3 KU track standouts earn All-American honors at NCAA Outdoor Championships

By J-W Staff Report     Jun 10, 2021

Chris Duderstadt
Kansas sophomore Gleb Dudarev releases the hammer during the men's hammer throw competition on Friday at the Kansas Relays at Rock Chalk Park. Dudarev's throw of 256 feet (78.04 meters) broke a 35-year-old Kansas Relays record and was the top throw in school history. The throw of 256 feet was the fifth best throw in the world his year.

Led by a second-place finish by hammer thrower Gleb Dudarev, three University of Kansas track athletes earned All-American honors at Day 1 of this year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday.

Dudarev’s throw of 73.87 meters came after a pair of fouls to start his day. The distance immediately put him into second place, where he stayed after improving with a throw of 74.53 meters on his fourth of five throws.

The senior from Belarus finished his Kansas career as a six-time All-American — indoor and outdoor — and left as the two-time defending national silver medalist in his signature event.

Sophomore pole vaulter Zach Bradford easily cleared his opening attempt of 5.45 meters to get into the final six at the meet in Eugene, Ore. But he missed on all three of his attempts at 5.55 meters and finished with All-American distinction in fifth place overall.

It marked the second consecutive season that the Bloomington, Ill., native finished in the top six at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Senior teammate Hussain Al Hizam entered Wednesday’s pole vault competition by clearing 5.30 meters, which earned him a spot in the top seven and a crack at 5.45 meters. He missed all three attempts at that height and finished the day in seventh place.

Al Hizam finished his KU career as a three-time outdoor All-American and the 2018 indoor champion in the event.

The top-eight performance by the three Jayhawks put Kansas in third place on the men’s side of the team standings after Day 1, but KU does not have any other men competing at this week’s event.

KU junior Alexandra Emilianov (discus) and sophomore Samantha Van Hoecke (pole vault) are slated to compete in the women’s events.

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