Heading into the final turn of the men’s 1,000-meter run, Kemboi found himself in third place, but the Eldoret, Kenya native soon proved why he is one of the best, if not the best collegiate middle distance runner in the country.
Kemboi left everyone else in the dust by claiming his second-straight Big 12 Indoor 1,000-meter run championship. Kemboi wasn’t done yet, not even close. Just 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 1,000-meter run, Kemboi cruised to another Big 12 title in the 800-meter run and became the first athlete in conference history to win the 1,000-meter run and 800-meter run Big 12 titles in back-to-back seasons.
The Cyclone men finished fifth overall with 81 points, their best finish at the Big 12 indoor meet since placing runner-up in the inaugural Big 12 Championship in 1997. The Cyclone women finished seventh with 68 points.
Iowa State’s women’s 3,000-meter run squad came up huge in terms of team points. The Cyclones scored 19 points in the race and had several times that would have beaten the previous Big 12 meet record. Katy Moen (2nd- 9:08.69), Margaret Connelly (3rd- 9:08.96), Erin Hooker (6th- 9:30.97), Abby Caldwell (7th- 9:32.63), Olivia Robertson (8th- 9:32.82) and Heidi Engelhardt (9:40.86) all set personal bests in the race. Connelly moved herself to fifth in the Iowa State all-time performers list.
Freshman Logan Schneider ran well in his first Big 12 Indoor Championships. The Sycamore, Ill., native ran a personal best 8.13 in the final round of the men’s 60-meter hurdles after setting a new personal best in the preliminary round in day one.
Christian DeLago earned big points for the men in the mile run. Yesterday, the sophomore qualified for the finals running a personal best time of 4:03.90 and today came through with a second place finish with a time of 4:09.66. Brian Biekert followed DeLago to cross the line in fifth place.
Sophomore Marine Vallet was fourth in the women’s high jump, tying a personal best mark of 5-11.25.
Evelyne Guay cut over five seconds off her previous career best mark in the 1,000-meter run. The Oakville, Ontatio native finished sixth in the race behind a Big 12 record time from Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards.
Taylor Sanderson’s huge kick in the 1,000-meter run portion of the men’s heptathlon paid off for the Bondurant native, as he broke an eight-year-old school record with his final score of 5479 to finish runner-up. Sanderson tied personal best marks in the shot put and 60-meter dash.
Jhoanmy Luque tied a career best in the women’s triple jump at her first Big 12 Indoor Championships with a leap of 41-08.75.
The Cyclones return to the track on March 13-14 for the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Follow Iowa State track and field’s twitter account, @cycloneTrackXC for live updates on the meet.
Big 12 Champions
Edward Kemboi- 800-meter run
Edward Kemboi- 1,000-meter run
Cyclone PR’s
Logan Schneider (60m H): 8.13
Evelyne Guay (1,000m): 2:50.06
Taylor Sanderson (Heptathlon): 5479
Brandon Wheat (1,000m): 2:22.87
Katy Moen (3,000m): 9:08.69
Margaret Connelly (3,000): 9:08.96
Erin Hooker (3,000): 9:30.97
Abby Caldwell (3,000): 9:32.63
Olivia Robertson (3,000): 9:32.82
Heidi Engelhardt (3,000): 9:40.86
Results
60-meter hurdles (M): 1) Chris Caldwell, Texas Tech, 7.76; 8) Logan Schneider, Iowa State, 8.13
High Jump (W): 1) Kimberly Williamson, Kansas State, 6-01.50; 4) Marine Vallet, Iowa State, 5-11.25; 9) Katie Reeves, Iowa State, 5-07.25; 17) Hannah Willms, Iowa State, 5-05.25
1 mile (W): 1) Mariah Kelly, Baylor, 4:42.17; 6) Heidi Engelhardt, Iowa State, 4:50.02
1 mile (M): 1) Chad Noelle, Oklahoma State, 4:08.64; 2) Christian DeLago, 4:09.66; 5) Brian Biekert, Iowa State, 4:11.60
600-yard run (W): 1) Courtney Okolo, Texas, 1:18.24; 8) Alyssa Gonzalez, Iowa State, 1:24.00
600-yard run (M): 1) Kenneth McCuin: Kansas, 1:09.21; 8) Jacob Hoogenson, Iowa State, 1:13.30
400-meter run (W): 1) Kendall Baisden, Texas, 51.90; 7) Kendra White, Iowa State, 54.43
1,000-meter run (W): 1) Kaela Edwards, Oklahoma State, 2:43.11; 6) Evelyne Guay, Iowa State, 2:50.06
1,000-meter run (M): 1) Edward Kemboi, 2:26.70, 6) Brandon Wheat, Iowa State, 2:27.87
800-meter run (M): 1) Edward Kemboi, Iowa State, 1:48.68; 5) Patrick Peterson, Iowa State, 1:51.14; 6) Brandon Barnes, Iowa State, 1:51.34
Shot Put: 1) Ryan Crouser, Texas, 69-04.25; 4) Jan Jeuschede, Iowa State, 60-06.50
Triple jump (W): 1) Brianna Richardson, Baylor, 42-11.75; 3) Jhoanmy Luque, 41-08.75
High jump (M): 1) Jacorian Duffield, Texas Tech, 7-03.25; 3) Cameron Ostrowski, Iowa State, 7-01.50; 10) Jalen Ford, Iowa State, 6-09.50
3,000-meter run (W): 1) Rachel Johnson, Baylor, 9:06.42; 2) Katy Moen, Iowa State, 9:08.69; 3) Margaret Connelly, Iowa State, 9:08.96; 6) Erin Hooker, Iowa State, 9:30.97; 7) Abby Caldwell, Iowa State, 9:32.63; 8) Olivia Robertson, Iowa State, 9:32.63; 12) Heidi Engelhardt, Iowa State, 9:40.86
4×400-meter relay (W): 1) Texas, 3:34.72; 9) Iowa State, 3:51.81
4×400-meter relay (M): 1) Baylor, 3:07.47; 7) Iowa State, 3:16.03
