Meinershagen Breaks School Record at Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational

Friday, January 31

Columbia, Mo.

University of Kansas

Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational

Meinershagen Breaks School Record at Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational

2/1/2025 4:49:00 PM | Track & Field

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Track and Field team strung together multiple impressive performances at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational in Columbia, Mo. on January 31-February 1.

Leading the charge was Mason Meinershagen, who broke the indoor women's pole vault school record (previously 4.45m) with her 4.47m jump. She also broke the facility record and set a new personal best in the event with 4.45m being her previous top mark across both indoor and outdoor season.

Meinershagen, who was the Indoor Big 12 Runner up in 2024 and went to both NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships last season as a true freshman, is now. No. 4 in the nation after posting this mark. The sophomore out of Saint Louis, Mo. qualified for Olympic Trials over the summer, and is on pace to be the favorite at this year's indoor and outdoor Big 12 Championships.

Erica Ellis was another standout pole vaulter for the Jayhawks in Columbia, as she cleared a new season best at 4.32m. Ellis finished in second place overall.

Joining her in the personal best category is Quenton Walion, who ran a sub-four minute mile to take first overall in the field. Walion acquired a new personal best with his 3:59.83 time, and was paced by his brother Parker Walion, who was running unattached, through the first four laps of the race.

Walion led an impressive group effort, as Tanner Talley was hot on his heels at 4:00.03 for second, while Tanner Newkirk took third at 4:01.68. Ryo Higuchi finished fifth with a 4:03.05 and Hobbs Campbell rounded out the pack in seventh place with a 4:04.32.

The Jayhawks went 3, 5 and 7 in the men's heptathlon, with Alexander Jung finishing third at 5698 points. This mark put him at No. 6 in the NCAA through the first three big weeks of competition. Tayton Klein achieved a new heptathlon personal best at 5343 points, while Payton Kasper took seventh place in his first collegiate multi with a total of 5177 points.

Emma Jemutai had a pair of strong races for the Jayhawks, taking first in the women's mile at 4:50.67 and second in the women's 800m at 2:10.12.

Ebba Cronholm, who is also a member of the KU women's soccer team, opened up her track season in the 3000m, where she was the top finisher for the Jayhawks. Cronholm took fifth place overall with a time of 9:23.18.

A pair of Jayhawk women finished top-five in the 60m hurdles, with Kaleigh Frazier at fourth (8.66) and Ola Wolczak at fifth (8.75).

Five Kansas men ended in the top 10 of the 200m, with Michael Joseph leading the way in third at 21.45. Joseph also won the 400m with a time of 47.39.

Joseph was a part of the men's 4x400m squad that ran 3:11.52 for second place overall. He was joined by Tristan Williams, Grant Lockwood and Prophet Basden.

The women's 4x400m was victorious, running 3:41.65 with a squad of Sidney Smith, Madison Campbell, Deshana Skeete and Pearl Awanya.

Up next, the Jayhawks will head back to Manhattan, Kansas for a Friday meet, the Steve Miller Invite, on February 7.