Anderson Runs World's Fastest 200 Meters in 2008
Feb. 16, 2008
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AMES, IOWA/FAYETTEVILLE, ARK./SEATTLE, WASH. – Junior Nickesha Anderson claimed the fastest 200 meters time of any woman in the world in 2008 as the University of Kansas track and field teams saw success throughout the country on Saturday.
“I didn’t know I had run that fast until I got to the finish line,” Anderson said of her winning time of 22.94. “I love the 200, it is my race and I take advantage of it.”
“I was extremely excited and really happy for her,” sprints coach Elisha Brewer said of Anderson’s automatic qualifying mark. “She has been training really hard and she’s always trying to become the best athlete she can be.”
The Hanover, Jamaica, native became the first woman in the world to break the 23-second barrier this year. She passed Russian Anastasiya Kapachinskaya’s time of 23.02 for the world lead.
“This is one of the most awesome feelings of my coaching career and I’ve had some talented athletes,” Brewer said. “I just want to emphasize how proud I am of her. She is a very special kid. This was against some of the best competition in the world and she will only continue to improve. That’s the amazing part of it.”
Nearly overshadowed by the success of her teammate, senior Crystal Manning set the school record with an automatic NCAA qualifying mark in the women’s triple jump at 13.54 meters (44 feet, 5 ¼ inches). Manning had tied Brooklyn Hann’s record of 13.16 meters (43-02 ¼ ft.) at the Tyson Invitational a year ago.
Senior Libby Harmon also had a noteworthy effort in Fayetteville with her pole vault of 3.96 meters (12-11 ¾ ft.). That height provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Lauren Bonds also provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships after finishing the mile in 4:47.91 at the Husky Invitational.
On the men’s side at the Tyson Invitational, Jordan Scott bettered his career-best and automatic qualifying height from a week ago with his effort of 5.55 meters (18-02 ½ ft.). Senior Egor Agafonov was also victorious. He won the men’s weight throw for the third time in three tries with a toss of 21.31 meters (69-11 ft.). No other competitor had a throw over 20 meters.
In Arkansas on Friday, senior Kate Sultanova placed second behind April Kubishta of Arizona State in the women’s pole vault. Sultanova and Kubishta are currently tied with the nation’s leading height in the event at 4.30 meters. Each attempted to break that mark at the Randal Tyson Track Center, but we’re unable to complete the vault. Sultanova finished at 4.20 meters (13 feet, 9 ¼ inches).
Also on Friday, Anderson tied her school-best time of 7.28 as she placed sixth in the 60-meter dash on Friday.
Kansas will take the next week off before embarking on the Big 12 Championships in Lincoln, Neb., on Feb. 29-March 1.
ISU Classic
Ames, Iowa
KU Results:
Men
60m Hurdles: 6-Jiles (8.01p, 7.88s, 8.09f)
400m: 63-Toussaint (49.92), 78-Frigon (51.03)
800m Non-Seeded: 30-Peterson (1:57.36), 48-Mims (2:01.86)
800m: 15-Baysinger (1:52.00), 44-Sachse (1:54.01)
3,000m: 31-Huseman (9:10.12)
5,000m: 13-McGowan (14:42.78), 17-Imgrund (14:48.29)
5,000m Non-Seeded: 13-Caprario (15:04.40), 30-Van Orsdel (15:32.43)
Long Jump: 16-Turner (6.98m)
Heptathlon: 11-Breth (4,346)
Women
60m Hurdles: 10-Brown (8.58p, 8.56s)
600y: 5-Stowers (1:23.76), 9-Barber (1:26.25)
800m: 21-Pencil (2:12.97)
800m Non-Seeded: 7-Gruenbacher (2:17.00)
3,000m: 15-Windisch (10:29.06), 17-Schneider (10:34.70), 21-James (10:37.51)
Mile: 32-Sokol (6:07.13)
5,000m: 4-McGregor (17:17.39), 7-Harbert (17:23.99), 11-Miller (17:39.62)
Tyson Invitational
Fayetteville, Ark.
KU Results:
Men
200m: 72-Carey (22.81)
400m: 79-Rollins (50.38)
Pole Vault: 3-Cooper (5.00m)
Pole Vault Championship: 2-Scott (5.55m)
High Jump: 15-Scherzer (1.95m)
Long Jump: 5-Saunders (7.17m)
Shot Put: 26-Eres (13.94m)
Weight Throw: 1-Agafonov (21.31m)
Women
60m: 6-Anderson (7.40p, 7.28f)
200m: 1-Anderson (23.35p, 22.94f)
400m: 59-Butler (56.30), 78-Bradley (57.22)
High Jump: 7-Erb (1.68m)
Triple Jump: 1-Manning (13.54m)
Pole Vault: 3-Harmon (3.96m), 7-Cummings (3.81m), 9-Parker (3.81)
Pole Vault Championship: 2-Sultanova (4.20m)
Shot Put: 43-Reimer (12.00m)
Weight Throw: 5-Tarasova (18.78m)
Husky Classic
Fayetteville, Ark.
KU Results:
Women:
Mile: 14-Bonds (4:37.91)
