Former K-State standout Austra Skujyte of Lithuania found herself in gold medal position after three events in the heptathlon at the London Olympics. Skujyte won two competitions on Friday in the high jump with a leap of six feet, three and a half inches, and a toss of 56 feet, nine and a half inches in the shot put. The 2002 K-State graduate was not able to hold her lead as eventual gold winner Jessica Ennis of Great Britain passed in the overall standing after the 200 meter dash in the final event on Friday. Skujyte still sat in second after the long jump and javelin on Saturday morning, but a time of 2:20.59 in the 800 meter run dropped her to a 5th place finish.
Two former Wildcats participated in the women’s 3000 meter steeplechase, but neither was able to finish in the top 15 to advance to the finals. Korene Hinds of Jamaica finished 24th with a time 9:37.95, and Beverly Ramos of Puerto Rico was 35th with a time of 9:55.26.
K-State senior-to-be Erik Kynard will be in the men’s high jump quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm central time.
