Jayhawks record 8 victories, 15 PRs at Ward Haylett Invite
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas track & field concluded its regular season at the Ward Haylett Invitational in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday, with eight Jayhawks recording victories and 15 notching personal-best performances at R.V. Christian Track.
Five of the eight Jayhawk wins on the day were also personal records, including junior Riley Cooney’s win in the 800-meter run, in which she recorded a career-best time of 2:08.26 in the event. Cooney’s clocking now places her at No. 7 on the Kansas women’s all-time performers list in the 800 meters.
Senior Hannah Dimmick placed second in the 800, Wumi Omare took third with a PR of 2:10.26 and Catherine Liggett placed fourth, also PRing with time of 2:10.42.
Senior Matt Anyiwo won the men’s 800 meters, also setting a personal record with a time of 1:50.33. All four Jayhawks that competed in the men’s 800 recorded personal bests, with Quanah Gardiner, Ethan Donley and Mitch Grosserode placing seventh, eighth and 10th, respectively.
Freshman Darius Releford recorded two victories and two wins on Saturday, taking first in both the 110-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles. Releford won the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.79 seconds and took the 400-hurdle title with a time of 52.72 seconds.
Aaron Thacker was the final Jayhawk of the day to win an event and also PR, clocking in at 21.34 seconds in the 200-meter dash.
Freshman Anna Siemens PRed in the women’s 200, finishing third with a time of 25.85 seconds.
The Kansas women’s pole vaulters took the top-five spots in the event on Saturday, with senior Laura Taylor placing first with a clearance of 4.14 meters (13-7 ft.). Junior Alexis Romero placed second, Callie Hicks took third with a PR of 3.74 meters (12-3.25 ft.) and Morgan Griffiths and Khristen Bryant tied for fourth.
Kansas will travel to Waco, Texas for the 2018 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium, May 11-13.
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