Mercera Adds Outdoor 400 Meters to School Record Collection

Friday, May 8

Manhattan, Kan.

Kansas State University

Ward Haylett Invitational

TF Vanessa Mercera 400 meters Ward Haylett Invite May 8, 2026 R.V. Christian Track

Mercera Adds Outdoor 400 Meters to School Record Collection

May 08, 2026 | Track & Field

Results (.pdf)

The senior now holds four school records in the indoor and outdoor season

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior Vanessa Mercera secured her second 400 meters school record on Friday (May 8) during the Ward Haylett Invitational at R.V. Christian Track.

Mercera won the race in 51.83 seconds, a full second faster than her personal best and indoor school record of 52.83 seconds, also marking a new meet record. She surpassed the previous record of 51.93 seconds set by Nicole Green in 1995. Mercera now sits at no. 3 in the Big 12 Conference standings in the event.

"Vanessa Mercera had a personal best by one second, breaking a 30-year-old record here at Kansas State," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "And Vanessa, celebrated her tonight as a senior. I think, oh gosh, she has maybe four or five different school records between indoor and outdoor, so really appreciate her and her efforts and the legacy that she's left at Kansas State."

This is Mercera's first school record of the outdoor season, previously claiming the 400 meters, 600 yards and as part of the 4x400 relay during the indoor season.

The Wildcats had multiple winners in both the sprints and middle distance events. Junior Tavon Underwood won the men's 400 meters in 45.62 seconds, a slight personal improvement, bumping him up to no. 6 in the K-State all-time list and a new meet record.

Freshman Anna Pozdeeva won the women's 800 meters with a new personal best time at 2:06.52, the no. 8 time in the outdoor records. Fellow freshman Vance Krudwig also ran his fastest race in the men's event at 1:50.61.

Junior Thomas Canivet won the 400-meter hurdles in 50.18 seconds, shaving a minute and a half off from his fastest time, now the no. 3 best time in the K-State records. Senior Jourdin Edwards also won the event on the women's side in 57.50 seconds.

In the field events, freshman Alan Hanna had his best performance this outdoor season in the men's high jump with a clearance of 2.16m (7' 1") for 4^th place. In the men's discus throw senior Gary Moore Jr. finished as runner-up with a throw of 54.79m (179' 9").

"Our freshman, Alan Hanna, had a big outdoor breakthrough tonight, jumped 7' 1" in the high jump," Geopfert said. "It's a fun little game we play, and I bet him pushups, and it was a third attempt effort, and he made me do 40 pushups after that make and so that was fun. But [coach] Chris Goodwin is doing a tremendous job with him, and I appreciate Alan's patience and willingness to work through some challenges and just being tremendously coachable."

The Wildcats will start the postseason with the Big 12 Championship set for May 14-16 in Tucson, Ariz., hosted by Arizona at Roy P. Drachman Stadium.

FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On celebrating senior night…
"I want to congratulate our seniors, it was senior night and I think we had a class of 22 student athletes that we celebrated tonight. I really appreciate them welcoming our staff here last year and our second year with these student athletes… there was tremendous leadership amongst this group, and so it feels good to celebrate them tonight. We're not done with the season yet, with Big 12 meet next week and more to get done at Big 12s and NCAA, but huge round of applause for those seniors."

On the success tonight with the sprinters…
"Also on the track, the sprinters across the board, Thomas Canivet 50.1 in the 400 hurdles, number three all time on the Kansas State list. Tavon Underwood, big breakthrough, ran 45.6 400 [meters] with a loaded field and just did a great job of executing his game plan. And then the women 400 hurdlers, a bunch of PBs in that group as well, and season best and punching their ticket to the NCAA first rounds, just a tremendous job. And I want to compliment Mat Clark and James Milholen on setting another school record in our sprinting events."

Ward Haylett Invitational
R.V. Christian Track
Manhattan, Kan.

Men's Hammer Throw
6. Riley Marx, 58.58m (192' 2") (PR)

Women's Pole Vault
2. Claire Bybee, 3.86m (12' 8")
3. Taegan Olson, 3.86m (12' 8")

Women's Javelin
4. Kayla Goodwin, 34.20m (112' 2")
6. Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer, 33.53m (110' 0")
7. Zoey Brinker, 28.98m (95' 1") (PR)

Women's Long Jump
3. Tesia Thomas, 5.95m (19' 6.25") (0.9)

Women's High Jump
1. Shanniqua Williams, 1.72m (5' 7.75")
2. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.70m (5' 7") (PR)

Men's 100 Meters
2. Jack Guthridge, 10.64 (PR)
4. Quenton Rice, 10.71

Women's Shot Put
5. Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer, 11.17m (36' 7.75") (PR)
6. Kayla Goodwin, 11.15m (36' 7")
8. Zoey Brinker, 10.05m (32' 11.75")

Women's 400 Meters
1. Vanessa Mercera, 51.83 (PR)*
2. Anastasiia Kretova, 53.34 (PR)
3. Delaney Brinker, 53.99
4. Desirae Riehle, 54.18
5. Ariana Jackson, 54.50 (PR)

Men's 400 Meters
1. Tavon Underwood, 45.62 (PR)
4. Nen Matlock, 46.38
7. Bongumusa Nkosi, 47.08
17. Heath Grant, 51.51

Women's 800 Meters
1. Anna Pozdeeva, 2:06.52 (PR)
2. Angi Pondler, 2:07.99 (PR)
3. Emma Baum, 2:14.62
4. Bree Newport, 2:19.07

Men's 800 Meters
1. Vance Krudwig, 1:50.61 (PR)
2. Julian Avila, 1:50.79 (PR)
3. Dylan Plath, 1:51.15
4. Jackson Steger, 1:51.79

Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Jourdin Edwards, 57.50
2. Reese Brownlee, 58.47 (PR)
3. Delaney Wright, 59.03
4. Reese Kasper, 59.06

Men's 400 Meter Hurdles
1. Thomas Canivet, 50.18 (PR)
2. Cyrus Ways, 51.79

Men's 200 Meters
3. Jack Guthridge, 21.20 (PR)
5. James Ezeonu, 21.49
8. Quenton Rice, 21.89

Women's 3000 Meters
1. Hanna Keltner, 10:01.99 (PR)
2. Bree Allen, 10:05.87
3. Paige Baker, 10:23.72
4. Payton Fink, 10:29.99

Men's High Jump
4. Alan Hanna, 2.16m (7' 1")

Men's Pole Vault
2. Emil Uhlin, 4.97m (16' 3.5")

Men's Discus Throw
2. Gary Moore Jr., 54.79m (179' 9")
10. Riley Marx, 44.33m (145' 5")
11. Dorian Charles, 43.62m (143' 1") (PR)
13. Emil Uhlin, 41.71m (136' 10")
16. Mattix DaCunha, 36.87m (120' 11") (PR)

Women's 1500 Meters
1. Grace Meyer, 4:31.30
2. Cecilia Fisher, 4:34.37 (PR)
3. Christine Jerono, 4:36.69

Men's 1500 Meters
1. Canyon Buehler, 4:01.06 (PR)

Men's Shot Put
4. Dorian Charles, 13.39m (43' 11.25")
6. Mattix DaCunha, 11.55m (37' 10.75")

Men's 4x400 Relay
2. K-State, 3:12.27
(V. Krudwig, J. Guthridge, J. Ezeonu, E. Uhlin)

Women's Triple Jump
Kayla Goodwin, NM

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