LYNCHBURG, Va. – WKU Track & Field, aided by strong veteran performances, wrapped up the final meet of the 2024 regular season Saturday at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational hosted by Liberty.
On the meet, Associate Head Coach Anthony Acklin said "It's always good to attend a competition at a new venue before attending it as a major championship. Julian Klenner had a stellar weekend placing 4th in the 400 with a season best mark of 48.65 and finished 7th in the 200 with another season best mark of 21.67. Brunel Desinor was close behind with a mark of 21.76. They both are sitting top 10 in the conference in the 200 and 400. Kynzlei Bassett ran a remarkable race in the 5000. She lowered her PR by over a minute to 18:39.40 which puts her third in the conference."
"We're looking forward to CUSA Championships in two weeks."
Friday, the Hilltoppers managed 11 top-10 finishes including six inside the top-five. Wade Balcom led the distance Tops notching a fourth place finish in the 800, finishing in 1:56. Jordan Eddy also finished in the top-10, claiming eighth (1:58).
Julian Klenner showed out in the 400 meter (invite), finishing in fourth (48.65). In the men's and women's 60 meter dash, Brunel Desinor (9th) and Dreeanna Wade (7th) managed top-10 finishes.
In the field events, Grace Turner, Sophia Roskoski, and Natalie Papes recorded top-five finishes in their respective flights in the pole vault. Papes' vault of 3.50 meters was enough for third place (Open B), while setting a new personal best for the season.
Saturday, Emilia Lesniak continued her strong indoor campaign, finishing second in the high jump, clearing 1.73 meters. Her second place finish marks the third time in four tries she has finished in the top-five in the high jump.
Desinor continued the momentum in the 200 meter dash, placing third (21.76). He has finished in the top-five in all three of his events this season.
Kaison Barton competed in the shot put for the first time this season. His toss of 15.61 meters landed him just outside the top-10, finishing up in 11th.
The Tops will conclude the 2024 indoor campaign with the CUSA Indoor Championships February 23-24. The meet will be hosted by Liberty.
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FRIDAY, FEB. 9
Men's Results
60m Open
9th – Kameron Horton – 6.98
60 Hurdles
19th - Kameron Horton - 8.40
400m
4th – Julian Klenner – 48.65
400m Open
3rd - Brunel Desinor - 49.06
25th — Zackery Martinez - 50.97
800m
4th - Wade Balcom - 1:56
8th - Jordan Eddy - 1:58
14th - Garrett Steed - 1:59
3000m
19th – Brad Wiggins – 9:00
23rd – Jared Sandfoss – 9:06
29th – Michael House – 9:28
Weight Throw
15th – Luke Stegman – 16.39m (53-09 ¼)
17th – Kaison Barton – 16.05 (52-07 ¾)
18th – Connor Owens – 15.81m (51-10 ¼)
19th – Hunter Coslow – 15.74 (51-07 ½)
Women's Results
60m
7th – Dreeanna Wade – 7.72
60m Final
22nd – Dreeanna Wade – 7.81
60 Hurdles
11th – Netanya Linares – 9.04
21st – Gianna Huerta – 9.23
38th – Rachel Payne – 9.55
800m
20th - Addie Frisch - 2:23
3000m Open
9th – Lucy Rutherford – 10:44
14th – Rory O'Connor – 12:04
5000m Open
6th – Kynzlei Bassett – 18:39
Weight Throw
17th – Ajla Basic – 16.29 (53-05 ¼)
28th – Aitana Safont Falomir – 15.10 (49-06 ¼)
Long Jump Open
23rd – Netanya Linares – 5.15 (16-10 ¾)
37th – Haley Zell – 4.96 (16-03 ¾)
55th – Rachel Payne – 4.66 (15-03 ¼)
Pole Vault Open A
5th – Grace Turner 3.65 (11-11 ½)
Pole Vault Open B
3rd – Natalie Papes – 3.50 (11-05 ¾)
4th – Sophia Roskoski – 3.50 (11-05 ¾)
SATURDAY, FEB. 10
Mens Results
200 Open
3rd – Brunel Desinor – 21.76
11th – Kameron Horton – 22.09
200 Invite
7th – Julian Klenner – 21.67
DMR
4th – Western Kentucky – 10:25
1) Eddy, Jordan 2) Martinez, Zack
3) Steed, Garrett 4) Balcom, Wade
High Jump
16th – Nick Fornoff – 1.86 (6-01)
Shot Put
11th – Kaison Barton – 15.61 (15-02 ½)
23rd – Luke Stegman – 13.97 (45-09 ¾)
Shot Put Open
22nd – Connor Owens – 12.01 (39-04 ¾)
Pole Vault Open
10th – Devon Montgomery – 4.35 (14-03 ¼)
Women's Results
300m
24th – Gianna Huerta – 42.70
DMR
7th – Western Kentucky – 12:55
1) Evans, Rylee 2) Payne, Rachel
3) Frisch, Addie 4) Rutherford, Lucy
High Jump
2nd – Emilia Lesniak – 1.73 (5-08)
10th – Grace Turner – 1.63 (5-04)
High Jump Open
3rd – Rachel Payne – 1.58 (5-02)
8th – Netanya Linares – 1.58 (5-02)
Triple Jump
36th – Haley Zell – 10.38 (34-00 ½)
