Kansas Throwers Perform Well At Kansas Relays

April 23, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. – It was an outstanding performance for Kansas throwers at the Kansas Relays this week. The Jayhawks claimed three individual titles, posted two runner-up finishes, and eight top-five finishes overall from the throwers alone.

Leading the way was sophomore Mason Finley, who won the shot put and the discus during the competition. Finley claimed the shot put championship on Friday and added the discus title in the final event of the Relays late Saturday afternoon.

Jessica Maroszek claimed the women’s discus with a personal-best 177-10. The freshman also finished sixth in the shot put.

“I think everybody did great,” said Kansas throws coach Andy Kokhanovsky Saturday night. “They did even more than I expected. There were some school records, personal bests and they won some key events. It was very good overall.”

Finley out-distanced his competition with a 193-01 throw in the discus to finish the meet. His throw was nearly 10 feet beyond runner-up John Talbert from HutchinsonCommunity College.

The imposing Colorado native recorded a shot put mark of 65-01 to win that event by more than seven feet over Max Alonso of FortHaysState.

“Mason did real well in the shot and very good in the discus,” Kokhanovsky said.

Senior Brian Bishop registered fifth-place finishes in both the discus and shot put. Freshman Johann Swanepoel set a school record with a 241-06 javelin throw, which placed him only behind former Jayhawk Scott Russell at the Relays. Scott Penny was fourth in the hammer with a throw of 187-09.

In addition to Maroszek’s performance on the women’s side, Heather Bergmann set a personal best in the javelin with a throw of 168-07 to finish second in that event.

“They were well-prepared and worked very hard,” Kokhanovsky said. “I am glad the weather was alright and allowed them to perform up to their ability.”