The University of Kansas track & field team opened the 2018-19 indoor season by hosting the Bob Timmons Challenge on Friday at Anschutz Sports Pavilion, taking home nine event victories as a team.
On the men’s side, Xavier Wolf won the 600-yard run with a time of 1:12.01, while newcomer Rylee Anderson won the women’s high jump for the Jayhawks at her first collegiate meet, clearing 1.78 meters (5-10 ft.).
“I thought Rylee (Anderson) did a really good job. She just continues to get better and better in practice. I think she is going to be a really great one for us and we are really excited about her,” KU coach Stanley Redwine said in a team release. “Xavier (Wolf) is just a joy to have on the team, but he did really well today. I thought he was really focused on his race. He ran smart, which is great to see from a freshman.”
Senior Joel Long completed the sweep of the high jump events for KU, taking the men’s top spot in the event with a clearance of 2.06 meters (6-8.25 ft.). Long’s win was one of three field event victories for the KU men, with redshirt junior Paulo Benavides winning the pole vault (5.29m / 17-4.25 ft.) and junior Chris Gleghorn taking first in the long jump with a mark of 6.96 meters (22-10 ft.).
KU women took three victories on the track side, with senior Nicole Montgomery winning the 600-yard run with a time of 1:20.96, senior Courtney Griffiths taking the title in the 800-meter run (2:15.60) and the women’s 4×400-meter relay team of Mariah Kuykendoll, Chloe Akin-Otiko, Honour Finley and Marleena Eubanks clocking in at 3:42.68 for the win.
Jayhawks took the top three spots in the women’s pole vault, with junior Andrea Willis leading the pack with a clearance of 4.11 meters (13-5.75 ft.) for the victory. Senior Alexis Romero took second (4.01m / 13-1.75 ft.) and sophomore Khristen Bryant notched a personal-best of 3.86 meters (12-8 ft.) for third place.
