K-State Track and Field carried its NCAA Indoor Championships success into the first outdoor meet of the season this last weekend. Six individual wins led the way in a strong final outing at the UTSA Invitational on Saturday.
Junior Vitoria Alves finished first in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 13.14 seconds — the third third-fastest time in school history — while senior Kimisha Chambers took third with a time of 13.38 seconds — the fourth-fastest in school history. Alves also took second in long jump at a distance of 6.01m/19-08.75.
“With last week being indoor nationals, we just kept doing the same work that we had been before,” Alves said in a release from K-State Athletics. “I was surprised and super happy with the result today.”
Senior Ashley Petr commanded the field in the women’s discus in her 2020-21 season debut with a throw of 55.20m/19-08.75, taking home first place. In the men’s discus, senior Cameron Lewis narrowly edged out a win over Stephen F. Austin’s Kevin Steward with a throw of 51.47m/168-10. Senior Colin Echols used a 50.60m/166-00 throw to take home third.
“The throwers had a very strong weekend,” director of track and field and cross country Cliff Rovelto said in the release. “The long throws I thought were particularly impressive for a first meet.”
Men’s high jump saw two top finishes as well, with senior Kyle Alcine winning the event at 2.11m/6-11 and sophomore Devon Richardson taking third at 2.06m/6-09.
Freshman Darian Clarke started off the winning men’s 4x100m relay with the help of seniors Jah Strange, Justin Davis and Jullane Walker, clocking in at 40.30 seconds. Walker also won the men’s 200m dash at 21.09 seconds, winning by just 0.08 seconds.
In the women’s 200m, senior Wurrie Njadoe and junior Chantoba Bright took silver and bronze respectively with times of 23.86 seconds and 24.40 seconds.
Senior Noah Stevens broke his personal record in the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:50.89, which won the event.
“I feel like we had good efforts from virtually everyone this weekend,”Rovelto said. “A number of PR’s and very good marks by newcomers, as well as folks who have not competed in a while.”
Chambers, sophomores O’Shalia Johnson and Shalysa Wray and junior Lavaun Stephenson took home the gold in the women’s 4x400m relay.
“From a team perspective, this was definitely the best first meet we have ever had,” Rovelto said. “Outstanding team effort for any time of the season.”
K-State returns to action Saturday, March 27 at the Shocker Invitational at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas.
