Jayhawk Track in First After Day One of Regionals
May 28, 2005
NORMAN, Okla. – Rainy weather and delays could not halt the University of Kansas track and field teams from stellar performances at day one of the 2005 Midwest Regional Championships in Norman, Okla.
After the first day of action KU leads on both the men’s (35 points) and the women’s sides (24 points).
Junior Sheldon Battle continued to dominate on Friday. Battle won two events, taking first place in the shot put (63-04.75) and then turning around to win the discus (187-04) to advance to the NCAA Championships in both events. Sophomore Gavin Ball will join Battle with a fifth place finish in the discus (174-07).
Rounding out the men’s action for KU on Friday, junior Benson Chesang broke the previous Midwest Regional effort in the 5,000-meter run with a second place 13:59.69 effort. Chesang was edged by Brett Vaughn of Colorado who beat him with a time of 13:59.39 in the exciting race.
Senior Jeremy Mims also qualified for the national meet with a fifth place finish in the 800-meters (1:49.01).
The KU women’s team also enjoyed success at day one of the regional. Senior Jen Widerstrom broke the Kansas school record for the fourth time with a fourth-place, 191-11 effort.
The Jayhawks picked up 16 points in the women’s pole vault as senior Amy Linnen won the event as she tied her own school record with a vault of 13-11.75. Freshman Ekaterina Sultanova, who won the pole vault at this year’s Big 12 Championships, placed third in the event (13-7.75).
Action from Norman, Okla., and the Jacobs Track Complex will continue all day Saturday.
