Completed Event: Track & Field at Battle for Boston at BU on February 22, 2026 ,
Final
Track & Field
at Battle for Boston at BU
Photo by: Jordyn Pennington/Kansas Athletics
Kansas Duo Named Big 12 Track Athletes of the Week
3/25/2026 1:00:00 PM | Track & Field
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas track and field was represented by sophomore Bryce Barkdull and junior Mason Meinershagen on the Big 12 Conference's first Athletes of the Week list of the outdoor season, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Kansas track and field opened its outdoor season at the Jayhawk Spring Fling at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday, where Barkdull and Meinershagen both finished as the top collegian finishers in the pole vault.
Barkdull tied a personal best vault of 5.55m (18-2.5 ft.) to tie for the top mark in the pole vault in the nation, while Meinershagen cleared 4.45m (14-7.25 ft.) to set the top mark in the country and the No. 5 performance in Kansas outdoor history. The Big 12 Outdoor Athlete of the Week honors are the first for both Barkdull and Meinershagen.
Barkdull was named the 2025 Men's Outdoor Outstanding Freshman of the Year and was a First Team All-American during the 2025 outdoor season, while Meinershagen is the Kansas school record holder both indoors and outdoors in the event and recently earned First Team All-America honors with an eighth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14.
Kansas track and field will be in action at the ESU Spring Open on Friday, March 27 in Emporia, Kansas. The meet will serve as Kansas' second of 12 meets during the outdoor season.
Kansas track and field opened its outdoor season at the Jayhawk Spring Fling at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday, where Barkdull and Meinershagen both finished as the top collegian finishers in the pole vault.
Barkdull tied a personal best vault of 5.55m (18-2.5 ft.) to tie for the top mark in the pole vault in the nation, while Meinershagen cleared 4.45m (14-7.25 ft.) to set the top mark in the country and the No. 5 performance in Kansas outdoor history. The Big 12 Outdoor Athlete of the Week honors are the first for both Barkdull and Meinershagen.
Barkdull was named the 2025 Men's Outdoor Outstanding Freshman of the Year and was a First Team All-American during the 2025 outdoor season, while Meinershagen is the Kansas school record holder both indoors and outdoors in the event and recently earned First Team All-America honors with an eighth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14.
Kansas track and field will be in action at the ESU Spring Open on Friday, March 27 in Emporia, Kansas. The meet will serve as Kansas' second of 12 meets during the outdoor season.
Players Mentioned
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
Ashton Barkdull NCAA Championship Interview
Saturday, March 14
Ashton Barkdull NCAA Championship Press Conference
Saturday, March 14
Kansas Track & Field Kansas Relays Press Conference
Wednesday, April 16
NCAA Track & Field Championship Highlights
Saturday, June 08