Dudarev notches NCAA lead in hammer throw on day 2 of Kansas split squad action
Kansas junior Gleb Dudarev made his 2019 outdoor season debut at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida on Friday, where he recorded the NCAA-leading mark and the No. 11 heave in the world this season in the hammer throw on his way to a second-place finish in the invitational section of the event. Dudarev’s NCAA lead highlighted the KU action across four separate meets on Friday, with Jayhawks also competing at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, the Mike Fanelli Track Classic in Hayward, California and the Oral Roberts Invitational in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dudarev recorded his top mark on his fifth attempt of the day, notching a throw of 74.39 meters (244-1 ft.), but all five of his successful attempts were good enough to take the NCAA lead from Miami’s Kevin Arreaga, who threw for 71.07 meters (233-2 ft.) a week earlier at the Miami Power 5 Trailblazer Challenge. Three of Dudarev’s marks landed in the top-10 of the KU track all-time performances list, with his top throw ranking No. 5. Dudarev finished second to Mexico’s Diego Alan del Real Galindo, who finished with a top mark of 75.10 meters (246-5 ft.).
Joining Dudarev with a successful day at the Florida Relays was sophomore Alexandra Emilianov. Emilianov placed fourth in the women’s invitational discus with a mark of 56.41 meters (185-1 ft.). The Chisinau, Moldova native already ranks No. 3 in the NCAA with a mark of 57.47 meters (188-6 ft.), set at the Emporia State Spring Invitational on March 23. Emilianov is set to compete in the invitational section of the women’s shot put at the Florida Relays on Saturday (Noon CDT).
The Kansas men’s distance medley relay team of Ethan Donley, Cody Johnson, Xavier Wolf and Bryce Hoppel highlighted the KU action at the Texas Relays on Friday as the team combined for a fourth-place finish with a time of 10:01.35. Hoppel, who won the invitational section of the 800-meter run on Thursday evening, anchored the team with the 1,600-meter leg in the DMR and took the Jayhawk squad from 12th place to the fourth-place finish after taking the baton from Wolf.
All four of the KU women’s distance runners that competed on Friday night at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic set personal bests in the 5,000-meter run. Catherine Liggett clocked in at 16:55.61 to place 24th, Cameron Gueldner placed 32nd with a time of 17:08.11, Megan Paule ran to a time of 17:19.00 to place 58th and Lauren Harrell hit the line at 17:33.96 for 70th.
NOTABLES
- Allie Twietmeyer posted a personal-best mark of 42.83 meters (140-6.25 ft.) in the javelin at the Florida Relays.
- Freshman Treyvon Ferguson finished eighth in Section B of the men’s triple jump at the Texas Relays with a wind-aided mark of 14.99 meters (49-2.25 ft.).
- Senior Alexis Romero tied for ninth in Section B of the women’s pole vault, equaling her career-best at 4.21 meters (13-9.75 ft.). The mark keeps her as the No. 7 performer in KU women’s history in the event.
UP NEXT
The Kansas split squad action continues on Saturday, March 30 with Jayhawks slated to compete at the Texas Relays, the Florida Relays and the Oral Roberts Invitational.
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