👟 Kansas Track and Field Set for Season-Opener
LAWRENCE, Kansas – The Kansas men’s and women’s track and field teams open their 2019-20 season on Friday, when the Jayhawks host the Bob Timmons Challenge at Anschutz Pavilion in Lawrence, Kansas on Friday, December 6.
The meet marks the first of 10 for the Jayhawks during the indoor season, including the first of two home meets. Kansas will return home to Anschutz Pavilion on January 23-24, 2020, to host the Jayhawk Classic.
“I know our athletes are excited to put on the Kansas singlet and compete against athletes from other schools,” Head Coach Stanley Redwine said. “We’ve been practicing all fall, and we think we’re in shape. But this meet puts it in perspective to see where we really are.”
Friday’s meet begins at 1 p.m., with the start of the field events, followed by track events beginning at 3 p.m. In total, the KU men will have 41 entries, while the women will have 32 entries competing on Friday spread throughout 28 events. The Bob Timmons Challenge will also mark the first indoor meet in a KU uniform for 24 individuals, as the Jayhawks welcome in a talented group of newcomers.
“I’m always excited for the newcomers to race for Kansas for the first time. Because of that, I know there will be nerves, but it gives them an idea of how to handle their nerves and how to compete,” Redwine said.
A season ago, the Jayhawks earned nine event victories at the Bob Timmons Challenge, including victories from 2019-20 returnees Xavier Wolf (600 yards), Rylee Anderson (high jump), Paolo Benavides (pole vault), Andrea Willis (pole vault) and the women’s 4×400 meter relay team. The KU men went on to finish the 2018-19 indoor season by placing third at the Big 12 Indoor Championship and 12th at the NCAA Indoor Championships, while the Jayhawk women placed fourth at the Big 12 Indoor Championship.
Following Friday’s meet, the Jayhawks will return to action on Saturday, January 18, 2020, when they travel to Wichita, Kansas to compete in the sixth installment of the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular. A season ago, Kansas won the in-state rivalry by scoring 235 points to claim their third triangular title, the most in the series history.
