Kansas senior hurdler Michael Stigler aims for elusive NCAA title

LAWRENCE – Nearly two months ago, in the moments after racking up another win at the Kansas Relays, Michael Stigler found a quiet spot along a fence at Rock Chalk Park.

Stigler, a Kansas senior, had just torched the field in the 400-meter hurdles, further cementing his case as the top 400 hurdler in collegiate track and field. In the coming weeks, he would begin to close out his decorated career with trips to the Big 12 championships and NCAA regional meet. But his focus, already, was moving to the NCAA championships, which begin Wednesday in Eugene, Ore.

“I definitely feel that I have unfinished business,” Stigler said.

For good reason. During the past two seasons, Stigler, a native of Canyon, Texas, was second in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA championships. Now he will head to Oregon, back to the NCAA meet, seeking that elusive national title.

“Just going there two years in a row, placing runner-up, it’s definitely something that I don’t want to do this year,” Stigler said. “My goal is bring home a national title and put a national title under my belt before I leave KU.”

Stigler should be a heavy favorite to do just that. He has posted the three fastest 400 hurdle times by a collegian this year. That includes his school record in the event at the Texas Relays on March 27. What’s more, his time of 48.44 in Texas is the fastest time by a collegian in four years.

The finals of the 400 hurdles are set for 8 p.m. Friday.

Stigler, though, will have company at the meet. KU senior Lindsay Vollmer, who won the NCAA women’s heptathlon title in 2013, will try to claim her second individual national title after being forced to withdraw from the event because of injury last season.

The Kansas women, which claimed the NCAA title in 2013, enter the NCAA meet ranked 17th and will send six athletes to Oregon. Junior Sydney Conley should be a factor in the long jump, while senior Colleen O’Brien, a Louisburg native, will compete in the high jump.

The other qualifiers: Junior Daina Levy (hammer throw and discus), junior Hannah Richardson (1,500 meters) and sophomore Zainab Sanni (200 meters).

The other KU men’s qualifiers are led by two pole vaulters: junior Jake Albright of Louisburg and Nick Meyer of Bishop Carroll. Two discus throwers — Cole Ceban and Mitch Cooper — will also compete in Eugene.

K-State sends 14 – Among K-State’s NCAA entries are 10 women, making the Wildcats one of 10 programs to send 10 or more entries to the national meet. K-State is trying to land its first top-10 finish at the event since 2002.

Leading the way is Akela Jones, who will compete individually in the high jump and heptathlon. She has won five events this year. Alyx Treasure and Kim Williamson will join her in the high jump, while Sara Savatovic will participate in the hammer throw and Dani Winters will compete in the shot put.

Rounding out the group are sprinters Tia’ Gamble, Alyssa Kelly and A’Keyla Mitchell.

On the men’s side, four athletes will compete at nationals. Christoff Bryan and Nate Gipson will lead the way in the high jump, while Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye will make his first appearance in the long jump. Terrell Smith will run the 200.

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Kansas senior hurdler Michael Stigler aims for elusive NCAA title."