For the second consecutive weekend, the K-State track and field team has managed to leave a meet with more than 10 athletes finishing top-five in their respective events. Last Friday, the Wildcats saw 24 athletes finish in the top-five at the Baylor Invitational in Waco, Texas.
Leading the way for K-State was freshman sprinter A’Keyla Mitchell, who took first place in the 200-meter dash on her way to a wind-aided school record of 22.96 seconds in her outdoor season debut.
In the winter season, Texas native Mitchell became a two-time All American in her first indoor season with the Wildcats, garnering a first-team selection in 200-meter dash and a second-team nod in the 4×400 meter relay event.
Another successful outdoor debut for K-State on Friday belonged to junior Akela Jones. She edged out the second-best competitor by only 0.32 seconds in the 100-meter hurdle event.
Jones, who was a three-time All-American in the indoor season, including Second Team All-American in the 60-meter hurdle event, won her first 100-meter hurdle event since winning the second of her two NAIA championships in the event last season with Oklahoma Baptist University.
Sophomore distance runner Morgan Wedekind managed to follow up her record-setting performance at the Emporia State Open by winning her second-straight event in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase event. The Wichita native set a new personal best in the event with a time of 10:43.07, third best all-time at K-State.
For the men, senior high jumper Zack Riley captured a gold medal in his outdoor season debut. Junior multi-athlete Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye earned his first gold medal in a field event of the outdoor season, taking the top spot in the long jump event.
Up next for K-State is the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona on Friday and Saturday.
