Wildcats Wrap Up First Outdoor Meet in Stanford Invitational

TF Nen Matlock, Cyrus Ways 4x400 Stanford Invite

Wildcats Wrap Up First Outdoor Meet in Stanford Invitational

Apr 04, 2026 | Track & Field

Day two had multiple K-State relays performing well

STANFORD, Calif. – The K-State track and field teams finished day two of competition in the Stanford Invitational on Saturday (April 4) at Angell Track & Cobb Field.

The Cats competed in the triple jump invitational events, with two men and two women giving top-3 performances, all from short approach. Sophomore Selva Prabhu won the men's event with a leap of 15.76m (51' 8.5") while senior transfer Apalos Edwards from Arkansas claimed the runner-up spot at 15.27m (50' 1.25").

In the women's event, freshman Destini Smith finished as runner-up with a jump of 13.03m (42' 9") while senior Tesia Thomas recorded a distance just shy of that in 3^rd place at 12.97m (42' 6.75").

Competing in the 100-meter dash final, junior Tah Chikomba clocked a time of 10.33 seconds, an improvement from his preliminary time of 10.41 seconds, now bumping him up in the K-State records tied at no. 6.

In the 800 meters, junior Tavon Underwood finished runner-up in his section with a time of 1:48.30, his new fastest time by three seconds and now the no. 9 best time in the school all-time top-10. In the women's race, freshman Anna Pozdeeva won her section in 2:08.03, also a new personal best.

The Cats had a couple teams in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay, with top finishes in both the men's and women's races. For the men's 4x100 race, freshman Jack Guthridge, junior Nen Matlock, senior Cyrus Ways and Chikomba clocked a time of 40.40 seconds in 2^nd place. Similar faces also ran a winning time in the 4x400, Ways, Matlock, Underwood and Guthridge in a time of 3:07.38.

In the women's 4x100 race, junior Maud Zeffou-Poaty, senior Vanessa Mercera and freshmen Desirae Riehle and Delaney Brinker in 45.22 seconds as runner-up. Similarly, in the 4x400, Riehle, Brinker, freshman Anastasiia Kretova and Mercera clocked a 2^nd place time of 3:35.17.

In her first meet as a Wildcat, sophomore Lindsey Cure finished 3^rd in the women's javelin throw collegiate event with a distance of 46.23m (151' 8"), just six inches short of her personal best.

The Wildcats will continue the season on April 17-18 in the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Prior to that, K-State will host the inaugural high school K-State Relays on April 10-11 at R.V. Christian Track, tickets can be purchased here.

FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On new Wildcats competing for the first time…
"I do want to give a couple of shout outs to a couple of athletes that started their careers for us. Lindsey Cure in the javelin, came out and had a great opener right at her personal best javelin, first time uniform, so I'm really proud of her. And Apalos Edwards, a grad transfer for us, in the triple jump, jump from six steps today, jumped over 51 feet, just a fantastic opener."

On Tavon Underwood competing in multiple races…
"A lot of good stuff across the board. I think one of the headliners was Tavon Underwood, 1:48.3 in an 800, a 400-meter runner for us, but just ran incredibly smooth, so really proud of that effort. He also ran on our four-by-four that won it today, and all of those 4x400's ran great. So it's really good job, competitive efforts across the board."

Stanford Invitational
Angell Track & Cobb Field
Stanford, Calif.

Men's Hammer Throw (Invite)
4. Gary Moore Jr., 61.26m (201' 0")

Women's Javelin Throw (Collegiate)
3. Lindsey Cure, 46.23m (151' 8")

Women's 4x100 Relay
2. K-State, 45.22
(M. Zeffou-Poaty, V. Mercera, D. Riehle, D. Brinker)

Men's 4x100 Relay
2. K-State, 40.40
(J. Guthridge, N. Matlock, C. Ways, T. Chikomba)
4. K-State B, 40.65
(U. Ryan, Q. Rice, J. Ezeonu, C. DaCunha)

Women's 800 Meters (Sect. 7)
1. Anna Pozdeeva, 2:08.03 (PR)

Men's 800 Meters (Sect. 3)
2. Tavon Underwood, 1:48.30 (PR)
6. Vance Krudwig, 1:55.65

Men's 800 Meters (Sect. 7)
5. Dylan Plath, 1:51.04

Men's 100 Meter Dash (Final)
2. Tah Chikomba, 10.33 (0.5)
6. Uroy Ryan, 10.61 (0.5)
7. Croix DaCunha, 10.69 (0.5)

Women's Triple Jump (Invite)
2. Destini Smith, 13.03m (42' 9")
3. Tesia Thomas, 12.97m (42' 6.75")
9. Taylor Mayo, 12.14m (39' 10")

Men's Triple Jump (Invite)
1. Selva Prabhu, 15.76m (51' 8.5")
2. Apalos Edwards, 15.27m (50' 1.25")
4. Jhavor Bennett, 14.60m (47' 10.75")

Women's 4x400 Relay
2. K-State, 3:35.17
(D. Riehle, D. Brinker, A. Kretova, V. Mercera)
8. K-State B, 3:42.16
(J. Edwards, R. Kasper, R. Brownlee, A. Jackson)
K-State C, DNF
(A. Pozdeeva, D. Wright, A. Pondler)

Men's 4x400 Relay
1. K-State, 3:07.38
(C. Ways, N. Matlock, T. Underwood, J. Guthridge)
7. K-State B, 3:16.35
(J. Ezeonu, C. DaCunha, U. Ryan, T. Canivet)
10. K-State C, 3:23.98
(Q. Rice, D. Plath, V. Krudwig, C. Buehler)

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