Kansas State Sweeps Big 12 Day One With 5 Gold Medals

Kansas State's track and field athletes had the kind of day that makes coaches believe in magic. Five Wildcats claimed individual gold medals on the opening day of Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, Texas, propelling both teams to first place in the overall standings.

The sweep started with seniors Monique Hardy and Kade McCall dominating the weight throw events. Hardy launched her throw 71 feet 10 inches, winning by nearly five feet and claiming her second conference title. McCall matched his personal best at 74 feet 3 inches, earning his first indoor conference championship as a fifth-year senior.

The momentum continued in the long jump pit. Junior Uroy Ryan soared to a personal best of 25 feet 11 inches, breaking into third place in Kansas State's all-time indoor records. He became the first Wildcat to win the men's long jump in a decade.

Teammate Maud Zeffou-Poaty mirrored Ryan's success in the women's long jump with a jump of 21 feet 8.75 inches. Senior Devin Loudermilk completed the gold medal haul by clearing 7 feet 4.5 inches in the high jump, just half an inch shy of his lifetime best.

The day delivered bonus excitement when junior Trevon Hamer shattered a school record that had stood for 24 years. His 6.58-second time in the 60-meter dash preliminaries broke Terence Newman's 2002 mark and qualified him for Saturday's final in third place.

Senior Vanessa Mercera also made history, setting a new school record in the women's 600 yards at 1:18.79. The previous record had stood since 2015.

Why This Inspires

Head Coach Travis Geopfert praised his athletes for thinking beyond individual glory. The long jumpers strategically limited their attempts to save energy for Saturday's finals in other events, showing the kind of team-first mentality that builds championships.

The men's team sits atop the standings with 62 points, while the women lead with 48.5 points heading into the final day. It's a testament to years of training, coaching, and believing that championship moments are built one practice at a time.

These student-athletes balanced academics, training, and competition pressure to deliver performances that rewrote record books and reminded everyone watching that hard work and smart strategy create unforgettable results.