Kansas notches 14 event victories at Sunflower Triangular
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Looking to defend two-straight KU-KSU-WSU Triangular titles, the Kansas track & field team notched 14 event victories and three meet records at Ahearn Field House in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday, but came up just short in the final team tally, finishing second to Kansas State by four-and-a-half points. The Jayhawks scored 225.5 points behind K-State’s 230, but above Wichita State’s 174.5 at the conclusion of the fourth edition of the Sunflower Triangular.
PERFORMANCES OF THE DAY
• Senior Barden Adams set a meet record in the men’s triple jump by tying a career-best 16.01 meters (52-6.25 ft.) to give the Jayhawks a vital seven points late in the day and earn the best mark in the NCAA this season. His bound of 16.01 meters, which he previously reached at the Tyson Invitational last season, ranks as the eighth-best mark in Kansas men’s indoor history. Adams also won the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.39 meters (24-3 ft.), which ranks second in the Big 12.
• For the third time in as many years, junior Nicole Montgomery won the 600-yard run at the Sunflower Triangular, setting a meet record with a time of 1:20.62. Montgomery came into Saturday’s action as the nation’s leader in the event and retained that title with her time, which was the fifth-fastest mark in Kansas women’s indoor history.
• Sophomore Bryce Hoppel took home two first place finishes on Saturday, winning the mile and the 800-meter run. Hoppel ran the mile in 4:10.67, which currently ranks second in the Big 12. His 800-meter time of 1:52.99 ranks first in the Big 12 and 15th in NCAA Division I.
• Freshman Honour Finley set a meet record in the women’s 400-meter dash in her first time running the event as a collegiate athlete. Finley clocked in at 55.49 seconds to earn the win and the meet record, which places her 15th in the nation and first in the Big 12 this season.
• In the first year of the mixed 4×400-meter relay, the Kansas team comprised of sophomores Mariah Kuykendoll and Isaiah Cole, and juniors Nicole Montgomery and Ivan Henry blew away the competition, winning the event by four seconds with a time of 3:27.42. The Jayhawks led from wire-to-wire in the event and Henry was able to coast home down the final stretch for the win.
STANLEY SAID IT
Quotes from Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine:
On the day’s results…
“Unfortunately, we came up short by four-and-a-half points. Looking at the results, it seems like there were areas we expected better results, but overall, I am pleased. Hats off to K-State, they had a great meet and were able win it all. Overall, this was a good meet after the holidays.”
On his athlete’s performances…
“It was a great meet for Barden Adams, Bryce Hoppel, Nicole Montgomery and Honour Finley. Very excited for Barden and Bryce to be able to get double victories. Good to see the three meet records from Barden, Nicole and Honour. Overall, we had a great team competition and we are excited to keep building on these results.”
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
• Senior Nick Giusti improved on his career-best time in the 60-meter hurdles by two-hundredths of a second, winning the men’s race with a time of 8.16 seconds. Giusti’s previous best time of 6.18 seconds ranked him the No. 8 performer in Kansas men’s indoor history, but his new best did not move him up the charts and he stayed in eighth. Giusti will need to run an 8.06 or better to move into the No. 7 spot, currently occupied by Keyen Porter (2009). Today’s time ranks Giusti No. 3 in the Big 12 Conference this season.
• Senior Jaron Hartley ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 in the 200-meter dash with his time of 21.72 seconds, which was good for second place. He also recorded a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.88 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest time in the Big 12 this season.
• Sophomore Isaiah Cole recorded a second-place finish in the 600-yard run with a time of 1:12.71. The time ranks second in the Big 12 this season behind teammate Matt Anyiwo’s time of 1:12.63 at the Bob Timmons Challenge in December.
• Senior Zainab Sanni and sophomore Jedah Caldwell placed first and second, respectively in the women’s 60-meter dash. Sanni notched a time of 7.63 seconds and Caldwell finished in 7.69 seconds. Caldwell and Sanni also finished second and third in the 200-meter dash. Caldwell took second with a time of 24.82 and Sanni clocked a 25.21 to take third.
• Senior Laura Taylor match a her personal-best indoor mark in the pole vault, clearing 4.15 meters (13-7.25 ft.) for the victory. Taylor’s clearance keeps her tied as the No. 6 performer in Kansas women’s indoor history in the event.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will travel north to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Mark Colligan Memorial at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, hosted by the University of Nebraska on January 20.
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