May 28, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Day three of the NCAA Division I Track and Field East Preliminary was a successful one for the Kentucky Wildcats, with Colin Boevers, Mary Angell, Keith Hayes and the women’s 4×400 meter relay team all advancing to the national championship meet in Des Moines, Iowa.
The women’s 4×400 meter relay team of Jenna Martin, Shiara Robinson, Precious Nwokey and Jazmyn Shorter started out strong at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind., turning in fast clips throughout the race and crossing the finish line with a time of 3:34.12, a school record. The Wildcats, Tennessee and North Carolina stayed tight throughout the race, pushing each other on every exchange.
Boevers used a consistent approach in the ring to stay at the front of the pack in the men’s discus, before taking the lead on his final throw of the first round with a mark of 57.49m/188.07.25. Boevers’ first round mark held strong in the men’s discus final round and was the top distance in the event. Boevers’ the two-time defending Southeastern Conference Champion in the discus, will be making his second consecutive trip to nationals. Boevers finished ninth at NCAA outdoors last year and earned All-America honors.
From the beginning of the women’s discus until the end, Angell, a native of Byron Center, Mich., was consistent in her approach and her results. Angell furthered her previous career best throw of 54.14m/177-07 with a throw of 56.26m/184-07.00. Angell’s throw was the second best in the event and earns her a spot at NCAA’s in Des Moines.
Hayes tied his career best time of 13.70 in the men’s 110m hurdles, the second fastest time in program history, and finished the event in fifth place to move on to nationals. Hayes stayed by the front of the pack from the gun and finished well to come in second place for his heat.
“It’s gratifying to see the seniors, Mary Angell, Colin Boevers, Keenan Hall, Jenna Martin, Jazmyn Shorter and Sharif Webb, have an opportunity to finish up their collegiate careers in the national championships,” UK head coach Don Weber said. “It will also be a great opportunity for Precious Nwokey, Shiara Robinson and Keith Hayes to compete on the biggest stage and show what they can do.”
Angell, Boevers, Hall, Hayes, Martin, Nwokey, Robinson, Shorter and Webb will represent the Wildcats at NCAA outdoors at Drake University, beginning June 8-11. Kentucky will be competing in the men’s and women’s discus, the women’s 400m dash, women’s heptathlon, men’s triple jump, men’s 110m hurdles, men’s 800m run and women’s 4×400 meter relay.
For continuous updates, follow the Kentucky track and field team on Twitter @Kentuckytrack and on UKathletics.com.
NCAA Outdoor Championships Qualifiers
Women
Mary Angell – Discus
Jenna Martin – 400m Dash
Precious Nwokey – Heptathlon
Martin, Robinson, Nwokey, Shorter – 4×400 Meter Relay
Men
Colin Boevers – Discus
Keenan Hall – Triple Jump
Keith Hayes – 110m Hurdles
Sharif Webb – 800m Run
Saturday, May 28
Women’s Discus – 11:00 a.m.
2. Mary Angell – 56.26m/184-07
Men’s Discus – 5:00 p.m.
1. Colin Boevers – 57.49m/188-07.00
Men’s 110m Hurdles Quarterfinal – 7:20 p.m.
5. Keith Hayes – 13.70
18. Darryl Bradshaw – 14.07
Women’s 5,000m Run Semifinal – 8:05 p.m.
39. Cally Macumber – 17:10.81
Women’s 4x400m Relay Quarterfinal – 9:25 p.m.
8. Kentucky – 3:34.12
(Jenna Martin, Jazmyn Shorter, Shiara Robinson, Precious Nwokey)
