Running to the Big Apple
Track and Field headed to Invitational in New York after success at Husker Invitational
Kansas took three titles last weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational and are preparing for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational next weekend.
Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Junior sprinter Nickesha Anderson and sophomore pole-vaulter Jordan Scott seemed extremely winded after Monday’s practice.
“I’m about to pass out,” Anderson said.
Photo by Jon Goering
Senior pole vaulter Kate Sultanova.
It seems that hard work in practice is paying off for the University of Kansas Track and Field team. Last weekend, the Jayhwaks took home three titles at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska, facing off against nationally ranked teams like Baylor, Kansas State and Arizona.
Tougher competition and an atmosphere away from home didn’t faze the Jayhawks.
“There was a lot of stiff competition with teams like Nebraska and Baylor. It was a bit more competitive than it had been in the past four meets,” Anderson said. “Overall we did excellent. We are gradually improving each time.”
Senior pole-vaulter Kate Sultanova was not fazed a bit, posting an automatic qualifying jump for the NCAA Championships and bringing home a victory in the women’s pole-vault with a jump of 4.20 meters (13-09.25 ft.).
At the time of the competition, Sultanova’s jump was the highest women’s vault in the country.
She was given the top female award at the Invitational, and was named Big 12 Athlete of the Week earlier this week. This is Sultanova’s second time receiving the Big 12 honor.
Also victorious was Anderson in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
It was my first meet this season and it went really well. It was a good start.
-defending NCAA weight throw champion Egor Agafonov
“For the 60-meter dash, I actually stumbled in the semi finals and in the finals,” she said. “But I maintained my composure and didn’t lose my focus after I stumbled. The 200 [meter dash] just went smoothly.”
Anderson tied her 7.38-second school record time in the 60-meter dash and set a new school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.75 seconds.
For the first time this season, defending NCAA weight throw champion Egor Agafonov was able to compete. The senior from Togliatti, Russia took home first place in the weight throw with an NCAA provisional mark of 21.24 meters (69-08.25 ft.).
“It was my first meet this season and it went really well,” he said. “It was a good start.”
While Jordan Scott did not win the men’s pole vault for the first time this season, he did tie his season best performance of 5.35 meters (17-06.50 ft.), giving him second place.
He commented on his performances so far this season.
“I’ve been consistently over 17.2 (feet) every meet,” he said. “I’m constantly improving on technique and objectives. I just hope the bigger bars come soon.”
Scott credited his impressive performance at the Husker Invitational to using a bigger pole. Scott said that using a thicker and stiffer pole demands more strength and technique, but allows him to be sent higher, as the recoil is much stronger.
“I’m constantly jumping on bigger poles. I jumped on the biggest pole I’ve ever jumped on in my life in this meet,” he said. “A bigger pole is key at this point. I’m getting faster and stronger.”
Also impressive was senior Crystal Manning’s season best effort in the women’s triple jump at 12.99 meters (42-06.25 feet) giving her second place.
Junior Victoria Howard placed second in the 200-meter dash to Anderson, breaking the 24-second mark for the first time in her career.
On the men’s side, sophomore Bret Imgrund and senior Patrick McGrowan took second and third in the 3,000-meter run with times of 8 minutes, 31.2 seconds and 8:32.88 respectively.
Next weekend the Jayhawks travel to New York City for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Anderson and her teammates are not worried about the tough competition ahead.
“We as a team are not intimidated by other teams because we believe we’re just going out there to have fun,” she said. “You know, everybody puts their pants on the same way: one leg at a time,” she said.
—Edited by Madeline Hyden
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