COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Kansas track and field junior Alexandra Emilianov qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships to be held June 9-12 in Eugene, Oregon in the women’s discus, launching a throw of 59.16m (194-1 ft.) to qualify for her third-career NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Emilianov joins a contingent of Jayhawks who have qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, including Gleb Dudarev (hammer throw), Zach Bradford (pole vault), Hussain Al-Hizam (pole vault) and Samantha Van Hoecke (pole vault).
Emilianov, who placed fourth at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships, got off to a hot start on Saturday, recording her top throw of 59.16m (194-1 ft.) on her first attempt. With only three throws available, Emilianov passed on her second and threw 58.04m (190-5 ft.) on her third attempt, while her opening throw stood as the fourth-best throw in the West region.
Kansas sophomore Samantha Van Hoecke qualified for her first career NCAA Outdoor Championships on the second day of the NCAA West Preliminary on Thursday, clearing a personal best 4.27m (14-0 ft.) in the women’s pole vault.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Kansas men’s and women’s track and field teams closed out a strong weekend at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sunday, which included two top-10 KU performers and several lifetime bests.
Among the top performances from Fayetteville, Kansas freshman Victoria Gorlova became the No. 4 performer in KU outdoor history in the women’s triple jump, while freshman Lona Latema became the No. 7 performer in KU outdoor history in the women’s 5,000 meters.
Competing in just her second meet of the 2021 outdoor season, Gorlova got off to a strong start on Saturday, jumping 12.83m (42-1.25 ft.) on her second attempt. After Arkansas State’s Imani Uduomana outjumped Gorlova on her sixth attempt, Gorlova reached an impressive 13.01m (42-8.25 ft.) on her final attempt to win the event and become the No. 4 performer in KU outdoor history.
LAWRENCE, Kan. The Kansas men’s and women’s track and field teams begin the 2021 outdoor season at the Texas Invitational at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas on Saturday, competing in its first outdoor meet since June 8, 2019 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Kansas recently completed its showing at the 2021 Big 12 Indoor Championships in Lubbock, Texas on Feb. 27-28, where two Jayhawks were crowned individual Big 12 Champions, including Rylee Anderson (high jump) and Alexandra Emilianov (shot put). Saturday’s meet marks the first outdoor meet for KU in 637. days, since last competing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which was also held at Mike A Myers Stadium. The 2020 outdoor track & field season was canceled due to COVID-19.