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KANSAS STATE
SEASON OUTLOOK
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS A
2011
TRACK AND FIELD SEASON OUTLOOK
K-State welcomes back a strong core of returners on the men’s side and a young but experienced group on the women’s side of things as both squads look to move up in the Big 12 Conference in 2011 and make their presence felt on the national level again. The men’s team will be led by the trio of Moritz Cleve, Jeffrey Julmis and Erik Kynard. Cleve looks to return to form in his final season as a Wildcat after winning the Big 12 title and earning All-America honors as a sophomore two years ago in the heptathlon. Julmis has his eyes set on the school record in the 60-meter hurdles and another AllAmerica certificate after breaking the outdoor 110-meter hurdles record last season. Kynard earned All-America status as a true freshman in the high jump helping to keep K-State’s reputation as one of the top high jumping programs in the nation alive and well. After finishing second at the Big 12 Championship last season, Kynard hopes to bring the high jump title back to Manhattan. This trio will not be alone as the main contributors for K-State’s success in 2011, however. Martynas Jurgilas debuted at the Big 12 Indoor Championships last season for K-State and now has all season to run sprints for the Wildcats after setting the Lithuanian outdoor national record in the 100 meters last spring. Two more Lithuanians will be factors for the men’s team with junior Mantas
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Silkauskas competing along side Cleve in the heptathlon. Silkauskas also could see competition in the sprints and hurdles. Sophomore Tomas Kirielius will be the third horse in K-State’s stable of combined events specialists and after a year of training with coach Cliff Rovelto, Kirielius could make an impact in the heptathlon as well. Sophomore Isaac Mallory has improved from a year ago and could be a fourth impact player for K-State in the combined events. On the women’s side, the pair of TiAra Walpool and Nina Kokot have been consistent scorers at the Big 12 Championship throughout their careers. Last season, Kokot finished second while breaking the school record in the long jump. Walpool battled injury and looks to again score in the triple jump as she did last year. The throwers have depth working to their advantage with Chelsie Bonds and Amanda Boor each scoring at last year’s Big 12 Championship. Ali Pistora also has scored in her career at the Big 12 meet. The addition of Ammina AgBoga give K-State the opportunity to have three and possibly four Wildcats on the podium at this year’s Big 12 meet in Lincoln, Neb. The men’s throwers also have some strong depth with Jordan Bauer and transfer Tomaz Bogovic each with the potential to score at the conference championship.