After narrowly missing a first-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, K-Stater Alyx Treasure set her eyes on hitting the 1.89m/6-02.25 mark in summer competition.
The Prince George, British Columbia native sailed over the bar and clinched her third career Canadian national championship in Moncton, New Brunswick in late June.
“I was definitely really wanting that height and I was happy that I got it,” Treasure said. “I still feel like I have a lot to improve on. I should have that second bar at 1.92m/6-03.50, so I’m looking forward to jumping more to end my season.”
As competition for the 2013-14 year comes to a close, the redshirt sophomore has her eyes firmly set on August 2016.
“2016 is Rio and the (Summer) Olympics so that’s my end goal,” Treasure said. “The standards are 1.92m (B Standard) and 1.95m (A Standard). I wanted to hit 1.92m, but if it doesn’t happen this year, hopefully next year … and be prepared to jump 1.95m for that 2015-16 year.”
As Treasure works to conclude the first half of her collegiate career, K-State alumnus Erik Kynard continues to tighten his grip on high jumping in the U.S.
Kynard’s first-place finish at the Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, California gave the Toledo, Ohio native his third career U.S. high-jump title.
In May, Kynard matched his personal best jump of 2.37m/7-09.25 while competing in Doha, Qatar.
Though he ranks No. 4 in the world, Treasure said the former Wildcat high jumper is far from satisfied.
“This is Erik we’re talking about,” Treasure said of Kynard’s competitive nature. “I know he wants to [make a personal record] because he hasn’t for a little while now. I don’t know if he has yet this season, but I definitely think he has his eyes set on 2.40m plus (7-10). I don’t think he’ll be happy until he’s No. 1.”
Although he graduated last spring, Treasure said Kynard’s presence around the practice facilities at K-State is a big influence.
“He hangs around the track a lot,” Treasure said. “We’re competitive, obviously, and it’s good to see that he’s still improving. He has a lot more in him. He’s trying to get higher, and he will. It’s good to have someone out here at that level that I can strive to be similar to.”
After competing for K-State throwing coach Greg Watson, Amanda Bingson joined the program before this past season to work alongside the first-year coach.
The former UNLV Rebel is the current U.S. record holder in the hammer throw with a toss of 75.73m/248-05. She also finished second in the 2012 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.
Bingson’s throw of 75.07m/246-03 was the only mark that surpassed the 75 meter mark at the championships in California.
Treasure said she believes athletes like Bingson are a credit to the coaching staff.
“We have a lot of former athletes that come in and work with either Coach Rovelto or the other coaches that are around here,” Treasure said. “It depends on the year and who’s here and who’s not and who’s doing well. The majority of it is our program and the coaches that we have. We end up getting a lot of these amazing athletes because of it.”
