KU Track & Field Heads Back to Oregon for USA Senior and Junior Championships
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Jayhawk men’s and women’s track teams will send five to the USA Senior and Junior Championships this week in Eugene, Oregon. The meet will exhibit hundreds of the nation’s top athletes at both the junior and senior levels and will include five athletes from the University of Kansas.
The athletes competing in the Senior Championships will be looking for the right to represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Beijing, China in late August. The top-three finishers in each event at this week’s meet will automatically earn the right to represent team USA at the World Championships. On the junior level, the top-three finishers in each event with qualify to represent the U.S. at the Pan American Junior Games in Edmonton, Canada, July 31-August 2.
Leading the way for the KU men this week will be senior Michael Stigler who will be competing in the 400-meter hurdles. Stigler is the fourth-fastest American in event this year with his time of 48.44 at the Texas Relays on March 27. He is also one year removed from taking a runner-up finish at the 2014 USA Championships.
The Canyon, Texas native will begin his week in the first round of the 400-meter hurdles on Thursday, June 25. He will hit the blocks at Hayward Field, the same track where he claimed the NCAA Championship in the event two weeks ago, at 7:10 p.m. (CT). If he advances, he will race in the semifinals on Friday, June 26 at 9:04 p.m. (CT). The 400-meter hurdle final will take place at 4:11 p.m. (CT), Saturday, June 27.
The Jayhawks will also have a strong group competing against many of the best under-20 track & field athletes in the nation in the USA Junior Championships. On the men’s side, freshman Anthonio Humphrey is set to take part in the 800 meters on Friday at 4:45 p.m. (CT) and freshman Jaron Hartley will compete in the 200 meters starting on Saturday at 5:22 p.m. (CT).
The Kansas women will also have two competing at the junior level, both in the pole vault. Freshmen Alexis Romero and Laura Taylor will hit the runway at Hayward Field on Saturday, June 26 at 6:05 p.m. (CT).
For results and updates on the Jayhawks’ performances throughout the week, log on to KUAthletics.com and follow on Twitter at @KUTrack.
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