Kansas State hosted the Steve Miller Invitational, the final regular-season indoor meet, where athletes set school records and secured national qualifications. The Wildcats' women and men earned strong performances, including a new record in the 1,000 meters by Vienna Lahner. Visiting Kansas Jayhawks also claimed multiple victories in field events.
The Steve Miller Invitational took place on Friday at Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track in Manhattan, Kansas, marking the end of the regular indoor season for both host Kansas State and visiting Kansas.
Kansas State's junior Vienna Lahner won the women's 1,000 meters in 2:44.33, shattering the school record previously held by Kassidy Johnson at 2:44.89 from 2020. This followed Lahner's school-record mile time of 4:38.84 at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational on January 31. Head coach Travis Geopfert praised her progress, stating, “Vienna Lahner is on fire,” and crediting coaches Trey Brokaw and Stephanie Brokaw for their guidance.
Senior Monique Hardy achieved a season-best in the women's weight throw of 72 feet, 7 inches (22 meters), ranking No. 10 nationally and qualifying for nationals. Geopfert highlighted her effort: “(She's) a senior, it’s her last season of eligibility, and she threw 22 meters, punched her ticket to nationals in the weight throw and, you know, got the weight off of her back.”
The K-State men's 4x400-meter relay team of Nen Matlock, Cyrus Ways, Bongumusa Nkosi and Tavon Underwood recorded 3:05.96, the No. 3 time in school history. Freshman Mattix DaCunha ran 7.88 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries, the No. 5 school time. Seniors Vanessa Mercera (8.38 seconds) and Jourdin Edwards (8.44 seconds) took first and second in the women's 60-meter hurdles. Junior Ricardo Hayles won the men's weight throw at 61 feet, 3 inches, while senior Cheyla Scott cleared 5 feet, 11.25 inches to win the women's high jump in her debut for the Wildcats.
Kansas secured six first-place finishes. Mason Meinershagen won the women's pole vault at 4.22 meters, with Madison Snody third. In men's pole vault, Bryce Barkdull (5.55 meters) and Anthony Meacham (5.30 meters) finished first and second. Deshana Skeete won the women's 200 meters in 24.06 seconds. Dimitrios Antonatos took the men's shot put with 17.27 meters, and Maddie Fey won the women's shot put at 15.65 meters, with Addie Cline second. Cline also placed second in women's weight throw, ahead of Kat Meacham in third. Parker Walion won the men's 1,000 meters in 2:24.86, with Nathan Thengvall second. Other podium finishes included Alexia Washington (second, women's triple jump), Brenna Schwada (third, women's long jump), Oliver Duffy (third, men's high jump) and Aaron Merritt (third, men's 60-meter hurdles).
The K-State men rank fourth and women 12th nationally per USTFCCCA. Both teams next compete at the Big 12 Championship on February 27-28 in Lubbock, Texas.
