Jayhawks Head to Colorado for Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships
May 14, 2008
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<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the first time in conference history, the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held in the high altitude air of Boulder, Colo., when the University of Kansas men’s and women’s teams compete there May 16-18.
The Championships start with multi-events on Friday afternoon with the hammer competitions beginning at 1 p.m. (CST) and the 10,000 meters starting at 8 p.m. The women’s javelin also takes place on day one at 5 p.m. With the multi-events concluding on Saturday, the field competitions begin at 1 p.m. with the women’s shot put. Track events start at 5 p.m. with the 1,500-meter run and finish the day with the prelims of the 200 meters at 8 p.m. The final day opens with the men’s javelin at 11 a.m. and track events start with the 400-meter relay at 4 p.m. The 2008 Big 12 team champions will officially be crowned at 7:45 p.m. Saturday night.
The KU men and women each return all three outdoor champions from 2007. Seniors Egor Agafonov (hammer) and Barrett Saunders (long jump) and sophomore Jordan Scott (pole vault) were victorious for the men last spring. Seniors Ashley Brown (100-meter hurdles) and Crystal Manning (triple jump) and junior Zlata Tarasova (hammer) were 2007 outdoor conference champions for the women.
Kansas is one of 20 schools across the country that can boast having both of their programs in the USTFCCAA top-30. The women are currently 30th with the men ranked 28th. There are four other Big 12 schools that can claim the same distinction, though Kansas is the only program from the Big 12 North. In all, the men and women will each encounter five ranked teams at the conference meet, including the Texas A&M men who are ranked number one.
Be sure to log on to www.kuathletics.com for all the Jayhawk news and information from Potts Field. Live results can be found here: Live Results.
