Jan. 28, 2010
Lexington, Ky – Looking to build on results from the Kentucky Invitational, the University of Kentucky track and field team prepares to host the Rod McCravy Memorial Track Meet, its second meet of the indoor season this weekend, Jan. 29-30 at the E.J. Nutter Field House.
The meet begins Friday at 6 p.m. EST with select field events. Field events resume Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. before running events begin at 12:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public with live statistics and a complete schedule of events at www.ukathletics.com/track.
Two weekends ago the Wildcats kicked off the indoor track and field season, hosting a competitive field at the Kentucky Invitational.
University of Kentucky head coach Don Weber said this meet should demonstrate a stronger showing from the athletes.
“It’s not quite as big of a meet as the Kentucky Invitational but it’s potentially a stronger meet,” Weber said. “Everyone has been back in school training so their fitness level should to be better. I anticipate it to be very competitive.”
The women’s 4×400 relay team of Brittany Cabbler, Jenna Martin, Precious Nwokey and Jazmyn Shorter marked a first home win in 10 years. It was the first 4×400 relay win under the direction of sprints coach Erin Tucker. They earned first place by setting an NCAA provisional meet time of 3:39.94.
Senior thrower Kristin Smith began the first indoor meet by setting a new school record in the weight throw.
Other members of the women’s throwing corps, Ashley Muffet, Jennifer Svoboda and Mary Angell also had a successful premiere showing by respectively placing in the top 10 of the shot put event.
The 19th- ranked men’s team will look to sprinters Justin Austin, Kwasi Obeng and Rondel Sorrillo to build on their notable season openings.
Senior jumper Keenan Hall made his debut as a Wildcat with an NCAA provisional jump that earned him a fourth-place finish in the long jump competition.
Sophomore Luis Orta leads the distance runners after finishing second overall at the Kentucky Invitational in the 3,000-meter run.
The Rod McCravy Memorial track meet will close the list of events the UK track and field team hosts at home this season.
There are 13 teams for both the men and the women completing in the event. No. 1 Florida State and No. 19 Kentucky are the only ranked teams competing for the men, while No. 5 Florida State, No. 14 Louisville and No. 20 Southern Illinois consist of the three ranked women’s teams.
An entire list of all men’s teams competing are as follows: Eastern Kentucky, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis Indiana Invaders, Michigan, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee (Chattanooga), Tennessee, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky.
The teams competing for the women include: Central Florida, Eastern Kentucky, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan, Middle Tennessee, Southern Illinois, Tennessee (Chattanooga), Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky.
The event is named in honor of the late Rod McCravy, a former Wildcat track and field athlete under head coach Don Weber.
Parking and event admission are free. Seating is limited in the northwest corner of the field house and spectators will not be permitted on the infield. Outside food and drinks are prohibited in E.J. Nutter Field House. Event parking is located in the green lot of Commonwealth Stadium.
