Neville, Canton Off to Strong Start for Jayhawks in 84th Annual Kansas Relays
April 20, 2011
Day 1 Videos Neville Heptathlon | Canton Decathlon
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The 84th Annual Kansas Relays are off and running as the women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon kicked-off the meet on a cool morning at Hershberger Track and McCook-Olympic Field at Memorial Stadium Wednesday morning. Fifteen athletes competed in both events with the men finishing five of 10 events and the women finishing four of seven events. Both groups will complete their respective events on Thursday with the men beginning with the 110-meter hurdles at 8:30 a.m., and the women beginning with the long jump at 9 a.m.
In the women’s heptathlon Kansas’ Rebecca Neville took an early lead in the event, notching 3,125 through four events. The sophomore took home first place finishes in three of the four events and recorded personal bests in the high jump and shot put.
“I feel good about today’s performance besides the 100 hurdles, which was a slow time for me,” said Neville of her day’s performance. “To run 14.35 in 40 degree weather that’s okay. High jump was awesome today. I had two good attempts at 5-foot-7 and then my third attempt I had a time foul so I didn’t get to try my third attempt. Overall I feel pretty good.”
Neville began the day by winning the 100-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 14.35 and earning 929 points toward the overall point standings. Neville then made her way to the high jump where she hit a personal record mark of 1.67 meters (5-05.75 ft.), also winning the event.
After a seventh-place finish in the shot put in which she set a personal best with her mark of 9.58 meters (31-05.25 ft.), Neville went on to win the 200 meters with a time of 25.12.
Going into the final three events of the heptathlon Neville holds a slim 97-point lead over Iowa State’s Jordan Andreassen, who is in second-place with 3,028 points. The women’s heptathlon will begin with the long jump at 9 a.m., Thursday.
“It’s time to set a personal record in everything,” said Neville of her focus entering the final three events of the heptathlon. “I don’t care if it hurts in the 800. I have to put my heart on the line because it’s the last event. I start out in my strong event, which is the long jump.”
In the men’s decathlon the Jayhawks’ Nick Canton ended the day in third-place, earning 3,311 points overall. Canton’s highlight of the day came in the high jump where he cleared a personal record height of 2.09 meters (6-10.25 ft.), earning 887 points. It was a solid outing for the junior who cleared the bar on first attempts for his first three heights before eventually hitting his new personal best and winning the event.
Canton would go on to finish second in the long jump, hitting a length of 6.30 meters (20-08.00 ft.) and finish third in the shot put on a throw of 9.76 meters (32-00.25 ft.). Canton closed out the day in the 400-meter dash, rounding the track in 54.37 and finishing fourth.
Canton was pleased with his performance through the first five events considering it was his first official decathlon of his career.
“I was most surprised that I did so well in the high jump, especially since I had been competing already for a couple of hours.” Canton said after his final event. “I’m just excited to get back out on the track tomorrow and finish strong.”
Canton and Neville will start the day off for the Jayhawks on Thursday in the decathlon and the pentathlon. The day’s events begin with the 110-meter hurdles for the men’s decathlon at 8:30 a.m., and the long jump for the women’s heptathlon at 9 a.m. Other Jayhawks will follow as the men’s hammer throw will kick off the field events at 12 p.m., and the women’s 800 meters will kick of the track events at 5 p.m.
Kansas Agate
Kansas Relays 4/20/11
WOMEN’S RESULTS
Heptathlon
100 Meter Hurdles
1. , 14.35 (929 points)
Rebecca Neville
High Jump
1.Rebecca Neville, 1.67m (5-05.75ft.) (818 points) ***Personal Record***
Shot Put
7. Rebecca Neville, 9.58m (31-05.25ft.) (502 points) ***Personal Record***
200 Meter Dash
1. Rebecca Neville, 25.12 (876 points)
Overall Standings (thru four of seven events)
1. Rebecca Neville (3,125 points)
MEN’S RESULTS
Decathlon
100 Meter Dash
4. Nick Canton, 11.87 (677 points)
Long Jump
2.Nick Canton, 6.30m (20-08.00ft.) (652 points)
Shot Put
3. Nick Canton, 9.76m (32-00.25ft.) (471 points)
High Jump
1. Nick Canton, 2.09m (06-10.25ft.) (887 points) ***Personal Record***
400 Meter Dash
4.Nick Canton, 54.97 (624 points)
Overall Standings (thru five of 10 events)
3. Nick Canton (3,311 points)