Distance runners power Jayhawks in Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. – Battling illnesses that left the squad’s numbers lower than expected for the weekend, the Kansas track & field teams fought hard at the Mark Colligan Memorial meet at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, and picked up eight event victories, including wins on both sides in the 800-meter, mile and 3,000-meter runs.
PERFORMANCES OF THE DAY
• Sophomore Bryce Hoppel picked up two victories on the day, crossing the line first in both the 800-meter and mile runs. Hoppel notched a personal record in the mile, clocking in at 4:09.95 for the win. The Midland, Texas native later went on to win the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.13 to become the only Jayhawk to win two events on the day.
• Junior Sharon Lokedi moved into No. 7 on the Kansas women’s indoor all-time performers list with her career-best time of 4:45.84 in the mile. Lokedi shaved 11 seconds off her previous-best time to record the fastest mile in the Big 12 this season and the 17th-fastest in the NCAA in 2018.
• Senior Courtney Coppinger notched a career-fastest time in the 3,000-meter run on her way to the event victory. Coppinger’s time of 9:42.04 moved her to ninth on the Kansas women’s indoor all-timer performers list in the event, and it currently ranks second in the Big 12.
• Senior Laura Taylor cleared an indoor-best of 4.28 meters (14-0.5 ft.) to win the women’s pole vault, edging out teammate Andrea Willis, who finished second with a clearance of 4.13 meters (13-6.5 ft.). Taylor’s mark vaulted her from sixth to fourth on the KU all-time list, moving her above Willis and former Kansas athlete Demi Payne. Her mark currently ranks sixth in the nation and first in the Big 12.
STANLEY SAID IT
Quotes from Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine
On Bryce Hoppel’s two-victory day…
“I thought Bryce did a really good job today. Coach Whitt (distance coach Michael Whittlesey) had him in the right events and he did extremely well, to win both events like that, I was really excited. Then, for him to come back in the 4×4 and run the way he did was great. He had a really great day.”
On Courtney Coppinger’s performance in the 3,000 meters…
“What a performance by Courtney. I’m sure she would like to thank Sharon (Lokedi) for trying to help her out and make sure she got there. She was determined and it just goes to show that determination pays off.”
On Laura Taylor’s indoor PR in the pole vault…
“That was an amazing jump. She knew she could clear that, so it was great to see her go up and get it. She’s one of the best in the country and Coach (Tom) Hays does a wonderful job with his group.”
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
• Senior Barden Adams won the men’s triple jump with a mark of 15.91 meters (52-2.5 ft.). The win marks the second-straight meet Adams won the event, also winning at the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular.
• Junior Dylan Hodgson recorded the season’s fastest 3,000-meter time in the Big 12 by winning the event with a time of 8:17.11.
• Freshman Kyle Rogers cleared a personal record in the pole vault to finish second in the event. Rogers cleared 5.08 meters (16-8 ft.), moving up from his previous-best of 5.06 meters (16-7 ft.)
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will return to Lawrence to host the final home indoor meet of the 2018 season, the Jayhawk Classic, January 25-26 at Anschutz Pavilion. Thursday’s action is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with Friday’s events slated for a 9 a.m. start time.
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