Kansas vaulters break facility record at Jayhawk Classic
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas pole vaulters Hussain Al Hizam and Zach Bradford highlighted the Kansas track & field action on Saturday at the Jayhawk Classic, as the pair broke the Anschutz Sports Pavilion facility record on their way to finishing first and second, respectively, in the event.
Bradford, a freshman from Bloomington, Illinois, came into Saturday’s event with a personal record of 5.50 meters (18-0.5 ft.), which was set last weekend at the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada. The rookie bettered that mark on Saturday by clearing 5.58 meters (18-3.75 ft.), breaking the Anschutz facility record which was set last year by Jayhawk alum Jake Albright (5.57m/18-3.25 ft.).
The following jump, Al Hizam, who is the defending NCAA Indoor Champion in the event, cleared the bar at the same height to match Bradford’s new facility record.
Bradford attempted three jumps at 5.63 meters (18-5.5 ft.) but was unable to clear the new height. Al Hizam elected to pass at 5.63 meters and go for a new personal best of 5.71 meters (18-8.75 ft.) but was also unable to successfully clear any of his attempts.
Al Hizam finished first in the event, but the pair now sit in a tie for fifth in NCAA Division I with their clearances of 5.58 meters.
In total, 28 personal records were set by the Jayhawks on Saturday, including one by freshman Rylee Anderson in the high jump. The Longmont, Colorado native cleared 1.79 meters (5-10.5 ft.) to win the high jump for the third time in as many meets in her collegiate career. The winning clearance marked the No. 9 performance in Kansas women’s history and made her the No. 4 all-time performer in the event at KU, and also ranks Anderson in a tie for 13th in the NCAA this season.
Sophomore Alexandra Emilianov was able to notch a personal record and pick up a win in the women’s shot put and better her mark as the No. 5 performer in Kansas women’s history, recording a best throw of 15.93 meters (52-3.25 ft.). The mark ranks No. 24 in NCAA Division I this season.
STANLEY SAID IT
Quotes from Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine
On freshman pole vault standout Zach Bradford…
“He is a competitor. I think when he got to KU, that was the expectation for him, so he never let his youth deter him from being the best he can be. He doesn’t know any different, he just goes out does what he has always done and that is what competitors do.”
On the competition between Bradford and Al Hizam…
“I think Coach (Tom) Hays has done a great job with both of them and those two compliment each other. When you have a pair of people that can compliment each other like that, it is a lot of fun to see.”
On Javan Reece’s big day with personal records in two events…
“He has done really well and I have been pleasantly surprised. I saw the time and was very excited for him. Coach (Elisha) Brewer has done a really great job with him and all of her athletes.”
On Rylee Anderson’s hot start to her collegiate career…
“Again, Coach Hays has done a great job with her, and I think as she continues to get her approach down the way Coach Hays wants her to get it, I can only see more great things coming for her.”
On traveling to Lubbock, Texas for the first meet away from home this season in one week…
“It is going to be a lot of fun. It will be a different atmosphere for us. It will be the first meet on the road, so we have to get used to not sleeping in our own beds and learning how to compete with that different challenge.”
NOTABLES
• Sophomore Javan Reece recorded two of Kansas’ 28 personal records on the day, clocking in at 8.14 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles finals and 6.92 seconds in the 60-meter dash finals to become the No. 9 performer in Kansas history in both events.
• Sophomore Darius Releford also climbed the Kansas all-time charts in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in with a personal record of 8.12 seconds in the prelims to become the No. 8 performer in program history. He also recorded a PR in the 600-yard run at 1:14.67.
• Gabbi Dabney finished second in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.67 seconds to become the No. 8 performer in Kansas women’s history.
• The Jayhawks went 1-2-3 in the pentathlon, with freshman Cameryn Thomas winning her first combined event of her career with 3,497 points – just one point shy of breaking the Kansas top-10. Teri Huslig notched a career-best 3,395 points for second a freshman Toni Englund placed third with 3,167 points.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will split up and travel to Lubbock, Texas for the Texas Tech Open and Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Power Five Invitational, February 1-2.
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