Wichita State’s 1966 MVC track and field champions reunite this weekend

Wichita State finished second by three points in the 1965 Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championship. One year later, the Shockers won their first title, outscoring North Texas by 12 points.

The 1966 Shockers, who won the championship in Wichita, are reuniting this weekend. They will be recognized at Saturday’s men’s basketball game and Saturday afternoon at the Herm Wilson Invitational at the Heskett Center.

Coached by Fritz Snodgrass, the Shockers won five individual titles in the 1966 meet on their way to 69 points.

Earl Yarbrough won the 400-yard dash with a time of 47.9 seconds. Dennis Buth won the mile with a time of 4 minuites, 19.8 seconds.

Fred Burton won the first of two pole vault titles with a leap of 16 feet. Rod Wilkinson defended his discus title with a throw of 162-10 and Larry Thye won the long jump at 22-9 1/2.

The 1966 title was the first of seven won by WSU, most recently in 2010.

Shockers sweep weight throw –WSU's Jamesia Milton won the women's weight throw with a distance of 62 feet, 1 1/4 inches at the Herm Wilson Invitational at the Heskett Center.

For the men, Taylor Goldsmith won the event with a throw of 66-2 1/4. Skylar Arneson (65-11 3/4) and Weston Cottrell (61-7 3/4) completed the sweep.

Jared Bellardo won the triple jump with a leap of 51-5 and Breanne Borman won the women's long jump (18-7 1/4).

The meet continues on at 9:45 a.m. Saturday with the heptathlon.

Shockers slip past Huskers – WSU's men's tennis team defeated Nebraska 4-3 at Genesis Health Club with freshman Haru Inoue's victory over Andrew Dzulynsky 6-2, 7-5, 7-6(3).

Nebraska's Dusty Boyer defeated Tin Ostojic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at No. 1 singles.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Wichita State’s 1966 MVC track and field champions reunite this weekend."