K-State’s Tah Chikomba named National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year MANHATTAN (WIBW) - K-State junior long jumper Tah Chikomba has been named the USTFCCCA Men’s National Field Athlete of the Year after a standout outdoor season.
Chikomba becomes the first K-State men’s athlete to earn the national honor and just the second Wildcat overall to receive the award. The only previous winner from K-State was Akela Jones, who was named Women’s Field Athlete of the Year in 2015.
The Zimbabwe native capped his season by winning the NCAA outdoor long jump title earlier this month with a jump of 8.37 meters (27 feet, 5.5 inches), setting a school record and posting the longest winning jump at the NCAA Championships since 2018.
Chikomba also won the Big 12 long jump championship with a leap of 8.27 meters, setting both a conference and facility record.
Earlier in the season, he recorded a jump of 8.75 meters at the NCAA West Preliminary. According to K-State, the mark ranks as the top all-conditions jump in NCAA history and seventh-best all-conditions jump in world history.
The national award comes just days after Chikomba was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year. He is also on The Bowerman watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top collegiate track and field athletes.
K-State’s men finished eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, highlighted by Chikomba’s national title and one of the strongest seasons in program history. ---- KDOT extends closure on portion of K-13 north of Manhattan TOPEKA (WIBW) - Weather conditions have delayed the reopening of a highway under construction north of Manhattan, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.
A portion of K-13 between US-24 highway and Tuttle Cove Roa that was closed in January was originally expected to reopen this spring.
However, KDOT officials said, weather conditions have delayed progress on the construction progress.
KDOT now anticipates the road will reopen by the end of July, conditions permitting. Marked detours will remain in place during the closure.
Motorists east of K-13 can utilize K-99 and K-16 highways, and motorists west of K-13 can utilize US77 and K-16 highways.
Drivers can follow the signed detours or find appropriate alternative routes.
All project work and traffic changes are being completed as conditions permit and are subject to change, KDOT says.
KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones. ---- Violent felon who escaped is still hiding from police SALINE COUNTY (JC POST)— Law enforcement continue searching for an escaped Kansas felon and asking the public for help finding him.
According to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, the District Court ordered 32-year-old inmate Allen Marlow to a mandated treatment center in Salina.
On the morning of May 18, a deputy took Marlow from the Saline County Jail to the treatment center, according to a media release from the sheriff’s office.
At 7:34 p.m. that day, staff from the treatment center reported that Marlow ran away from the center.
Law enforcement then responded and checked the area, but were unable to locate him. Marlow is described as 6-foot-2, 158 pounds with Brown/balding hair and brown eyes. He was last seen running eastbound in the 600 block of East Elm Street in Salina just after 7p.m. He was wearing grey sweatpants and blue t-shirt.
Marlow has previous convictions for aggravated battery, domestic battery, criminal restraint, obstruction, aggravated endangering a child, fleeing or attempting to elude and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
If you know his whereabouts, please call 9-1-1. ----
Zoo announces death of 10-year-old Sichuan takin MANHATTAN (WIBW) - Sunset Zoo announced that Bao-Yu, the 10-year-old Sichuan takin, has died.
According to a social media post, Bao-Yu had been dealing with untreatable health issues that affected his movement and behavior. As a result, Zoo officials made the difficult decision to say goodbye.
Bao-Yu was born at the Minnesota Zoo and later came to the Sunset Zoo with his mother, Mu-She, on March 18, 2024. Mu-She passed away in Dec. 2025. Zoo officials added that after Mu-She died, Bao continued to be a special part of the zoo’s family.