The K-State track and field team finished the indoor regular season in an impressive fashion, recording a dozen top-two finishes at the KSU Open Saturday at Ahearn Field House.
Senior Loren Groves and freshman Mantas Silkauskas highlighted the meet for the Wildcats, posting NCAA provisional qualifying marks in their respective events. Groves, a 2008 All-American, won the women’s weight throw and recorded her fifth qualifying mark of the season with a toss of 20.55 meters. Silkauskas finished first in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.91 seconds for his second provisional mark in as many events.
The Wildcat women had a large number of strong performances at the one-day meet. Junior Kristel Williams finished the 400-meter dash in exactly one minute to capture the event title. Sophomore Denise Baker recorded a personal best in the 60-meter hurdles en route to winning the event with a time of 8.71 seconds. Sophomore TiAra Walpool concluded an impressive season with a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash, completing the race in 7.75 seconds.
Freshman Emilee Morris won the 1,000-meter run in a personal best time of 2 minutes and 56.86 seconds. Morris teamed up with junior Megan-Anne Perrin and sophomore Alyssa Bellinder to claim the top three spots in the event.
In field competition, the women completed a clean sweep in the weight throw, capturing the event’s top four spots. Finishing behind Groves were sophomore Chelsie Bonds, junior Amanda Boor and sophomore Ali Pistora, respectively. Junior Alexandra Gonzalez was also solid, finishing second in the pole vault with a jump of 3.85 meters.
On the men’s side, senior Danny Schneider captured the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 28.09 seconds. Freshman Ed Buck finished second behind Schneider in 2 minutes, 37.76 seconds. Senior Nate Brummet finished second with the weight throw, recording a hurl of 19.37 meters. The Wildcats will return to action when they compete in the Big 12 Championships Friday and Saturday in College Station, Texas.