Kansas Track and Field in Action This Week at 84th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays
April 6, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas’ men’s and women’s track and field teams will send 33 athletes to Austin, Texas this week for the 84th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, which are being held April 6-9 on the University of Texas campus.
After a dominating performance last weekend at the Arkansas Razorback Spring Invitational both Jayhawk squads are looking to continue their solid start to the 2011 outdoor season. The men’s team jumped 14 spots to No. 12 in this week’s national rankings after 17 men placed third or better in last week’s meet in Arkansas.
Sophomore thrower Mason Finley is having another phenomenal season and is ready to defend the discus throw title which he won at last year’s Texas Relays. Finley is coming off his best performance of his career in the discus at the Razorback Spring Invitational, as he notched a mark of 60.36m (198-00 ft.) and a first place finish. The mark ranks second in the nation this year.
Finley will be joined in the discus competition by senior Brian Bishop, who has the 23rd best mark in the country this season with his distance of 55.32m (181-06 ft.). Freshman sensation Johann Swanepoel and junior Iain Trimble will compete in the javelin. Swanepoel currently ranks 14th in the NCAA in the javelin with his mark of 70.16m (231-06 ft.).
Senior pole vaulter Jordan Scott will look to improve on his second-place Texas Relays finish from 2010 as he competes on Saturday afternoon. Scott, the 2010 NCAA Champion and six-time Big 12 Champion, has only competed in one meet prior to the Texas Relays and recorded a mark of 5.20m (17-00.75 ft.).
On the track, the KU men will look for strong performances from sprinters Kyle Clemons and Keron Toussaint as they will look to guide the 4×400-meter relay team and sprint medley relay team to a title.
On the women’s side, sophomore Andrea Geubelle will pull double duty as she goes for titles in both the long jump and triple jump. Geubelle, who was an All-American in the long jump last season, will be joined in the event by sophomore standout Francine Simpson.
Juniors Rebeka Stowe and Cori Christensen will compete in the 1,500 meters, while Kendra Bradley, Diamond Dixon, Taylor Washington, Shayla Wilson and Simpson will join forces for KU in the 4×400-meter relay and the sprint medley relay.
Freshman thrower Jessica Maroszek will look to continue her hot streak as she will compete in the discus after taking home both the shot put and discus titles at last weekend’s Razorback Spring Invitational. Maroszek currently ranks 17th in the NCAA with her season’s best mark of 52.35m (171-09 ft.) in the discus.
Four Jayhawks will compete in the women’s pole vault with Julia Cummings, Demi Payne and Tara Turnbull vaulting in the `B’ section and Jaci Perryman vaulting in the `A’ section.
Sophomore Rebecca Neville kicks off the competition for Kansas as she will compete in the two-day heptathlon starting Wednesday with the 100-meter hurdles and concluding Thursday with the 800 meters.
For complete Kansas results and live updates, follow www.kuathletics.com.
