Kansas University’s track and field team wrapped up competition in day one of the Big 12 Championships on Feb. 27 at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. The Jayhawks had a successful day as several athletes recorded season-best marks and two KU indoor records were broken. A total of ten Kansas athletes will compete in tomorrow’s finals.
Sophomore Tiffany Cherry advanced to the 60-meter dash finals after posting a KU indoor record time of 7.45 in the semifinals. The previous record was held by Robbie Harriford, who finished with a time of 7.53 at the 2003 Big 12 Championships. Cherry also posted a season-best in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.97.
Senior Leo Bookman also set a KU indoor record after finishing with a time of 6.69 in the semifinals of the 60-meter dash. The time tops Bookman’s previous record of 6.73 that was set at the 2002 Big 12 Championships. Bookman also advanced to the finals of the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.04.
Sophomores Benson Chesang and Chris Jones earned All-Big 12 honors after finishing seventh and eighth in the 5,000-meter run, respectively. Chesang finished with a time of 14:26.12 and Jones finished in a time of 14:31.60.
KU sophomore Aaron Thompson advanced to the finals of the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles with times of 6.83 and 8.11, respectively. In the prelims, Thompson recorded a 60-meter dash time of 6.81. The time is the second-best in KU indoor history.
Junior Jeremy Mims finished with a time of 1:09.92 in the semifinals of the 600-yard run. The time is a season-best for Mims and was the fastest qualifying time out of all five semifinal heats.
Junior Abraham Kimeli and sophomore Cameron Schwehr posted season-best times to advance to the finals of the 1000-meter run. Kimeli finished with the third-best time (2:24.19) in KU indoor history, while Schwehr finished with the second-best time (2:23.89) in KU indoor history.
Junior Megan Manthe finished with a provisional qualifying time of 4:48.01 in the mile run. The time is a season-best for Manthe and was the fifth fastest qualifying time out of all heats. Joining Manthe in the mile run finals will be senior Laura Lavoie. Lavoie finished the mile run with a time of 4:47.44.
The ‘Hawks will have two of its athletes competing in the women’s 600-yard run finals. Junior Kim Clark and freshman Janiece Gatson advanced to the finals after posting semifinal times of 1:21.46 and 1:25.50, respectively.
Sophomore Charisse Bacchus earned All-Big 12 honors after finishing fourth in the long jump with a mark of 19-11.00. The distance is a season-best and ranks as the third-best in KU indoor history.
