Scott, Jayhawks Impressive in Arkansas
Jan. 9, 2009
Complete Results
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Highlighted by the sensational performance of junior Jordan Scott, the Kansas track and field team featured six individual champions Friday at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. Scott, seniors Stephanie Horton and Zlata Tarasova, juniors Lauren Bonds and Kelsey Erb and freshman Keith Hayes all came away victorious in their respective events at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
For the second consecutive meet, Scott posted an NCAA Provisional Qualifying pole vault, this time leaping a season-best 5.40 meters (17-08.50 ft.) to run away with the event championship. In second place was junior teammate Kirk Cooper, who vaulted 4.75 meters (15-07.00 ft.).
“Jordan is quite a competitor,” Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. “For him to jump 5.40 is really good, and it’s early. If he can continue to get better, the guy is going to be really good at the Big 12 meet and the NCAA Championships.”
Horton dominated the women’s shot put, posting a throw of 14.88 meters (48-10.00 ft.) to take first place by 2-00.50 ft. over Mississippi’s Betty Williams. Kansas senior Emily Reimer followed in third place with a toss of 13.52 meters (44-04.25 ft.)
Tarasova edged Mississippi’s Juliana Smith for title in the women’s weight throw by a margin of 17.09 meters (56-01.00 ft.) to 17.08 meters (56-00.25 ft.)
Bonds picked up right where she left off after a successful cross country season, taking the championship in the women’s 3,000 meters with a time of 9:57.11. Also much like the 2008 cross country season, sophomore teammate Amanda Miller finished as the runner-up, posting a time of 10:00.58.
Erb recorded a win in the women’s high jump, leaping 1.73 meters (5-08.00 ft.) to win by 0-05.75 ft. over junior teammate Elizabeth Beisner and Missouri Southern’s Laura Vengals (1.58 meters, 5-02.25 ft.)
Two Jayhawk freshmen finished 1-2 in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, with Keith Hayes taking the victory in a time of 8.02 seconds. Teammate Keyen Porter finished right behind in 8.18 seconds to claim the runner-up spot.
“I was really impressed with all of the winners’ performances,” Redwine said. “I was extremely impressed with Stephanie Horton coming back and throwing as well as she did. I was impressed with Keith Hayes, a freshman. He won the meet, and looked really good doing it. Any time you have a freshman that’s winning major meets like that you’re going to be pretty good.”
Senior Victoria Howard placed third in the women’s 200 meters, posting a time of 24.39 seconds.
Senior Colby Wissel, competing in his final track season for Kansas, took second place in the men’s 3,000 meters with a time of 8:20.62.
The Kansas men’s 4×400-meter relay team finished in third place behind Texas A&M’s “A” and “B” teams. The Jayhawks’ time of 3:14.56 was just .17 seconds behind the second-place A&M “B” team, and .58 behind the champion A&M “A” team.
“We’re definitely not at a resting point, and we’re not at a point where we can say we’re great yet,” Redwine said. “It’s just a step along the way. We have to work hard from this point to do better. For the most part, although Jordan did really well, even the people that won found places in their races and their events where they can do something to get better. That’s what they’re working for.”
The Jayhawks are back in action next Friday, Jan. 16, as they welcome rival Missouri to Lawrence for the Border Dual at Anschutz Pavilion.
