Monday, February 9, 2009
Colby Wissel was looking for a confidence booster. For the past few races, the Elm Creek, Neb., senior had been trying to qualify for indoor nationals in distance to no avail. However, this weekend Wissel got one step closer.
While most of the team competed in New York at the New Balance Invitational, Wissel and some of the Kansas track and field team returned to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the Husker Invitational. The previous weekend the whole team competed in Lincoln at the Adidas Classic.
track
Results
Women
Pole vault
11. McKenzie Wills: 3.45 meters
11. Abby Jones: 3.45 meters
3,000 meters
7. Rebeka Stowe: 10:30.33
13. Riley Wetenberger: 10:44.20
Distance medley relay
3. Kansas: 12:25.23
Men
One-mile special
1. Colby Wissel: 4:01.92
One-mile
8. Donny Wasinger: 4:19.74
12. Kaleb Humphreys: 4:22.95
600-yards
10. Corey Mims: 1:15.29
1,000 meters
7. Clay Schneider: 2:32.49
Heptathlon
8. Jacob Breth: 4,537 points
While many on the team struggled in their events this weekend, Wissel’s performance in the one-mile special was the highlight for the Jayhawks as he took first place with a time of 4-minutes, 1.92 seconds. That meets the provisional qualifying time for nationals.
There were two different one-mile events. Wissel competed in the “special” race because it consisted of runners who were considered faster. Wissel said it was also much later than the regular one-mile event.
“In a way I’m happy to run well,” Wissel said. “It was a confidence booster moving on to the latter part of the season.”
Wissel said it was nice for him to not have to take the lead at the beginning of the race. He moved to the front after 800 meters and stayed in front of the pack for the remainder of the race. Wissel ran the last 800 meters in 1:58.
It’s the second time this season Wissel has run the one-mile race. He took second at the Kansas vs. Missouri Dual back in January with a time of 4:12.27.
“I’m in much better shape than I was competing against Mizzou,” Wissel said. “I was more worried about putting in a good hard effort and I thought I wouldn’t get it if I didn’t take the lead.”
Wissel said the talented field, as well as his own cheering section of family and friends, helped push him.
“The crowd’s enthusiasm helps during a race,” he said. “It was nice to do it in front of friends and my family.”
With the team’s struggles this weekend, Wissel said he hoped the team would see his performance as an example of working hard to where you’re happy with your performance.
Next up for the senior is taking a shot at breaking the school record in the 5,000-meter run in either Ames, Iowa at the Iowa State Classic or in Fayetteville, Ark., at the Tyson Invitational.
Wissel said that he was trying to qualify for indoor nationals for his final indoor season in either the one-mile, the 3,000- or 5,000-meter runs but that he only had two more chances before competing at conference.
“It’s hard to tell how my mile time will play out,” he said. “I don’t have many opportunities left, so I need to take advantage of them.”
— — Edited by Brandy Entsminger
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