Jayhawk Track and Field Opens 2010-11 Season Hosting Bob Timmons Challenge Saturday

Dec. 2, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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Bob Timmons Challenge Meet Schedule

University of Kansas track and field kicks off the 2010-11 indoor season hosting the Bob Timmons Challenge at Anschutz Pavilion on Saturday, Dec 4. The meet marks the second-straight season the Jayhawks will begin the season at home, after opening the previous 20 seasons on the road.

The Bob Timmons Challenge will feature over 500 athletes from several different universities and club teams from around the Midwest, as well as individual competitors. Highlighting the list of individuals competing in the meet will be former Jayhawk All-American Nickesha Anderson, who owns both the Anschutz Pavilion and Kansas school record in the 60 meters with her time of 7.38.

The Jayhawks come into the season with quite a few returning stars. Sophomore thrower Mason Finley enters his second campaign after having a very strong freshman year with the Crimson and Blue. Finley won’t be throwing the shot put, his specialty, on Saturday, but he will be one of the top competitors in the weight throw.

Joining Finley as a returning star of the track and field team is senior pole vaulter Jordan Scott. Although Scott will be competing unattached, he enters the season as one of the most decorated athletes in Kansas history. He is the three-time defending Big 12 Indoor Pole Vault Champion and he begins his senior season as the leader of the Jayhawk track and field squad.

The Kansas men will be anchored on the track by returning standouts sophomore Kyle Clemons and senior Keron Toussaint. Clemons and Toussaint both were a part of the 2010 Jayhawk squad that finished seventh at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Clemons will compete in the 60 meters and the 4×400-meter relay Saturday afternoon, while Toussaint will join him on the relay and also compete in the 600 meters.

Nikolos Giancana and Alex Bishop will be among the Kansas newcomers making their first collegiate appearance on Saturday. Giancana will compete in the high jump. He enters his first collegiate meet after clearing 2.09 meters (6-10.00 ft.) as a prep athlete. Bishop will compete in the pole vault and enters his first college meet owning a personal best mark of 5.00 meters (16-4.75 ft.).

On the women’s side, sophomore jumper Andrea Geubelle is expected to have a very strong showing at the Bob Timmons Classic, as well as a great season overall. Geubelle, who placed ninth in the in the triple jump at the 2010 World Junior Championships, will be looked upon for a strong showing in the long jump.

Sophomore Taylor Washington returns to the track for KU as a reigning Big 12 Champion in the 600 meters. Washington will compete in the 4×400-meter relay Saturday afternoon. Also returning for the Kansas women is sophomore pentathlete Rebecca Neville. Neville took fifth place in the pentathlon at the 2010 Big 12 Indoor Championships and will be participating in the 60-meter hurdles, shot put and high jump at the Bob Timmons Challenge.

Francine Simpson, Demi Payne and Diamond Dixon will be three Jayhawk newcomers to keep an eye on the women’s side. Simpson, who will be competing in the long jump and 60 meters, recorded a mark of 6.46 meters (21-02.50 ft.) last year as a freshman at Lindenwood University. Payne recorded a personal best of 4.00 meters (13-01.50 ft.) in the pole vault as a senior in high school. Dixon will compete as a member of the KU 4×400-meter relay team after clocking in at 52.92 in the 400 meters as a prep athlete.

Overall, 21 teams will be competing in the 2010 Bob Timmons Challenge, including five from the state of Kansas alone.

Twenty-six male and 23 female athletes will be competing for the Jayhawks this weekend, while they look for a great beginning at the start a highly anticipated season.

The Bob Timmons Classic will begin at 9 am with the field events, followed by the track events which will begin at approximately at 10:30 am.