Relay Teams Help Jayhawks Close Out Final Day of Texas Relays

March 31, 2012

85th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Day 4

Junior Taylor Washington anchored the women’s 4×200-meter relay team that broke the school record Saturday Complete Results Results at a Glance Men’s 400m Hurdles (finals) 7 Michael Stigler 52.33 Women’s 4x200m Relay 7 Daniels, Keys, Morris, Washington 1:34.74 Women’s Distance Medley Relay 5 Christensen, Wilson, Rich, Stowe 11:33.06 Men’s Distance Medley Relay 13 Munsch, Hester, Soucie, Wasinger 9:58.67 Women’s Long Jump 7 Francine Simpson 21-01.50 ft.

AUSTIN, Texas – A pair of women’s relay teams rewrote the school record books Saturday at the final day of the 85^th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. The women’s 4×200-meter relay team broke the KU record, with the women’s distance medley team moving into the top-five of the school’s all-time performance list.

The women’s 4×200-meter team of juniors Pairs Daniels, Denesha Morris, Taylor Washington and freshman Alisha Keys made school history in the event Saturday afternoon, as the group combined to break the Kansas record which stood for nearly 18 years. The four passed the baton around in 1:34.74, topping the previous record by over a second. The time would earn the team a seventh-place finish and moves the group into the top-10 in the NCAA this season.

Another Jayhawk women’s relay team made some changes to the school’s all-time performance list in the distance medley relay. With three seniors (Shayla Wilson, Cori Christensen and Rebeka Stowe) and a sophomore (Maddy Rich) forming the quartet, the team combined to run one of the fastest outdoor distance medley times in school history. When the anchor, Stowe, crossed the finish line the clock read 11:33.06, marking the third-fastest time in KU history. The group finished fifth overall in the event, with their time also ranking fifth in the NCAA this season.

In the men’s distance medley relay, Josh Munsch, Brendan Soucie, Mike Hester and Donny Wasinger finished 13^th overall with a time of 9:58.67.

Texas native Michael Stigler hit the starting blocks early in the day to compete in the finals of the 400-meter hurdle finals. The freshman ran to the fourth-fastest time in the qualifying rounds, winning his heat and notching a personal best of 51.16. Saturday, Stigler made the one lap around the track in 52.33 to place seventh in the finals.

The lone field athlete in action on the final day was Francine Simpson in the long jump. The junior had fond memories of the Texas Relays as last season she collected a personal best of 21-02.75 ft., in a runner-up finish. Saturday, she would hit a wind-aided distance of 6.44 meters (21-01.50 ft.) on her third attempt of the day. The jump moved her into the finals of the event but Simpson was unable to top her best mark. She ended her day with a seventh-place finish.

The Jayhawks now move into the heart of the outdoor season as both men’s and women’s track teams head to Emporia, Kan. for the Emporia State Relays next Saturday, April 7. Action will begin from Fran Welch Stadium at 11:30 a.m. with the women’s 100-meter hurdles and will end at 6:30 p.m. with the men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relays. Log on to kauthletics.com for updates on the Jayhawks’ performances and follow on twitter at KU_Track.