Boulder, Colo. ? Nickesha Anderson broke a 27-year-old Kansas University record and sparked the KU women’s track and field team to its best-ever finish in the Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championships.

Anderson’s third-place finish in the 200 meters in 22.57 seconds bettered the old school record of 23.0 set in 1981 by Lori Green-Jones and helped the Jayhawks place fourth overall Sunday. KU’s men finished ninth.

Anderson also placed sixth in the 100 in 11.35 seconds.

The Kansas women’s 400-meter relay team set the second school record of the day with its finish of 44.61. The team of senior Crystal Manning, Anderson, senior Ashley Brown and junior Victoria Howard lowered the 2006 time of 44.99.

Manning also was runner-up in the triple jump.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Brown and junior Sha’Ray Butler placed third and fifth, respectively.

Sophomore Lauren Bonds was fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The men’s team gained 12 points from the pole vault with sophomore Jordan Scott placing second and sophomore Kirk Cooper finishing fifth.

Senior Julius Jiles was second in the 110-meter hurdles.

Senior Matt Baysinger was fourth in the 800, while senior Hugh Murphy was fifth in the men’s javelin.

l Results on page 4B