Lokedi Tabbed Big 12 Athlete of the Week

LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the second time in three weeks a Kansas track & field female has been selected as the Big 12 Athlete of the Week after sophomore Sharon Lokedi earned the honor Wednesday. The announcement marked the first weekly honor of Lokedi’s career and the second by a KU female this season.
 
In just her second outing of the indoor season, Lokedi made history by posting the fastest 3,000-meter time in the 30-year history of Anschutz Pavilion Friday night at the Jayhawk Classic in Lawrence. The sophomore was never challenged throughout the 1.8-mile race, building a lead of more than 30 seconds by the midway point. The Eldoret, Kenya native lapped the rest of the field before she sprinted down the homestretch and through the finish to post a career-best clocking of 9:29.24. The mark, which ranks as the second-fastest ever posted by a Jayhawk, topped the facility record set by KU’s Lauren Bonds at the same meet six years prior.
 
Lokedi’s performance also moved her into the top-20 of the latest NCAA 3,000-meter rankings, as the 18th-fastest time among the NCAA DI standings and the fastest achieved by a Big 12 runner this season.
 
The Jayhawks will journey north to compete in the Husker Invitational this weekend. Events will be held Feb. 5-6 inside the Bob Devaney Center.
 
 
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