Stigler Snags Silver at USA Championships
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Kansas senior-to-be Michael Stigler added a runner-up finish at the USA Track & Field Championships to his 2014 résumé as he claimed the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles Sunday afternoon inside Hornet Stadium. The finish was the best of his young career at the national meet and marked the third-straight year a Jayhawk has earned a spot on the podium in an event at the USA Championships.
Stigler, who hails from Canyon, Texas, was the fourth qualifier out of the semifinals Saturday after posting a time of 49.86. Running out of lane two in the final, Stigler looked right at home running alongside several former Olympic and World Championship medalists. The three-time First Team All-American entered the home straightaway in fifth-place, but used a strong kick to storm down the home stretch and pass several runners in the final 60 meters.
Stigler crossed the finish in 49.63 to claim the runner-up finish, .7 seconds behind the winner, Johnny Dutch, but .53 seconds ahead of third-place finisher and 2013 NCAA Champion, Reggie Wyatt. The finish marked the highest of Stigler’s career at the national meet and was the best finish by a Kansas male at since Jeff Buckingham won the U.S. title in the pole vault in 1983.
Stigler’s performance also marked the third-straight year a Jayhawk has finished on the podium at the USA Championship meet after Andrea Geubelle took triple jump gold a year ago and bronze at the Olympic Trials in 2012.
In other action Sunday, outgoing senior Jessica Maroszek took part in the discus competition. The event didn’t go as planned for the three-time All-American, as she was unable to record a fair mark on any of her three attempts.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
