Feb. 15, 2008

AMES, IOWA/FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - At some highly competitive meets, five Jayhawks from the University of Kansas track and field teams combined for top-five finishes at Day One of the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa and the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. on Friday.

In Arkansas, senior Kate Sultanova placed second behind April Kubishta of Arizona State in the women's pole vault. Sultanova and Kubishta are currently tied with the nation's leading height in the event at 4.30 meters. Each attempted to break that mark at the Randal Tyson Track Center, but we're unable to complete the vault. Sultanova finished at 4.20 meters (13 feet, 9 ¼ inches).

Senior Barrett Saunders finished fifth in the long jump with a leap of 7.17 meters (23-06 ¼ ft.) while sophomore Kirk Cooper's pole vault of 5.00 meters (16-05 ft.) was good for third in his event. The men's pole vault championship, featuring top-ranked Jordan Scott, will take place on Saturday afternoon. 

Junior Zlata Tarasova also finished fifth in the women's weight throw. Tarasova's toss of 18.78 meters (61-07 ½ ft.) was just one meter off her season-high, while junior Nickesha Anderson tied her school-best time of 7.28 as she placed sixth in the 60-meter dash.

In Iowa, senior Alicia McGregor placed fourth in her race of the 5,000-meter run (17:17.39) while senior Julius Jiles and junior Ashley Brown each qualified for the finals of the 60-meter hurdles, to be run on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's running events begin at 9:25 a.m. at the ISU Classic and 10 a.m. at the Tyson Invitational. Field events start at 10:30 a.m. in Iowa and 10 a.m. in Arkansas. There are also some distance runners scheduled to run at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. For complete results from all of Kansas' events, log on to www.kuathletics.com.   

ISU Classic

Ames, Iowa

KU Results:

Men

60m Hurdles: Jiles (8.01p)

5,000m: 13-McGowan (14:42.78), 17-Imgrund (14:48.29)

Long Jump: 16-Turner (6.98m)

Heptathlon: 11-Breth (4,346)

Women

60m Hurdles: Brown (8.58p)

5,000m: 4-McGregor (17:17.39), 7-Harbert (17:23.99), 11-Miller (17:39.62)

Tyson Invitational

Fayetteville, Ark.

KU Results:

Men   

400m: 79-Rollins (50.38)

Pole Vault College: 3-Cooper (5.00m)

Long Jump: 5-Saunders (7.17m)

Shot Put: 26-Eres (13.94m)

Women

60m: 6-Anderson (7.40p, 7.28f)

400m: 59-Butler (56.30), 78-Bradley (57.22)

Pole Vault: 2-Sultanova (4.20m)

Weight Throw: 5-Tarasova (18.78m)