Jayhawks to Battle Tigers in Dual Meet Action Friday

Jan. 11, 2012

Meet Notes | Meet Schedule

Kansas vs. Missouri Dual
Date	Friday, Jan. 13, 2012
Location	Columbia, Mo.
Venue	Hearnes Center Fieldhouse
Start Time	1:00 p.m.
Coverage	Meet Central
Results	Live Results
Meet Schedule
Heat Sheets

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas track and field will renew the Border Showdown this Friday when the men’s and women’s teams travel to Columbia, Mo., for the Kansas vs. Missouri Dual Meet held in the Tigers’ Hernes Center Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks earned the victory last season while Missouri came out on top in 2009 and 2010.

“I think our athletes are starting to get in the groove,” said head coach Stanley Redwine. “Workouts have been pretty demanding this week and will continue to be that way for the next couple weeks. I’m sure all the athletes will go out and do their best.”

The Jayhawks will send a host of athletes who have started the 2012 campaing off strong. On the women’s side, junior Andrea Geubelle will be competing in the long jump and triple jump. The All-American’s top triple jump mark the season (12.87 meters) currently leads the NCAA, while she ranks 13^th in the long jump.

The vertical jumpers for KU have stormed to a fantastic start this season. Sophomore pole vaulter Demi Payne and freshman high jumper Colleen O’Brien have each collected two titles in their respective events, while KU’s male pole vaulters boast two in the top 20, sophomore Alex Bishop and freshman Greg Lupton.

“They’ve obviously done a great job over the holidays and worked out well,” explained Redwine of the vertical jumpers group. “(Vertical jumps coach Tom) Hays is doing a phenomenal job with both the men’s and women’s pole vaulters and high jumpers. We’re expecting a lot out of them this season and I think they’re responding to those expectations.”

The Jayhawks are also sending a young, but talented group of sprinters to the meet Friday. The women are led by sophomore Diamond Dixon, who is coming off event titles in the 60 meters, 200 meters and 4×400-meter relay a week ago at the Bill Easton Classic. Teaming up with her in the 4×400-meter relay at Missouri will be juniors Paris Daniels and Denesha Morris and freshman standout Alisha Keys.

For the men, junior Kyle Clemons leads a strong sprinting group into Columbia. Clemons, along with sophomore Shawn Smith and freshmen Kenneth McCuin and Mike Hester each have claimed times in the 200 meters and 400 meters that are in the top 25 in the NCAA this season.

All-American Rebeka Stowe produced a strong season debut performance last week in the Bill Easton Classic. The senior won the 3,000 meters in a time that was just three seconds off the Anschutz facility record. She will compete in the mile run against Missouri and will join teammates Taylor Washington, Cori Christensen and Shayla Wilson in the distance medley relay.

Other athletes to watch for the Jayhawks later this week are junior Heather Bergmann and sophomore Jessica Maroszek in the shot put and weight throw, junior Francine Simpson in the long jump and 60 meter dash and senior Donny Wasinger in the 1,000 meters and the distance medley relay.

The Jayhawks will try to pick up the dual meet victory for the second-consecutive season, but will also stress the importance of improving, and competiting against strong, Division I competition will give both the men’s and women’s teams an ample opportunity for improvement.

“That will be one great thing to watch; how our athletes compete against better competition. We’ve had some great early meets this season, but in order to do well at the conference and NCAA meets we need to go up against higher competition. So it will be time to step up on Friday.”

The meet will kick off at 1:30 p.m., (CST) inside the Hernes Center Fieldhouse with the field events. The track events will begin at 3 p.m., with the women’s 60-meter hurdles and will conclude at 6 p.m., with the men’s 4×400-meter relay. Log on to kuathletics.com on Friday afternoon for live updates and follow on twitter at KU_Track.

UP NEXT
Both teams will have a week off before returning to action in the final indoor home meet of the season, the Jayhawk Invitational on Friday, Jan. 27. The day starts at 11 a.m., with the events for the men’s and women’s pentathlon, while the track events begin at 4:05 p.m., with the women’s mile run. Stay connected to Jayhawk track and field until then through kuathletics.com and on twitter at KU_Track.