March 07, 2009

Wissel, Hayes Post NCAA Provisional Marks

March 7, 2009

ISU NCAA Qualifier Results

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Colby Wissel improved on his provisional-qualifying time in the 3,000 meters, and Keith Hayes recorded a provisional mark in the 60-meter hurdles to highlight the day Saturday for the Kansas track and field team at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind., and the ISU NCAA Qualifier in Ames, Iowa.

Wissel was one of two Jayhawks to compete in Notre Dame Saturday. The senior from Elm Creek, Neb., posted a time of 7.58.08 to place fourth in the 3,000 meters, almost six seconds better than his previous mark of 8:04.00. His latest provisional-qualifying time falls just 3.58 seconds short of an automatic time, so Wissel will have to wait and see if his mark ranks high enough to earn him a spot in next weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships.

Hayes, a freshman from Wichita, Kan., ran a personal-best time of 7.86 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish in third place. It was the first time this season for Hayes to provisionally qualify, and he will play the waiting game as well to see if he will make the trip to College Station.

The other Kansas athlete who competed at the Alex Wilson Invitational was junior Lauren Bonds, who had also previously recorded a provisional mark. The Hutchinson, Kan., product ran a time of 4:48.50 in the mile to place 11^th. Bonds will also learn of her NCAA fate in the next couple days.

Senior Victoria Howard had a solid race in the 200 meters at the ISU NCAA Qualifier, running 24.33 to place second.

For the second consecutive week, Corey Fuller posted a personal-best triple jump. The freshman from Baltimore, Md., jumped 15.21 meters (49-11.00 ft.) to place second.

Junior Kelsey Erb tied for third in the high jump in Ames, clearing 1.72 meters (5-07.75 ft.).

Keron Toussaint ran the 400 meters for the first time this season, posting a time of 48.10. The sophomore from Lawrence, Kan., finished in 13^th place at ISU.

Freshman Nick Canton continued to improve on his personal-best high jump mark, raising it to 2.09 meters (6-10.25 ft.) to place eighth in Ames.

Freshman Mackenzie Wills recorded a personal-best jump in the pole vault, leaping 3.70 meters (12-01.50 ft.) to finish in a tie for eighth. Sophomore Abby Jones also tied for eighth with a personal-best pole vault, equaling Wills at 3.70 meters (12-01.50 ft.).

Junior Kirk Cooper placed fifth in the pole vault, clearing a season-best mark of 5.12 meters (16-09.50 ft.).

Jamaica Collins had her best meet of the season, posting a personal-best long jump for the first time since the Holiday Preview in December, which also happened to be in Ames. The freshman from Fort Worth, Texas, jumped 5.62 meters (18-05.25 ft.) to finish in fifth place. Collins also achieved a personal-best triple jump, finishing in sixth place at 11.00 meters (36-01.25 ft.).

Stephanie Horton had a season-best throw in the shot put, finishing in fourth place. The senior from Tigard, Ore., recorded a toss of 14.91 meters (48-11.00 ft.). Senior Emily Reimer followed in eighth place, also with a season-best throw of 14.39 meters (47-02.50 ft.).

The Jayhawks’ next stop is the NCAA Indoor Championships next weekend in College Station, Texas. The championships begin Friday, March 13 and conclude Saturday, March 14. Jordan Scott is automatically qualified and will be competing in the pole vault. It will soon be announced whether or not he will be joined in College Station by Wissel, Bonds and Hayes.