K-State Track’s Ryann Krais in 10th After Day 1 at Olympic Trials

Treasure ties for 4th at Canadian Trials

K-STATE SPORTS INFORMATION

June 29, 2012

EUGENE, Ore. – After a week of waiting out other action at the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials, K-State senior Ryann Krais finally got to lace up her spikes and begin the heptathlon as she chases her dreams of representing the United States in London. Friday marked the first day of the heptathlon with the former NCAA champion and USA Championship runner-up competing against the best in the nation from Hayward Field and finding herself in the mix in 10th place.
Krais opened the day with her second-fastest time of the season in the 100 meter hurdles. Krais clocked in at 13.84 seconds to stand in 12th place. She followed that with her best high jump of the year after struggling at the NCAA Championship earlier this month. Krais cleared 1.75 meters (5-08.75), 2.25 inches higher than her previous best this year. That jump scored her 916 points and moved her up to eighth place.

The shot put proved to be another strong performance for Krais. She threw the shot exactly 12 meters, improving greatly on her toss at the NCAA Championship. Krais then closed the day with her fastest time of the season in the 200 meters crossing the line in 24.91 seconds.

Through the first four events, Krais has tallied 3,473 points and stands in 10th place. She is 204 points ahead of her Day 1 score from the NCAA Championship and 156 points ahead of her pace from her Big 12 Championship winning performance.

Two other athletes with K-State connections were competing in the heptathlon on Friday from Hayward Field. Former assistant coaches and current volunteer coaches Bettie Wade and Kasey Hill were also in the field hoping to make the Olympic Team. Both train with K-State Head Coach Cliff Rovelto.

Wade is among the leaders currently standing in fifth place through the first four events with 3,680 points. After standing in 10th place following the hurdles, Wade steadily climbed the leaderboard taking fourth in the high jump and second in the shot put. Hill stands in 18th with 3,344 points. She had one of the fastest times of the day in the 200 meters, clocking in at 23.96 seconds and standing fourth for the event.

Also competing on Friday afternoon was former Wildcat Amy Mortimer in the semifinals of the 1,500 meters. Mortimer finished 17th overall with her time of 4:12.04 and failed to make the final. She advanced to the semifinals by taking third in her preliminary heat Thursday evening to grab an automatic spot in the next round.

Krais, Wade and Hill will conclude the heptathlon on Saturday. Action resumes at 5 p.m. CT with the long jump followed by the javelin and 800 meters. The Olympic A Standard for the event is 6,150 points. That will be the target score for the athletes to reach to make the team.

“Ryann was pretty solid, I thought. She is coming around,” Rovelto said. “Bettie was fine but left a few points out there in some events. She will need to be very solid tomorrow to move up. Kasey was a little off through three events but ran a great 200 to close the day.”

At the Canadian Olympic Trials in Calgary, more Wildcats were in action. Freshman high jumper Alyx Treasure was looking to make the women’s team, and former Wildcat Jared MacLeod was competing in the men’s 110 meter hurdles.

Treasure finished in a tie for fourth place in the final and will miss going to the Olympic Games. She cleared two bars each on her first attempt, registering 1.70 meters (5-07.00). She missed all three of her attempts at 1.75 meters (5-08.75).

MacLeod missed making his national team for the London Olympic Games finishing fourth in Friday’s final. He crossed the line in 14.19 seconds. MacLeod advanced through the semifinals earlier Friday by clocking in at 14.26 and finishing in the top three of his heat to take an automatic spot in the final.

Saturday’s action from Eugene will be on NBC from 8-9 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the action online with live results provided by flashresults.com. Live streaming of the NBC broadcast will also be available at nbcolympics.com. K-State’s @kstate_gameday Twitter account will be active as well providing updates on the heptathlon and other tidbits about the action.

K-State Results
USA Track and Field Olympic Trials
Heptathlon Day 1
5: Bettie Wade, 3680 pts
100H: 13.72 (1018 pts)
High Jump: 1.81m/5-11.25 (991 pts)
Shot Put: 13.62m/44-08.50 (769 pts)
200m: 24.84 (902 pts)

10: Ryann Krais, 3473 pts
100H: 13.84 (1001 pts)
High Jump: 1.75m/5-08.75 (916 pts)
Shot Put: 12.00m/39-04.50 (661 pts)
200m: 24.91 (895 pts)

18: Kasey Hill, 3344 pts
100H: 14.30 (936 pts)
High Jump: 1.60m/5-03.00 (736 pts)
Shot Put: 12.39m/40-07.75 (687 pts)
200m: 23.96 (985 pts)

1500m Semifinals
17: Amy Mortimer, 4:12.04

1500m First Round (Thursday)
Amy Mortimer, 4:16.02 – advance

Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials
Women’s High Jump
T-4: Alyx Treasure, 1.70m/5-07.00

Men’s 110m Hurdles Final
4: Jared MacLeod, 14.19

Men’s 110m Hurdles Semifinals
Jared MacLeod, 14.26 – advance