Schmidt takes down Jones’ indoor shot put record

Friday, February 8

Lubbock, Texas

Abilene Christian

Texas Tech Shootout

Photo by: Tony Chen

Schmidt takes down Jones’ indoor shot put record

2/9/2019 4:27:00 PM | Track & Field

Texas Tech Shootout Results | Gorilla Classic Results

ABILENE – Senior thrower Kai Schmidt jumped to No. 1 in the Abilene Christian indoor track and field record book and top 15 in the NCAA rankings Saturday following his personal best shot put toss of 19.33 meters (63 feet, 5 inches), which landed him fourth at the Texas Tech Shootout.

Schmidt, a native of Krefeld, Germany, recorded his first collegiate toss of more than 19.00 meters on his third attempt to finish behind Power 5 competitors Jordan Geist of Arizona (21.15m / 69-04.75), Adrian Piperi of Texas (20.19m / 66-03.00) and Brett Neelly of Kansas State (19.71m / 64-08.00).

Schmidt began his series with a distance of 17.72m and improved to 18.48m on his second attempt. He then eclipsed 19.00 meters to surpass ACU All-America Nick Jones in the varsity record book. Jones' top mark of 19.02m (62-05.00) was recorded on Feb. 27, 2012.

Elsewhere in the men's throws, senior Joshua Hunter set a personal best in the shot put (B flight) with a distance of 16.13m (52-11.00) and senior McKennon Cecil cracked the Wildcats' all-time top-10 performer list in the weight throw (B flight) with his winning launch of 17.01m (55-0.75).

There was even more shuffling around of names in the throws section of the women's record book. Friday night senior Lonnie Smith placed third with a weight throw measured at 19.55 (64-01.75), breaking her own school record of 19.01 set earlier this year at Texas Tech, and her classmate Taylor Posey moved into the No. 2 slot with a throw of 18.50m (60-08.50).

Saturday in the shot put, senior Kayla Melgar replaced teammate Annina Brandenburg for third on the school's all-time performer list after placing fourth with a PR of 15.12m (49-07.25).

ACU's highest individual finish on the track of eighth place was recorded by Taylor Tolen, who recorded respective prelims and finals times of 7.73 and 7.71 in the 60-meter dash. Additional track highlights included Megan Kirby running an 8.74 in the 60m hurdles to move into the No. 2 spot on the all-time performer list, and a 10th-place time of 21.43 seconds from Avery Williams in the 200m dash. He is now the Wildcats' sixth fastest sprinter in this event.

A total of 20 PRs were recorded by the Wildcats during their two-day stay in Lubbock, including a combined three by heptathletes Riley Ellis and Cole Palka who competed in only the first six events.

Ellis won the heptathlon 60m dash in 7.10 seconds and was tops in the high jump (1.98m) in addition to placing second in the long jump (6.56m).

Palka was third in both the high jump (1.92m) and 60m hurdles (8.97 seconds).

ACU's distance runners competed separate from the team at Pittsburg State's Gorilla Classic, and claimed some excellent times in the 3,000-meter run. Senior Ryan Cleary placed second to Wichita State's Nathan Wickoren (8:18.68) with a PR of 8:19.33 that ranks second only to Nicodemus Naimadu's 8:18.09 from January 2005. His mark also is the second-best recorded in the Southland Conference this winter.

Junior Carnley Graham placed fourth in the women's 3K in 10:02.30 and sophomore Briahna Gerlach was right behind her in fifth place PR of 10:04.30, moving her into the No. 7 spot on ACU's all-time performer list.

Next up for the Wildcats is the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, which are set for Feb. 24 and 25 in Birmingham, Ala. ACU currently is ranked No. 1 in the Southland in five events (men's 400m, mile, 4x400m relay, shot put and women's weight throw) and has a combined 32 individuals / relay teams ranked among the league's top 10.

ACU Track and Field Results at the Texas Tech Shootout

Men 60m Dash
15. Le'Gari Daniels - 6.87 (PR)
32. Bo Lott - 7.15 (PR)

Men 200m Dash
10. Avery Williams - 21.43 (PR and No. 6 all-time performer at ACU)
31. Le'Gari Daniels - 22.00 (PR)
40. Harrison Manuel - 22.56
49. Bo Lott - 23.64 (PR)

Men 400m Dash
14. Jared Williams - 48.14
15. Blaze Brownlow - 48.22
29. Ryan Linton - 49.02 (PR)
40. Samuel Garcia - 51.03

Men 60m Hurdles
11. Jamal January - 8.22
12. Harrison Manuel - 8.26

Men 4x400m Relay
–. Blaze Brownlow, Ryan Linton, Jared Williams, Avery Williams - DNF

Men Pole Vault
9. Justin Haines - 4.70m (15-05.00)
9. Kyle Mann - 4.70m (15-05.00)

Men Long Jump
13. Jamal January - 6.73m (22-01.00)

Men Shot Put
4. Kai Schmidt - 19.33m (63-05.00) (PR and varsity record)
7. Morgan Knight - 16.51m (54-02.00)

Men Shot Put B
5. Joshua Hunter - 16.13m (52-11) (PR)
10. Ryan Simmons - 15.18m (49-09.75)

Men Weight Throw A
4. Morgan Knight - 18.58m (60-11.50)

Men Weight Throw B
1. McKennon Cecil - 17.01m (55-09.75) (PR and No. 9 all-time performer at ACU)
3. Thomas Wilson - 16.60m (54-05.50) (PR)
4. Joshua Hunter - 16.29m (53-05.50)
5. Kai Schmidt - 15.77m (51-09.00)

Heptathlon 60m Dash
1. Riley Ellis - 7.10 (847 pts.)
6. Cole Palka - 7.42 (739 pts.)

Heptathlon Long Jump
2. Riley Ellis - 6.56m (711 pts.)
6. Cole Palka - 6.12m (613 pts.)

Heptathlon Shot Put
6. Riley Ellis - 10.65m (525 pts.)
9. Cole Palka - 8.85m (417 pts.)

Heptathlon High Jump
1. Riley Ellis - 1.98m (785 pts.)
3. Cole Palka - 1.92m (731 pts.) (PR)

Heptathlon 60m Hurdles
3. Cole Palka - 8.97 (752 pts.) (PR)
8. Riley Ellis - 9.55 (629 pts.)

Heptathlon Pole Vault
6. Riley Ellis - 3.85m (12-07.50) (PR)
8. Cole Palka - 3.45m (11-03.75)

Heptathlon 10000m
Riley Ellis - DNS
Cole Palka - DNS

Women 60m Dash prelims
8. Taylor Tolen - 7.73

Women 60m Dash finals
8. Taylor Tolen - 7.71

Women 200m Dash
33. Taylor Tolen - 25.03 (PR)
35. Karrington Lewis - 25.06 (PR)

Women 400m Dash
44. Mya Henson - 1:00.23
45. Jamie Kennedy - 1:01.38
46. Jenna Macias - 1:02.42

Women 800m Run
17. Soren Underwood - 2:25.38

Women 60m Hurdles
16. Megan Kirby - 8.74 (PR and No. 2 all-time performer at ACU)
23. Irene Akwitti - 9.10
25. Jaycee Pannell - 9.34
29. Payton Kirk - 9.41

Women 4x400m Relay
16. Taylor Tolen, Karrington Lewis, Jamie Kennedy, Mya Henson - 3:59.75

Women High Jump
14. Zoe Spinn - 1.67m (5-05.75)

Women Long Jump
13. Megan Kirby - 5.65m (18-06.50)
21. Payton Kirk - 5.14m (16-10.50)

Women Shot Put
4. Kayla Melgar - 15.12m (49-07.25) (PR and No. 3 all-time performer at ACU)
8. Annina Brandenburg - 13.87m (45-06.25)

Women Shot Put B
4. Taylor Posey - 13.63m (44-8.75)
6. Calyah Brown - 13.45m (44-01.50) (PR)

Women Weight Throw A
3. Lonnie Smith - 19.55m (64-01.75) (PR and new school record)

Women Weight Throw B
2. Taylor Posey - 18.50 m (60-08.50) (PR and No. 2 all-time performer at ACU)
3. Kayla Melgar - 18.28m (59-11.75)

ACU Track and Field Results at the Gorilla Classic
Men 800m Run
36. Denis Lagat - 1:56.20
84. Drew Cummings - 2:03.92

Men Mile Run
11. Denis Lagat - 4:17.57

Men 3000m Run
2. Ryan Cleary - 8:19.33 (PR and No. 2 all-time performer at ACU)
46. Conner Miller - 9:09.09

Men 5000m Run
49. John Baker - 15:55.79 (PR)

Women 3000m Run
4. Carnley Graham - 10:02.30
5. Briahna Gerlach - 10:04.30 (PR and No. 7 all-time performer at ACU)
25. Sarah Wagler - 10:40.00

Women 5000 Run
28. Aubrey Young - 19:50.43 (PR)