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Back to Emporia for the ESU Relays
4/2/2015 11:24:00 AM | Track and Field
EMPORIA STATE RELAYS / STANFORD INVITE
Date / Time: Apr. 3 - 4 / 5:30 p.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Site: Emporia, Kan. / Welch Stadium
Stanford, Ca. / Cobb Track & Angell Field
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Friday, Courtney Frerichs will compete at the Stanford Invite in the women's 5000m run while the rest of the squad will compete on Saturday at the Emporia State Relays. At 5:30 p.m. in Stanford, Frerichs will run in the first heat of the women's 5000m run. The field events in Emporia will kick off at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
The Last Time Out
The track and field teams competed at two different sites last weekend, the ESU Spring Open in Emporia, Kan., and the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Tex. Blake Hocking had stand out performances on his part in the men's shot put and discus events, placing in the top three and setting another school record in shot put for outdoor. While there was tough competition, it did not stop the Kangaroos from breaking more personal and school records.
Grabbing a second place finish was Hocking's toss of 17.57m-- a career best and now ranks first in the WAC for men's shot put. Although he placed 14th overall in the discus, Hocking's launch of 45.60m in the discus ranks fourth in UMKC records books and has him sitting third in the WAC.
The Coaching Staff
Shameika McField was named the head coach for the UMKC track and field/cross country programs on March 4, 2008. Before her appointment, McField served as the interim head coach for the Kangaroos from January to March 2008. McField joined the athletics department in September 2007 as an academic advisor.
Entering her eighth season at the helm, McField looks to continue to build on her team's success entering the second season in the WAC, with senior Courtney Frerichs leading the way as a two-time All-American (one track, one cross country).
James Butler joined the UMKC staff in July of 2011, and coaches the distance/cross country runners. He came to Kansas City after three years at the University of New Mexico. During his tenure, Butler has helped guide Courtney Frerichs to a pair of Summit League titles and two All-American honors after she finished sixth in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships and 38th at the NCAA Cross Country Championship.
Benaud Shirley joined the UMKC track and field program as an assistant coach in April 2008. Shirley, who had served as a volunteer assistant coach at Kansas from 2003-08, works with the jumpers for the Kangaroos. In 2013, Shirley helped D.C. Okonta to the title in Triple Jump and Rich McCoy to the title in the long jump at The Summit League Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with Okonta adding Summit League Outdoor Championships Field MVP, while Okonta, McCoy and Stephany Johnson all advanced to the NCAA West Regionals, while in 2014, Josh Harden earned First Team All-WAC honors with a second place finish in the triple jump.
Brian Bishop joined the UMKC Track & Field coaching staff in the summer of 2014 and will work with the throwers as an assistant coach. Bishop comes to the 'Roos after a successful career at Kansas where he advanced to the NCAA West Regionals in 2010 in the discus. Prior to joining the Jayhawks, Bishop was named First Team All-GLVC at SIU Edwardsville, while finishing as the second-place conference finisher in 2008 in the discus with a throw of 178-03 ft.
So far, during his first year Bishop has helped Dahlia Dyson and Kelsey Benoit earn First Team All-WAC honors with first and second place finishes in the women's shot put at the WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. On the men's side, Bishop was able to have all of his throwers place in the hammer and shot put, including Blake Hocking taking the conference title in men's shot put.
Up Next...
The 'Roos will return to action on April 10th, at the K.T. Woodman Classic in Wichita, Kan.
Players Mentioned
