Track and Field Departs for Big 12 Indoor Championships
Feb. 27, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – Three track and field athletes from the University of Kansas will make an attempt to defend their indoor conference championships this weekend when the Jayhawks head to Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 29-March 1, for the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The indoor conference championships start with the multi-events at 9:30 a.m. (CST) on Friday. Running events will begin with the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles at 2 p.m. and field athletes begin championship weekend with the men’s weight throw at 2:45 p.m. Multi-events continue at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday while the women’s triple jump begins at 1:30 p.m. and the finals of the 60-meter hurdles at 3 p.m. mark the start of the field and running events on the final day of competition. The 2008 Indoor Big 12 champions will be announced following the conclusion of the men’s 1,600-meter relay at 6:45 p.m.
As usual, a tough field awaits as eight of the 12 teams on both the men’s and women’s sides are nationally ranked in the top-35 by the USTFCCCA. Head Coach Stanley Redwine and the Jayhawks are one of 16 schools in Division I to have both their men’s and women’s teams in the top-30. Kansas currently has 30 athletes ranked in the top-10 of the conference in their respective events (12 men, 18 women).
At the indoor conference championships a year ago, the women placed sixth while the men finished seventh. The men return two conference champions in senior Egor Agafonov (weight throw) and sophomore Jordan Scott (pole vault), while senior Kate Sultanova looks to defend her conference title for the women. Senior Colby Wissel won the men’s 3,000-meter run in 2007, but has been unable to participate for the Jayhawks this season due to injury.
For those Jayhawks who have yet to qualify for the Indoor National Championships, they will have one last chance to do so at the Iowa State Invite on Saturday, March 8. Fayetteville, Ark. will then host the NCAA Championships on March 14-15.
