TO YOUR MARKS
The Washburn Ichabod track and field teams are back on Friday and Saturday at the Washburn Open presented by Jason's Deli.

MEET COVERAGE
Live Results
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Live Video
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WHO'S COMING TO TOPEKA
Washburn will have a total of 42 women entries and a relay team entered and the men will have 44 competing in 17 events with one relay team competing. Overall, more than 120 teams, 1,850 student-athletes and 3,096 total entries highlight the two-day event.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
The Washburn Ichabod men's and women's track and field teams are both ranked in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's first Checkpoint ranking index of the season. The Ichabod men come in at No. 8 and the women debut at No. 22.
The No. 8 ranking for the men is the highest in program history. The No. 22 ranking for the women's team matches its best spot in program history.
In the regional rankings, the men are ranked seventh and the women are ranked fifth.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
MEN - PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Washburn men's track and field team turned in a strong all-around performance Friday at the Pittsburg State Rumble in the Jungle, highlighted by multiple NCAA provisional marks, personal records and a school record in the 4x400-meter relay.
After qualifying third in the 60 meters prelims with a PR of 6.77, Tayveon Simms lowered his time again in the finals, finishing second in 6.72, a new personal best and an NCAA provisional mark. Teammate Ja'Laveyn January also advanced to the finals and placed fourth in 6.88. Eddie Craig, Peyton Holmes, Javier Lopez and Emeka Ogbonna added depth in the prelims.
Simms carried that momentum into the 200 meters, placing third in 21.78, another personal best and just off the school record of 21.00. January finished 12th (22.19), while Lopez (22.58), Crayton Rauch (22.68) and Holmes (22.93) rounded out the Ichabod efforts.
Bryce Cochran finished fifth in the 400 meters in 48.23, earning an NCAA provisional, while Isaiah Terry was close behind in sixth at 48.39, a PR. Tucker Groh added a 14th-place finish.
In the 600 yards, Jake Muller led the way with a fourth-place finish in 1:12.11, a personal best. Brayden Peek placed sixth (1:12.73), followed by Samuel Baxter (10th) and Seth Motes (13th).
The 60-meter hurdles also produced strong results. Drew McGilton advanced out of prelims with a PR of 8.31 and came back in the finals to place fifth in 8.18, another personal best. Alex Michiels added a PR of 8.40 in the prelims.
The 4x400-meter relay capped the running events in record fashion. The quartet of Cochran, Groh, Peek and Terry finished third in 3:13.58, breaking the school record of 3:13.63 and earning an NCAA provisional mark.
In the field events, Jordan Dale anchored a strong day in the high jump, clearing 2.12 meters (6-11) to place second and secure an NCAA provisional. Slade Smith was fourth at 2.03m, while Matthew Heckman and Aaron Newcomer each cleared 2.00m. Tyler Green and McGilton tied for 10th at 1.90m.
The long jump group also delivered solid marks. Alex Michiels led Washburn with a PR leap of 6.87 meters (22-6.60) to place sixth. McGilton followed closely in seventh at 6.86m, Zuri Glenn was ninth at 6.83m, and Peyton Holmes added a 13th-place finish.
Pole vault saw Logan Schwab and Eli Strawn tie for seventh at 4.63 meters, with Strawn recording a personal best.
In the throws, Caden Rhamy placed 12th in the weight throw with a toss of 15.62 meters, while Josh Grimm finished 19th. Rhamy followed up with a ninth-place finish in the shot put at 15.17 meters, and Grimm added a PR to place 16th at 12.94 meters.
WOMEN - PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Washburn women's track and field turned in a strong all-around performance highlighted by event wins, NCAA provisional qualifiers and a wave of personal bests across the sprints, jumps and throws on Friday at the Rumble in the Jungle. Washburn will return to action next weekend back in Topeka at the Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility on Friday and Saturday at the Washburn Open.
McKenzie Hayse anchored the day with an impressive sweep in the 60 meters. Hayse advanced to the finals after posting the second-fastest qualifying time at 7.61 before turning in a winning time of 7.59 in the final, a mark that also met the NCAA provisional standard. Ta'Mijha Nichols joined Hayse in the final after qualifying fifth in 7.69 and finished fifth overall in the championship heat at 7.70. Maya Pattison (7.78), Lyric Reid (7.85), Layla Lerus (7.85) and Kyra Ray (7.97) also competed in the prelims.
Hayse continued her momentum in the 200 meters, placing second in 24.79. Kereser Augustin followed closely in third at 24.87, while Isabella Kupka posted a personal-best 25.06 to finish fourth. Pattison added a sixth-place finish in 25.16, and Kennedi Knowles ran a PR of 25.31 in seventh. Layla Lerus (25.71 PR), Natalie Hillebert (26.69 PR), and several other Ichabods also recorded season and personal improvements in a deep field.
Augustin delivered another standout effort in the 400 meters, finishing second in 55.27 to earn an NCAA provisional mark. Knowles continued her strong day with a personal-best 58.68 for seventh, while Hillebert also posted a PR at 59.93 in 12th.
In the middle distances, Kupka placed third in the 600-yard run with a time of 1:24.58, and Ashley Heavner added a 10th-place finish.
The jumps produced multiple podium performances and qualifiers. Mellanie Neudinger claimed third in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 5.74 meters (18-10.00), earning an NCAA provisional mark. Vera Gerasimova added a PR of her own at 5.48 meters to take sixth, with Kyra Ray seventh and Kaylee Hagerman rounding out the event for Washburn. In the high jump, Molly Worley finished sixth at 1.58 meters, while Shaydin Myers and Roni Simeon tied for seventh after clearing 1.53 meters. Reagan Housley placed sixth in the pole vault at 3.71 meters.
In the throws, Adriel Holloway led the Ichabods with a fourth-place finish in the shot put at 13.47 meters and added an eighth-place showing in the weight throw at 15.67 meters. Jadyn Falley also competed in the weight throw, placing 20th.
Washburn also saw action in the 60-meter hurdles with Gerasimova, Kynleigh Chard, Heavner and Addi Webster competing in the prelims.
 
UP NEXT
The Ichabods indoor track and field teams will return to action on Feb. 13-14 at Washburn for the two-day Ichabod Invitational at the Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility.