Sultanova and Scott Earn Big 12 Accolades

Feb. 12, 2008

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas’ pole vaulting duo of senior Kate Sultanova and sophomore Jordan Scott were honored as the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for their record setting performances last weekend as announced by the conference office on Tuesday. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Scott, the Male Athlete of the Week, and Sultanova, the Female Athlete of the Week, each lead the nation in their respective events after winning with meet-record marks at the prestigious New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York, N.Y.

“We’re very satisfied,” vertical jumps coach Tom Hays said of Sultanova’s performance. “We just want to stay the course, stay healthy and hopefully she can be in the top four or five in the nation.”

The Krasnodar, Russia, native tied KU’s record in the women’s pole vault as well as the Big 12 record with her automatic qualifying vault of 4.30 meters (14-01 ¼ ft.).

Scott set the meet standard with a career-best and automatic qualifying effort of 5.50 meters (18-00 ½ ft.). It is the third-best vault in Big 12 history and moved the Watkinsville, Ga., native into a tie as the number-one ranked athlete in the men’s pole vault.

“This takes a lot of pressure off,” Hays said of Scott. “He can be more relaxed and start to train harder and do more to where he can peak at the right time. He is right on task.”

Sultanova won the same award last week and it is the third time in her career that she has earned the distinction. This is the first such honor for Scott.

The pole vaulting duo will be traveling to Fayetteville, Ark. as the Jayhawks will split between several meets across the country this week. Kansas will also have athletes in Seattle, Wash., and Ames, Iowa throughout the upcoming weekend, February 14-16.

2008 Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Male
Jan. 15 Quentin Iglehart-Summers, Baylor, Jr.
Jan. 22 Scott Sellers, KansasState, Jr.
Jan. 29 James Galvan, IowaState, Jr.
Shardae Boutte, Oklahoma, Sr.
Feb. 5 Dusty Jonas, Nebraska, Sr.
Feb. 12 Jordan Scott, Kansas, So.

Female
Jan. 15 Lauren Hagans, Baylor, Sr.
Jan. 22 Loren Groves, KansasState, Jr.
AlexandriaAnderson, Texas, Jr.
Jan. 29 Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, Jr.
Feb. 5 Kate Sultanova, Kansas, Sr.
Feb. 12 Kate Sultanova, Kansas, Sr.