Kansas Track and Field Resumes Indoor Season at Illini Invitational

Jan. 10, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Fresh off their holiday break, the University of Kansas track and field teams venture to the Land of Lincoln to compete in the Illini Invitational Saturday in Champaign, Ill. Both the men’s and women’s teams look to build off their opening-meet success at the Kansas State All-Comers Meet as the indoor season begins to swing into full gear.

In Manhattan, Kan., nine different KU student-athletes won events for their respective teams. Junior Matt Baysinger set a new meet record in the 600-yard run, winning the event in 1:11.32. Fellow junior Ashley Brown captured the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.67 seconds.

Sophomore Stephanie Horton also performed well at the meet, as she earned a NCAA qualifying mark in the shot put. The Tigard, Ore., native won the event with a toss of 50-11. The accomplishment comes fresh off her performance at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships, where she captured the bronze medal in the shot put with a toss of 48-06.25.

Freshman Jack Sachse also turned in another successful performance for the Jayhawks. In his Kansas debut, the Ottawa, Kan., native won the 800 meters in a blistering time of 1:55.19. Sachse was the two-time 800 meters Kansas high school state champion and placed seventh at the 2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals, running a personal-best time of 1:51.73.

The women’s team also registered the top-five finishers in the 3000 meters, led by senior Melissa O’Rourke, who set the pace with a winning time of 10:20.76. She was followed by freshman Lauren Bonds (10:33.33) and junior Hayley Harbert rounded out the top performers with a third-place time of 10:36.91.

To read an interview with track and field junior captain Paul Hefferon, click here.

For complete notes on the event, click here.

Stay tuned to kuathletics.com for all the results and meet information.