Pouzancre-Hoyer)
-- 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
K-State Track & Field | DeLoss Dodds Invitational Recap
Wednesday, February 04
K-State Track & Field | Thane Baker Invitational Recap
Monday, January 19
K-State Track & Field | Uniform Reveal
Tuesday, November 11
K-State T&F | Broad Jump Competition
Tuesday, September 30



