Jan. 14, 2005

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -

The University of Kansas men's and women's track and field teams competed in the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., Friday night at the Randal Tyson Track Complex. In this non-scored event, the Jayhawks tallied three NCAA provisional qualifying marks. 

The story of the night was the effort by freshman Ekaterina Sultanova in the pole vault. Sultanova broke the Kansas record and won the event with a best effort of 13-7.25, in just her second collegiate meet. The Jayhawks finished one-two in the pole vault as senior Amy Linnen placed second with a 12-11.50 effort that is also a NCAA provisional mark.

"Ekaterina is a great story," Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. "She is a great competitor and she has a very bright future at the University of Kansas."

Senior Brooklyn Hann won the triple jump as she tied her own school record with a NCAA provisional effort of 42-3.25. Freshman Crystal Manning also did well in the event as she placed third with a mark of 39-8.50.

"Coming into the meet we were just trying to see where we were at this point and we broke school records," Redwine added. "That shows where we are headed as a team."

Senior Kim Clark placed second in the 800-meters with a time of 2:11.86, while junior Charisse Bacchus finished second in the long jump with a jump of 19-6.75.

On the men's side, junior Sheldon Battle won the weight throw with a best toss of 61-00.25, edging senior teammate Colin Dutton, who finished second with a throw of 56-7.25. Battle also placed third in the shot put (47-8.50).

In the 60-meter dash, former Jayhawk great Leo Bookman won the event, running for Team Nike with a time of 6.82. Jayhawk junior Aaron Thompson finished second in the event with a personal best time of 6.93.

KU scored two-second place finishes as junior Brett Terp was the runner-up in the high jump (6-6), and junior Cameron Schwehr placed second in the mile (4:06.32). Senior Jeremy Mims took third in the 800-meters with a time of 1:51.15.

"I thought we had a solid meet," Redwine added. "Overall we competed good, for the majority of the team, we are in pretty good shape and I think we are headed in the right direction."

With the 2005 indoor season now in full swing, the Jayhawks will prepare for the KU/KSU/MU Triangular next Friday in Manhattan, Kan.

Full Results