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Family Atmosphere Attracted Geopfert to K-State (K-State Sports Extra, July 16, 2024)

Travis Geopfert was named K-State's seventh full-time Director of Track and Field/Cross Country by Director of Athletics Gene Taylor on July 11, 2024.

In his first season leading K-State, two athletes earned First Team All-America accolades, Selva Prabhu (men’s triple jump) and Emil Uhlin (men’s decathlon). Four more athletes earned Second Team honors, including Shalom Olotu, the first Wildcats woman to do so in two individual events (triple and long jump) since 2015.

Geopfert was a four-time National Assistant Coach of the Year during two stints at Arkansas across 12 years, with 22 total years of experience also at Tennessee, Northern Iowa and Central Missouri.

At Arkansas with the men's team, he was a part of two NCAA Championship teams (2013 indoor and 2023 indoor), 21 top-10 NCAA team finishes and 25 SEC Championships.

Individually, Geopfert coached three Bowerman Award finalists (track and field’s version of the Heisman Trophy) while at Arkansas, including a pair of winners in sprinter and long jumper Jarrion Lawson (2016) and triple and long jumper Jaydon Hibbert (2023) as well as 2022 finalist Ayden Owens-Delerme. In total, he has helped train 20 national champions (a combined 12 in the long and triple jump) in his career as well as 106 NCAA First Team All-Americans, 182 NCAA National Finals Qualifiers and 89 conference champions.

Geopfert has coached 15 Olympians and 1 Paralympian-- nine who competed in the 2024 Paris Games. Those nine athletes include Romaine Beckford (high jump/Jamaica), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump/USA), Jaydon Hibbert (triple jump/Jamaica), Jarrion Lawson (long jump/USA), Carey McLeod (long jump/Jamaica), Jah-Nhai Perinchief (triple jump/Bermuda), Wayne Pinnock (long jump/Jamaica) and Ayden Owens-Delerme (decathlon/Puerto Rico) and Hunter Woodhall (400m T62, 4x100 mixed relay/USA).

In Paris, two of Geopfert's athletes secured hardware in the long jump-- Davis-Woodhall claimed the women's gold medal at 7.10m/23-3.50 and Pinnock earned a silver medal in the men's with a distance of 8.36m/27-5.25. During the Paralympics, Woodhall claimed gold in the 400 meter dash (T62) in 46.36 seconds and also ran in the mixed 4x100 universal relay where his team earned bronze in 47.32 seconds.

In total, Geopfert’s athletes have qualified for the World Championships 30 times with five global medals. They have broken three American Junior records, three World Junior records, two NCAA all-time collegiate records and two NCAA meet records. They have combined to break 59 school records at Northern Iowa, Arkansas and Tennessee.

“My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Kansas State community,” Geopfert said. “Just look at every named facility on campus and it’s obvious that family and community are the framework of Kansas State. That may be the biggest thing that attracted us to Manhattan.

“I’d like to thank Gene Taylor, (executive associate AD) Kenny Lannou and (deputy AD) Jill Shields for giving me this opportunity to lead such a storied program - a program with multiple Olympians, Olympic medalists and NCAA champions, led for more than three decades by hall of fame coach Cliff Rovelto.

“It’s not lost on me the shoes that I’m trying to fill in following a legendary coach. Coach Rovelto has built a foundation at Kansas State that makes this one of the most attractive opportunities in NCAA track and field. With that, I promise to work tirelessly for the alumni and current student-athletes here at Kansas State. I want to help make all of these individuals proud of where they are from. They built the foundation for our future success, and we owe it to them and this administration to get after it here with everything we’ve got.

“With that said, I cannot express enough appreciation to Gene Taylor for handing me the reigns here in Manhattan. His reputation precedes him in making great coaching hires. I’m humbled that he believes in me to continue to move this program forward.

“Lastly, I’d like to thank my former student-athletes, bosses and colleagues at Central Missouri, Northern Iowa, Tennessee, and Arkansas. The last 22 years learning from all of them has given me the foundation I need to coach and mentor at the highest level. These coaching experiences along with the amazing support of my wife Nicole, our kids and my entire family gives me the confidence I need to be the next Director of Track and Field / Cross Country at K-State.”

Coaching Experience

Graduate assistant (Men’s and Women’s), Central Missouri (2002-03)
Assistant Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Northern Iowa (2003-07)
Associate Head Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Northern Iowa (2007-08)
Head Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Northern Iowa (2008-09)
Assistant Track and Field Coach (Men’s), Arkansas (2009-18)
Associate Head Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Tennessee (2018-21)
Associate Head Track and Field Coach (Men), Arkansas (2021-24)
Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, Kansas State (2024-present)

Coaching Honors

4-time USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year (Arkansas)

(2013, 2014, 2023 men’s indoor and 2023 men’s outdoor)

5-time USTFCCCA South Central Region Men’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Arkansas)

(2013, 2014, 2017, 2023, 2024).

2-time USTFCCCA South Central Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Arkansas)

(2022, 2023)

1-time USTFCCCA South Region Men’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Tennessee) (2020)
2-time USTFCCCA Midwest Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Northern Iowa)

(2007, 2008)

1-time USTFCCCA Division II Central Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Central Missouri) (2003)
2009 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Coach of the Year (Northern Iowa)
3-time USA vs. Germany Thorpe Cup decathlon head coach

(2009, 2013, 2014)

Athlete Honors

1998 Missouri Valley Conference decathlon champion
1999 Missouri Valley Conference 4x100-meter relay champion
2000 Missouri Valley Conference indoor distance medley relay champion
2000 NCAA Indoor All-American (distance medley relay)
4-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer (1997, 1998 indoor and outdoor)
2-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete (1999, 2000)
2004, 2006 Drake Relay decathlon champion
5-time national qualifier at the USATF Indoor and Outdoor Championships
2004 Olympic Trials qualifier
3-time member of the U.S. vs. Germany decathlon Thorpe Teams (2003, 2005, 2006)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in general studies, University of Northern Iowa, 2002

Personal

Born: August 20, 1978, in Panora, Iowa
Wife: Nicole
Children: sons Jones and Jax and daughter Ellyn

Women
#	Name	Class	Pos	Hometown
	Ludivine Aubert	Sr.		Angers, France
	Paige Baker	So.		Olathe, Kan.
	Jessi Brummett	Sr.		Riley, Kan.
	Claire Bybee	Jr.		Sulphur Springs, Texas
	Charlotte Cattermole-Williams	Sr.		Clitheroe, England
	Lindsey DeWitt	Jr.		Overland Park, Kan.
	Jourdin Edwards	Jr.		Frisco, Texas
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	Sharie Enoe	Jr.		Petite Martinique, Grenada
	Cecilia Fisher	Jr.		Overland Park, Kan.
	Vera Gerasimova	Fr.		Moscow, Russia
	Monique Hardy	Sr.		Webster, N.Y.
	Safhia Hinds	Jr.		Spanish Town, Jamaica
	Ariana Jackson	Fr.		Blue Springs, Mo.
	Gracie Jacobs	Fr.		Kansas City, Mo.
	Christine Jerono	So.		Kobujoi, Kenya
	Brooklyn Jones	So.		Lebo, Kan.
	Tamaiah Koonce	Jr.		Miami, Fla.
	Kate Kowalik	Sr.		Prairie Village, Kan.
	Vienna Lahner	So.		Spring Hill, Kan.
	Aaliyah Lindsay	Sr.		Kingston, Jamaica
	Taylor Mayo	So.		Springfield, Mo.
	Vanessa Mercera	Sr.		Willemstad, Curaçao
	Grace Meyer	Jr.		Prairie Village, Kan.
	Abby Micek	Fr.		Atwood, Kan.
	Stella Miner	Fr.		Omaha, Neb.
	Daisy Monie	Sr.		Mission, Texas
	Bree Newport	Fr.		Olathe, Kan.
	Chisom Nwafor	Fr.		London, England
	Shalom Olotu	Sr.		Allen, Texas
	Alexa Rios	Jr.		Shawnee, Kan.
	Jaycee Schroeder	Sr.		Dandridge, Tenn.
	Mikah Scott	So.		Lee's Summit, Mo.
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	Saydee Tanking	Jr.		Circleville, Kan.
	Tesia Thomas	Sr.		York, Pa.
	Grace Thompson	Sr.		Sedgwick, Kan.
	Delaney Wright	Jr.		Paola, Kan.

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Travis Geopfert	Director of Track and Field and Cross Country	tgeopfert@kstatesports.com	(785) 532-7071
	John Newell	Associate Head Coach (Throws)		(785) 323-0339
	Kate Bucknam	Assistant Coach (Distance)	kbucknam@kstatesports.com	(785) 706-1480
	Mat Clark	Assistant Coach (Sprints)	mclark@kstatesports.com	(785) 706-8372
	Kip Janvrin	Assistant Coach (Multis/Pole Vault)		(785) 370-1954
	Clive Pullen	Assistant Coach (Jumps)	cpullen@kstatesports.com	(785) 706-1469
	Trey Brokaw	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	tbrokaw@kstatesports.com	(309) 335-3895
	Christopher Goodwin	Assistant Coach/Director of Operations	cgoodwin@kstatesports.com	(785) 473-6661
	Tara Davis-Woodhall	Assistant Coach
	Stephanie Brokaw	Assistant Coach
	James Milholen	Assistant Coach

Men
#	Name	Class	Pos	Hometown
	Aaron Antoine	Jr.		Preysal, Trinidad and Tobego
	Isaac Ativie	So.		Leavenworth, Kan.
	Oskars Bambals	Sr.		Riga, Latvia
	Jhavor Bennett	Jr.		St. Elizabeth, Jamaica
	Ty Brechler	So.		Overland Park, Kan.
	Thomas Canivet	Fr.		Saint Nicolas de la Taille, France
	Pierson Carlisle	So.		Gardner, Kan.
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	Devin Chappel	So.		Garden City, Kan.
	Dorian Charles	Fr.		Trinidad and Tobago
	Nate Collier	Jr.		Delaware, Okla.
	Bryce Collins	Sr.		Scranton, Pa.
	Croix DaCunha	Fr.		Dripping Springs, Texas
	Jackson Esquibel	Fr.		Topeka, Kan.
	James Ezeonu	Sr.		Cork, Ireland
	Tommaso Franze	Fr.		Legnano, Italy
	Alex Gutierrez	Sr.		Eden Prairie, Minn.
	Matthew Hauser	Sr.		Columbia, Mo.
	Tommy Hazen	Sr.		Overland Park, Kan.
	Lucas Holdren	Fr.		Manhattan, Kan.
	Jack Keith	Fr.		Collinsville, Okla.
	Tyrique Lewis	So.		Sanford, Fla.
	Riley Marx	So.		Andale, Kan.
	Ty Mathes	Fr.		Bradenton, Fla.
	Nen Matlock	So.		Shawnee, Kan.
	Kade McCall	Gr.		Boise, Idaho
	Silas Miller	Fr.		Marysville, Kan.
	Gary Moore Jr.	Jr.		New Haven, Conn.
	Jacob Norris	Fr.		Olathe, Kan.
	Brock Olsen	Fr.		Overland Park, Kan.
	Lance Owen	Fr.		Flower Mound, Texas
	Selva Prabhu	Fr.		Madurai, India
	Quenton Rice	Fr.		Las Vegas, Nev.
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	Adam Snoke	So.		St. Louis, Mo.
	Jack Steger	Fr.		Lansing, Kan.
	Emil Uhlin	Sr.		Falun, Sweden
	Tavon Underwood	So.		Longmont, Colo.
	Cyrus Ways	Jr.		Ponte Vedra, Fla.

Support Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Kayla Tully	Staff Assistant		(785) 532-7071
	Rebecca Guzman	Athletic Trainer		(785) 706-8896
	Isabella Scheid	Assistant Athletic Trainer		(785) 712-0196
	Danny Cavender	Head Olympic Strength & Conditioning Coach		(785) 532-5752
	Caitlyn Claussen	Academic Counselor		(785) 477-5163
	Kenny Lannou	Executive Associate AD/Team Administrator	klannou@kstatesports.com	(785) 532-7977

Kansas State University Athletics

2024-25 Track & Field Roster

Ludivine Aubert

Paige Baker

Jessi Brummett

Claire Bybee

Charlotte Cattermole-Williams

Lindsey DeWitt

Jourdin Edwards

Sharie Enoe

Cecilia Fisher

Vera Gerasimova

Monique Hardy

Safhia Hinds

Ariana Jackson

Gracie Jacobs

Christine Jerono

Brooklyn Jones

Tamaiah Koonce

Kate Kowalik

Vienna Lahner

Aaliyah Lindsay

Taylor Mayo

Vanessa Mercera

Grace Meyer

Abby Micek

Stella Miner

Daisy Monie

Bree Newport

Chisom Nwafor

Shalom Olotu

Alexa Rios

Jaycee Schroeder

Mikah Scott

Saydee Tanking

Tesia Thomas

Grace Thompson

Delaney Wright

Aaron Antoine

Isaac Ativie

Oskars Bambals

Jhavor Bennett

Ty Brechler

Thomas Canivet

Pierson Carlisle

Devin Chappel

Dorian Charles

Nate Collier

Bryce Collins

Croix DaCunha

Jackson Esquibel

James Ezeonu

Tommaso Franze

Alex Gutierrez

Matthew Hauser

Tommy Hazen

Lucas Holdren

Jack Keith

Tyrique Lewis

Riley Marx

Ty Mathes

Nen Matlock

Kade McCall

Silas Miller

Gary Moore Jr.

Jacob Norris

Brock Olsen

Lance Owen

Selva Prabhu

Quenton Rice

Adam Snoke

Jack Steger

Emil Uhlin

Tavon Underwood

Cyrus Ways

Peyton Willbanks

Travis Geopfert

John Newell

Kate Bucknam

Mat Clark