Pair of facility records highlights Kansas action at Jayhawk Classic

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas men’s and women’s track & field teams put together an impressive day at the final home meet of the indoor season, posting 15 wins at the Jayhawk Classic in Anschutz Pavilion on Friday. Among the 15 victories were a pair of facility records set by Jayhawks, with senior pole vaulter Laura Taylor and the women’s 4×400-meter relay team etching their names at the top of the Anschutz annals.
 
PERFORMANCES OF THE DAY
Senior Laura Taylor posted an Anschutz Pavilion facility record on her way to a first-place finish in the women’s pole vault. Taylor cleared 4.34 meters (14-2.75 ft.) to notch a new indoor personal best and become the No. 2 performer in Kansas women’s indoor history. The height is the fifth-highest mark ever cleared by a Jayhawk female, and currently ranks No. 4 in NCAA Division I and first in the Big 12 this season.
 
The Kansas women’s 4×400-meter relay team comprised of sophomores Jedah Caldwell, Mariah Kuykendoll, junior Nicole Montgomery and freshman Honour Finley clocked an impressive time of 3:41.75 for the second facility record of the night. The previous record was set last indoor season at the Bob Timmons Challenge, with Kuykendoll and Montgomery making up half of the team, and Adriana Newell and Whitney Adams completing it. Last year’s record-breaking team clocked in at just over a second slower than this year’s team, finishing the race in 3:42.89. The new facility record time currently ranks the Kansas women 13th in the nation and is the third-fastest time in the Big 12 in the event.
 
In her first collegiate performance, freshman Alexandra Emilianov became the No. 5 performer in Kansas women’s indoor history in the shot put. Emilianov finished second in the event with a throw of 15.55 meters (51-0.25 ft.). Her mark currently ranks No. 5 in the Big 12 this season.
 
STANLEY SAID IT
Quotes from Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine
 
On the team’s overall performance compared to last weekend…
“I think our performance was better this meet than last from top to bottom. It just seemed like there was a little more fight from our team, which was good to see, but we aren’t there yet. We have to continue to get better. I don’t want our team to get satisfied with what we have done. Don’t get me wrong, it’s exciting to break facility records, but we aren’t leading the NCAA right now, so our goal is to do well at the end of the season. We want to compete against the best and ultimately be the best.”
 
On the team’s mindset to get better…
“I think our coaching staff as a whole does a really good job of motivating the athletes and getting them to do better, and until we are the best, we know we can do better, and that is just the way we look at it.”
 
On freshman Alexandra Emilianov’s performance in her first collegiate meet…
“She is amazing, and I think the more she does it the more comfortable she will get. She was pretty nervous today, so once she gets those nerves settled and can focus on the event, she is going to be great.”
 
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Junior pole vaulter Hussain Al Hizam cleared a personal-best of 5.48 meters (17-11.75 ft.) to move into a tie as the sixth-best performer in the event in Kansas men’s indoor history. Al Hizam came up just shy of the Anschutz Pavilion record, failing to clear 5.58 meters (18-3.75 ft.). The mark currently ranks Al Hizam seventh in the nation and first in the Big 12.
 
Sophomore sprinter Quentin Dancer made his way into the men’s 60-meter dash finals with a time of 6.90 seconds, which at the time made him the No. 7 performer in Kansas history, but he came back with an even more impressive time in the finals to get the event victory. Dancer ran a 6.85-second 60-meter dash to move into the No. 5 spot on the Kansas all-time performers list. His time ranks 11th in the conference this season.
 
UP NEXT
Kansas will travel to Lexington, Kentucky for the Rod McCravy Memorial on February 3. The meet, hosted by the University of Kentucky, will be held at the Nutter Field House and is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CST.
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