Kansas senior sprinter Robbie Harriford was fast Friday night.
But not even her career-best performance could take the title of the fastest in the flesh. That distinction went to the guy wearing the blaze orange hunting cap and nothing else, who streaked through Anschutz Sports Pavilion during the 14th annual KU-MU-KSU Triangular.
“Like I always tell the athletics people here, ‘I’m in the entertainment industry not athletics. We try to create excitement for the fans in the stands with athletics, or some other things'” quipped meet director Tim Weaver.
But not even the snicker-inspiring streaker — who completed a fourth of a lap around the track before being chased outside and down several blocks by a KU security guard, who did manage to snag the culprit’s cap — was enough of a distraction to keep Kansas State from winning its fifth straight triangular title and 12th overall behind a combined 272 points from its men’s and women’s teams.
Kansas came in second overall with 2271¼2 combined points. The Jayhawk women finished 30 points behind K-State with 113 points, while the men finished two points behind Missouri in third place with a total of 1141¼2.
“We had a really good meet from top to bottom,” said KU coach Stanley Redwine. “We had a couple of important people injured, but even with them out here I don’t know if that’s enough to top K-State.”
Harriford, however, had no problem kicking the ‘Cats in her two races.
The senior from Lansing who helped Leavenworth win four state titles in high school, blew past K-State freshman Ashley Stevens in the 200-meter dash in a time of 24.87.
Harriford also claimed the 60-meter dash, crossing the line seventh-tenths of a second faster than KSU’s Queeneth Evurunobi.
“It feels great,” Harriford said with a big smile. “I think the big thing is that this is my last year and I’m going all out.”
Even in the 60-meters, a race that certainly hasn’t been her specialty in the past.
“I’ve always been a bad starter out of the blocks,” Harriford said. “But Coach has been really working on that aspect.”
Certainly looks like it, because Harriford is undefeated in the event, having also won at the KSU Invitational.
“She’s a senior and a competitor, she’s wants to win,” Redwine said.
Harriford wasn’t the only successful sprinter Friday.
Leo Bookman broke a meet record when he won the 200 meters with a time of 21.38.
The junior, who was an indoor All-American last year and also the Big 12 champ in both the 200 indoor and outdoor, just missed out on the 60-meter title when he was slow on his start.
“I had a pretty good race in the 200, especially for it being my first time on this track,” said the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Bookman.
