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Kansas State freshman Tejaswin Shankar has won the 2018 NCAA outdoor high jump title. He joins a long line of Wildcats who have excelled at the event, including London Olympics silver medalist Erik Kynard, Jr.
NATIONAL CHAMPION!
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) June 9, 2018
Freshman Tejaswin Shankar is your men’s high jump National Champion, clearing 2.24m/7-04.25!
He becomes the FIFTH Wildcat to win the national championship in the past 1️⃣0️⃣ years, and the fifth freshman EVER to win the title! #KStateTF #HighJumpU pic.twitter.com/GJqrS7bOWD
Shankar, who placed third at the recent Big 12 outdoor championships, won the event by being the last man standing. He was the only athlete in the field to clear 2.24m, hitting the mark on his third and final attempt. In winning the title, he beat out SEC champion Shelby McEwen (Alabama; 2nd), Big 12 champion Vernon Turner (Oklahoma; 6th), Pac-12 champion Ernie Sears (USC; 7th), ACC champion Damar Lewis (Louisville; 10th), and Big Ten champion Jonathan Wells (Illinois; 13th).
He’s planning to return to summer training right away, but first, Shankar is going to Disneyland.