Kansas Set to Compete in Fayetteville and Ames
Feb. 11, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas track and field is set for two more competitive meets Friday and Saturday as select Jayhawks split up between the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., and the ISU Classic in Ames, Iowa.
NCAA-leading pole vaulter and junior team captain Jordan Scott headlines a solid list of Jayhawks headed to Fayetteville this weekend. Scott is the lone KU athlete to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships thus far in the indoor season. Colby Wissel, who provisionally qualified in the mile last weekend in Nebraska, will also compete at the Tyson Invitational in the 5,000 meters.
“We have some really good athletes going to Arkansas,” Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. “There’s going to be great competition there. We’re looking forward to running some fast times and having some really good performances. Everyone is starting to rest up now, so we should be pretty fresh and ready to go.”
Amanda Miller, a third-place finisher in the 3,000 meters last weekend in New York, N.Y., will be in Ames along with many of her fellow distance runners hoping to have a successful showing.
“Iowa State is a huge meet,” Redwine explained. “We’ve had some great performances there in the past, and we’re looking for our athletes to do a really good job there also. I believe they are ready to run and waiting on the opportunity.”
More Jayhawks to watch for in Arkansas are freshman Keith Hayes (60-meter hurdles, 4×400-meter relay), senior Victoria Howard (60 meters, 200 meters, 4×400-meter relay alternate), junior captain Lauren Bonds (mile), senior captains Sha’Ray Butler and Charity Stowers (400 meters, 4×400-meter relay), senior captain Eric Fattig (long jump), senior Dustin Turner (long jump) and freshman Corey Fuller (triple jump).
Other KU athletes to keep an eye on in Ames include senior Hayley Harbert (5,000 meters), junior Bret Imgrund (3,000 meters), senior Patrick McGowan (3,000 meters), freshman Donny Wasinger (mile) and senior Corey Mims (600 meters, 4×400-meter relay).
“Every competition is about winning and losing and seeing how we do there,” Redwine said. “But in addition to that, it’s seeing how they are improving individually.”
The Tyson Invitational begins Friday at 10 a.m. CST with the men’s pole vault, while the ISU Classic gets started at 1:30 p.m. CST with the women’s pole vault.
KANSAS MEET NOTES
Air Jordan
Jordan Scott leads the nation this season with a pole vault of 5.50 meters (18-00.50 ft.), a mark he has reached twice already. The junior from Watkinsville, Ga., was named Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Male Athlete of the Week (Jan. 27-Feb. 2) after he won the adidas Classic in Lincoln, Neb., with his national-leading mark. Scott has finished in the top two in all five meets this indoor season, including four victories.
Wissel at it Again
All-American Colby Wissel is back for one final indoor season, and he is making the most of it. The senior from Elm Creek, Neb., ran an NCAA provisional-qualifying mile time of 4:01.92 to win the men’s one-mile run special in his home state of Nebraska at the Husker Invitational.
V is for Victoria
Victoria Howard has found the winner’s circle three times this season, taking home the titles in both the 60 meters and 200 meters at the Kansas vs. Missouri Dual Meet and the 200 meters at the adidas Classic.
Bonds Having Breakout Season
Lauren Bonds has started the 2008 indoor season with two wins and two runner-up finishes in four meets. The junior from Hutchinson, Kan., took home the championships in the women’s 3,000 meters at the Arkansas Invitational and the 800 meters at the adidas Classic. Bonds finished second in the mile at both the adidas Classic and the Kansas vs. Missouri Dual. She ran a season-best mile time of 4:48.46 to place 12th at the competition-heavy New Balance Collegiate Invitational.
