Several Jayhawks Nationally Ranked

Jan. 27, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Several Jayhawks and former Jayhawks appear in the latest issue of Track & Field News which ranks individuals in their respective events. Current Kansas student-athletes include throwers Sheldon Battle, Stephanie Horton and Denita Young. Battle, a senior from Jamestown, N.Y., is ranked No. 7 in the U.S. in the shot put and also holds the 10th best distance in the world (68-8 1/2). Freshman Stephanie Horton has the 32nd best throw in the shot put in the U.S. (52-7 1/4), while senior Denita Young’s throw of 160-11 in the javelin is good for 19th on the U.S. list. Battle also holds the 26th best throw in the U.S. in the discus (189-7) and the 36th best toss in the hammer (210-0).

Additionally, 2005 All-American Jeremy Mims is currently ranked No. 4 in the U.S. in the 800-meter run while 2004 NCAA national champion Leo Bookman is ranked ninth in the 200-meter dash. 2004 Olympian Charlie Gruber is ranked eighth in the 1500 meters and 1991 graduate Pat Manson is 16th in the pole vault. Former Kansas great Scott Russell, competing for Canada, has the seventh-farthest throw in the world in the javelin this year as well (276-11).

On the women’s side, 2005 indoor national champion Amy Linnen is ranked 10th in the U.S. in the pole vault while Brooklyn Hann, a 2005 outdoor All-American, has the 13th longest leap in the U.S. in the triple jump. 2005 graduate Jennifer Widerstrom’s throw of 191-11 in the hammer is good for 35th in the U.S.