Manning Takes Second in Triple Jump at Drake Relays

April 28, 2006

DES MOINES, Iowa –

Members of the University of Kansas men’s and women’s track and field teams were in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday for the second day of competition from the Drake Relays.

Senior Denita Young’s throw of 160-4 in the javelin moved her into fifth place on KU’s all-time performance list, moving past KU great Candace Mason. The toss was also good for sixth in the event and tops on this season’s performance list.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Sophomore Crystal Manning turned in a solid second-place finish in the triple jump. Her leap of 41-4 1/2 bested her previous career record of 41-3 3/4.

The distance medley relay team of Laura Major, Cortney Jacobs, Melissa O’Rourke and Dena Seibel turned in its best performance of the season, running a time of 11:41.77 and placing seventh. The team’s previous best was 11:48.35 at the Texas Relays.

Senior Angela Pichardo finished seventh in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:10.95. Her finish narrowly missed the NCAA regional qualifying mark of 2:09.80.

Sophomore Julius Jiles advanced to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles, running a time of 14.32 in his preliminary heat. The championship race is set for <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>1:52 p.m. on Saturday. Senior Aaron Thompson finished 12th overall in the preliminaries (14.50) and did not advance.

Junior Abby Emsick turned in her seasonal best in the discus on Friday. The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native finished fourth overall with a toss of 175-2, beating her previous best of 171-1.

Kansas returns to action for the third and final day of competition from the Drake Relays on Saturday.