The Kansas State track and field teams hosted the Ward Haylett Invitational over the weekend on a newly renovated R.V. Christian Track, and many Wildcats recorded personal bests at the meet.
On Friday, redshirt freshman Dylan Brenneman placed second overall in the 1,500-meter race with a personal best time of 3:54.20, while junior Keegan Donahue placed fourth at 3:56.06 and senior Joe Gorthy finished in 10th at 4:10.27.
Freshman Cooper Schroeder also ran a personal best on Friday of 14:35.82 to place second in the 5,000 meters.
The 1,500-meter race was the first one ever held on the newly renovated R.V. Christian Track, which Gorthy said he really enjoyed.
“It was a really cool experience to be out here under the lights on the brand new track,” Gorthy said to K-State Sports. “It was my last race at home at K-State. It was awesome to come out and break in the new track and do it with my teammates.”
In the women’s 1,500 meters, sophomore Cara Melgares won the event at 4:32.51, setting a new personal best for her.
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On Saturday, the last day of the meet, junior Ashley Petr had a great day at the women’s discus, throwing a personal best 55.90 meters and winning the event. Petr’s throw was also the third-best throw in K-State school history.
In the women’s triple jump, junior Konstantina Romaiou jumped 13.16 meters to win the event with a new personal best. Senior Shardia Lawrence finished second in the triple jump at 13.13 meters.
Senior Asha Cave placed second in the 200 meters at 23.84, the ninth best time in K-State’s outdoor track history.
In the men’s 800 meters, Brenneman and junior Keegan Donahue placed third and fourth, respectively. Brenneman ran 1:54.29 while Donahue finished at 1:56.06.
Because the Ward Haylett Invitational was the last regular meet of the season, senior Brett Neelly spoke about his time with the Wildcats to K-State Sports after the meet.
“It was great getting to experience something that we have spent so much time on, waiting for this debut moment,” Neelly said. “Four years has flown by incredibly [fast], but being here, being a senior and being recognized was a very heartwarming experience.”
The Wildcats will be back in action from May 10 to 12 in Norman, Oklahoma, for the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, where the women’s team will look to win back-to-back titles.
