Two Wildcat Runners-Up After Day One of Big 12 Championship

TF Dorian Charles Big 12 Championship May 14, 2026

Two Wildcat Runners-Up After Day One of Big 12 Championship

May 14, 2026 | Track & Field

After three events, the men's team is in 2nd place with 20 points

TUCSON, Ariz. – The K-State track and field teams began the three-day Big 12 Championship on Thursday (May 14) at Drachman Stadium with two second place finishes in the throwing events as well as four qualifiers for Saturday's final races. After three events the men's team sits in 2^nd place with 20 points.

Senior Gary Moore Jr. finished 2^nd in the hammer throw with a season's best distance of 67.22m (220' 6"). It was his farthest throw through six competitions by six feet and was a foot and a half shy of his championship title last season.

In the javelin, junior Riley Marx threw for 68.75m (225' 6") for a silver medal. For a consecutive season he claims second place in the conference meet, this time with a two-foot improvement.

While also competing in the decathlon, freshman Dorian Charles already reached the podium by competing in the individual javelin where he finished 5^th with a distance of 65.39m (214' 6").

Four Wildcats all had qualifying time in their preliminary race to advance to Saturday's final, all in the 400-meter hurdles. Sophomore Thomas Canivet won the men's event in 50.04 seconds, a new personal best and now tied for the no. 2 fastest time in the K-State school records.

In the women's race K-State will have three women looking for a spot on the podium. Senior Vanessa Mercera led the pack in 5^th place in 57.47 seconds while freshman Reese Brownlee (7^th; 57.77) and senior Jourdin Edwards (8^th; 57.98) were not far behind. Brownlee ran a new personal best time and is now no. 9 in the K-State all-time top-10.

The men's decathlon and women's heptathlon began the first half of events as K-State has three men and three women competing in the events, five of them freshmen.

After the first five events, freshman Mattix DaCunha leads the Cats on the men's side with 3,905 points in 8^th place. He recorded top-5 finishes in two races, 3^rd place in the 100-meter dash in 10.91 seconds and 5^th in the 400 meters in 49.09 seconds.

In the decathlon, Charles is just 16 points behind DaCunha in 9^th place with 3,889 points. His best finish was 3^rd place in the shot put at 13.46m (44' 2").

Freshman Chase McMullen competes in his first collegiate decathlon and finished the day winning the 400 meters in 47.86 seconds, sitting in 12^th place with 3,824 points.

For the women, freshman Zoey Brinker also sits in 8^th place with 3,380 points after four events. She won the high jump with a clearance of 1.82m (5' 11.5") and finished 9^th in the 200-meter dash in 24.50 seconds.

Freshman Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer is 34 points behind Brinker in 9^th place with 3,346 points. Her best finish was 4^th place in the high jump with a personal best clearance at 1.76m (5' 9.25"). Senior Kayla Goodwin is in 18^th place with 3,137 points, recording an 8^th place throw in the shot put at 11.57m (37' 11.5").

The decathlon and heptathlon will wrap up on Friday starting at 1 p.m. CT, while the field events are set to begin at 6 p.m. CT, prior to the 7:30 p.m. CT track start.

FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the day one performances with runners-up and combined events…
"Day one is in the books. We got the party started with hammer throw and I was really proud of the series that Gary did there, runner-up in the Big 12, proud of that effort from him. We also got runner up in the javelin with Riley Marx. Dorian balanced a really difficult day and scored in the javelin as well. And then the multi-eventers, we had five freshmen and one senior, and everybody is putting themselves in position to score. It was a long hot day out here and they managed it extremely well, coach Kip Janvrin had those athletes ready and it was a good day one."

On four Wildcats qualifying for the 400 meter hurdles final on Saturday…
"Night was really capped with the 400 hurdlers. Got three women through to the final in the 400 hurdles, we're the number one ranked 400 hurdles in the country. Mat Clark and James Milholen are doing a fantastic job, those women doing a great job. Freshman Reese Brownlee with the monster PR got it done and as well as the other ladies, just fantastic efforts across the board. Thomas Canivet ran the fastest time in qualifying 400 hurdles, another lifetime best for him, and so we're to a great start. We're gonna keep the pedal down and get ready for tomorrow."

Big 12 Championship
Drachman Stadium
Tucson, Ariz.

Women's Heptathlon- Zoey Brinker
19. 100 Meter Hurdles, 14.57 (0.7)
1. High Jump, 1.82m (5' 11.5")
17. Shot Put, 10.24m (33' 7.25")
9. 200 Meters, 24.50 (2.6)

Women's Heptathlon - Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer
8. 100 Meter Hurdles, 13.88 (1.3) (PR)
4. High Jump, 1.76m (5' 9.25") (PR)
22. Shot Put, 9.33m (30' 7.5")
8. 200 Meters, 24.46 (2.3)

Women's Heptathlon - Kayla Goodwin
21. 100 Meter Hurdles, 14.69 (2.2)
12. High Jump, 1.64m (5' 4.5")
8. Shot Put, 11.57m (37' 11.5")
21. 200 Meters, 25.54 (1.8)

Men's Decathlon- Dorian Charles
11. 100 Meters, 11.13 (-1.5)
10. Long Jump 6.86m (22' 6.25")(2.0)
3. Shot Put, 13.46m (44' 2")
10. High Jump, 1.91m (6' 3.25")
4. 400 Meters, 49.08

Men's Decathlon- Mattix DaCunha
3. 100 Meters, 10.91 (-1.5)
6. Long Jump, 7.13m (23' 4.75")(0.8)
13. Shot Put, 11.88m (38' 11.75")
11. High Jump, 1.91m (6' 3.25")
5. 400 Meters, 49.09

Men's Decathlon- Chase McMullen
10. 100 Meters, 11.13 (-0.2)
13. Long Jump, 6.71m (22' 0.25")(2.5)
15. Shot Put, 11.13m (36' 6.25")
5. High Jump, 1.97m (6' 5.5")
1. 400 Meters, 47.86

Men's Hammer Throw
2. Gary Moore Jr., 67.22m (220' 6")
13. Riley Marx, 56.70m (186' 0")

Men's Javelin
2. Riley Marx, 68.75m (225' 6")
5. Dorian Charles, 65.39m (214' 6")

Men's 1,500 Meters (Prelims)
18. Jackson Esquibel, 3:52.33 (PR)
23. Julian Avila, 3:53.70
25. Dylan Plath, 3:55.98
32. Vance Krudwig, 4:06.27

Women's 1,500 Meters (Prelims)
20. Emma Baum, 4:32.13
21. Grace Meyer, 4:32.77

Men's 200 Meters (Prelims)
21. Jack Guthridge, 20.82 (2.5)
28. James Ezeonu, 21.15 (1.7)

Men's 400 Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
1. Thomas Canivet, 50.04 (PR)*
17. Cyrus Ways, 54.71

Women's 400 Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
5. Vanessa Mercera, 57.47*
7. Reese Brownlee, 57.77 (PR)*
8. Jourdin Edwards, 57.98*
12. Reese Kasper, 58.75
17. Delaney Wright, 59.86

Women's Javelin
10. Lindsey Cure, 42.81m (140' 5")

Men's 10,000 Meters
19. Brock Olsen, 31:34.97

-- k-statesports.com --

How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.