Kansas Juniors Dominate at John Jacobs Invitational

Sophomore Zlata Tarasova won the women's hammer throw.

April 14, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. -

Juniors Kate Sultanova, Julius Jiles, Egor Agafonov and Colby Wissel were all individual winners at the John Jacobs Invitational Friday night and Saturday. Sophomore Zlata Tarasova and junior Ashley Brown were also KU winners in Norman, Okla., and in one of the final events of the day, junior Crystal Manning set a new Kansas record in the women's long jump.

Sultanova, the 2007 Big 12 indoor pole vault champion and All-American, won the women's pole vault, clearing 13-01.50 (4.00m) and earning a regional qualifying mark. Junior Libby Harmon finished third in the event with a vault of 12-01.50 (3.70m).

Jiles improved his performance in the 110-meter hurdles, winning the event in 14.14 seconds. In the women's 100-meter hurdles, Brown won for the second time this season in 13.74 seconds. Both own regional qualifying marks in the event and entered the weekend fifth and third in their respective events in the Big 12 Conference.

Crystal Manning cleared 43-07.25 (13.29m) in the triple jump to establish a new women's record, edging the previous mark held by Brooklyn Hann. Also later in the day, senior Cody Roberts nearly scored a new personal best in the discus, finshing with a season-best toss of 188-03, which improved his regional qualifying mark.

Egor Agafonov, the 2007 indoor weight throw national champion, threw a season-best 225-10 (68.83m) in the men's hammer throw to win for the second-straight week. Sophomore Zlata Tarasova joined Agafonov as a two-time winner, claiming the hammer event with a toss of 199-02 (60.71m). Both have regional qualifying marks and rank first in the Big 12 Conference in their respective event.

On Friday night, junior Colby Wissel missed a regional qualifying mark by 11-hundredths of a second in the 5000-meter run, winning the event in 14:12.11. Freshman Lauren Bonds finished second in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:51.20, the second-best time in Kansas history.

Freshman Jordan Scott, the 2007 Big 12 indoor pole vault champion, also qualified for the Midwest Regional Championships, placing second in the men's pole vault by clearing 17-00.75 (5.20m). Back on the track, senior Janiece Gatson improved her regional qualifying mark in the 400-meter hurdles, placing second in 1:00.51.

In other action from the event, former KU great Sheldon Battle, competing unattached, won both the men's shot put and discus.

The Jayhawks return to Memorial Stadium to host the 80^th anniversary of the Kansas Relays, April 18-21.