Kansas City Gears Up For ISU Holiday Invitational

Saturday, December 9

Ames, IA

Kansas City

Iowa State Holiday Invitational

Kansas City Gears Up For ISU Holiday Invitational

12/13/2024 10:00:00 AM | Track and Field

Roos to compete in second indoor meet of the season in Ames this weekend

Coming off a strong team effort to the 2024-25 indoor track and field campaign at the Bob Timmons Challenge, Kansas City looks to continue their positive momentum at Iowa State on Saturday as the Roos take part in the ISU Holiday Invitational. Last time out, the Roos performed admirably, showcasing their next-level speed in the men's 60 meter dash where five Roos finished inside the top 12 placements.

The Roos saw plenty of success in sprints the last time they traveled to Ames for a meet, during the 2023 ISU Holiday Invitational. Three KC indoor T&F program records were broken that day which included the men's 60 meter and 300 meter dashes and the women's 300 meter dash. This time out, Kansas City will look to replicate last season's success and build off a great season-opening performance last weekend in Lawrence.

Roos To Watch

Stephen Clunis - One of the Summit League 'Peak Performer of the Week' winners will look to retain his top spot in the conference's 60 meter dash standings. Clunis set a school record time at 6.66 second in the event and has his sights set on lowering that time this weekend. The junior sprinter also rates high on the leaderboards in the early season national scene with Clunis' 6.66 time ranking at third best in the country.
Kenechukwu Okpareke - Kansas City's second best sprinter in Lawrence was none other than the Roos previous 60 meter dash record holder. Last year in Ames, Okpareke set the then school record with a time of 6.67 seconds. Okpareke was awarded a spot on the Summit League's preseason 'Athletes to Watch' list, and showed why by running a 6.75 second time in the 60 meter dash last weekend.
Nahshon Houston - One of the Roos most versatile athletes, Houston delivered for Kansas City in multiple events, including a 7.19 meter leap in the long jump which ranked second best in the event at last week's Bob Timmons Challenge. Houston also ran a 7.05 time in the 60 meter dash, good for 19th best in the event.
Jaleesa McWashington - Leading the way on the women's side last weekend was McWashington who came in the top five placements for both the long jump and the 60 meter hurdles. The fifth year senior ran a time of 8.93 and sprung a jump of 5.64 meters which sported her fifth and third place in those events respectively.
Jentrie Alderson - Along with McWashington on the women's side, Alderson was one of the Roos 'Athletes to Watch' in the Summit League. In the 2024 outdoor season, Alderson ran the 5000 meter race three times, finishing with a season-best time of 17:16.44 at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
Brooke Williams - Williams excelled in the jumping events, finishing top 10 in both the long and triple jump at the Bob Timmons Challenge. Williams delivered a 5.23 meter mark in the long jump which was good for seventh in the event. Additionally, Williams completed a 10.99 triple jump mark, good for the fourth best mark in the event.

After the Iowa State Holiday Invitational, the Roos will get some rest for a few weeks before their next meet on January 11 at the Alexis Jarrett Invitational in Columbia.