March 10, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
The University of Kentucky track and field team will field athletes in five individual events in addition to the men’s 4×400 meter relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend at Texas A&M University’s Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium at the McFerrin Athletic Center in College Station, Texas, the NCAA selection committee announced late Monday evening.
UK sprinter Rondel Sorrillo earned automatic-qualifying marks in both the men’s 60m and 200m dashes this season to secure his participation in the events.
Competing in his first collegiate meet as a Wildcat, Sorrillo bolted out of the blocks in the 60m dash preliminaries at a clip of 6.60 at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships to automatically qualify for one bid. Sorrillo’s mark ranks second all-time at UK. His 60m dash time is tied for second in the SEC and ranks in a tie for fifth nationally.
Last week at the Iowa State Qualifier, the junior notched another automatic bid. Sorrillo clocked in at 20.83 in the 200m dash. His best time as a Wildcat ranks second all-time in school history. Sorrillo’s winning time is second in the SEC ties him for third in the nation.
Senior Mikel Thomas will be making a repeat performance in the Championships this year after placing 15th nationally last season. Last month at the Iowa State Classic, Thomas set the UK 60m hurdles record by winning the final in a blistering time of 7.74, edging his 2008 record of 7.75. His time stands second in the SEC and sixth in the country.
Making his fourth consecutive appearance in the Championships as member of the men’s 4x400meter relay team is senior Jose Acevedo. Last year he anchored the relay squad that placed tenth nationally. Two seasons ago, Acevedo earned All-America honors as a member of the nation’s second-place relay team.
Acevedo will be joined by Sorrillo, senior Brandon Austin and freshman Justin Austin. The foursome earned an NCAA nod based on its race at the SEC Championships, clocking in with a season-best time of 3:06.78 that ranks sixth in the nation.
Senior Chase Madison achieved his top NCAA provisional mark at UK’s McCravy Memorial Meet. In the men’s shot put, Madison posted a personal-best throw of 61-7.75. The distance ranks seventh all-time at UK. Madison’s throw ranks fifth in the SEC and 12th nationally.
Wildcat senior Ashley Trimble earned her first NCAA bid in the women’s pentathlon. Her dramatic come-from-behind victory in the pentathlon at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships improved her provisional-qualifying score to 3,991 points. She became the first woman in school history to capture an indoor SEC pentathlon title and broke the school record she set earlier this season at Penn State. Trimble’s point total leads the SEC and ranks 16th nationally.
The NCAA Championships will be streamed live on ESPN360.com both Friday and Saturday. Anyone with an “.edu” e-mail address is able to obtain access to ESPN360 for free. Additionally, ESPN2 will air a 90-minute highlight show on Mar. 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
A preview of the upcoming NCAA Championships will be available at ukatheltics.com.
Kentucky’s 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship Participants
MEN
60 Meter Dash
Rondel Sorrillo
200 Meter Dash
Rondel Sorrillo
60 Meter Hurdles
Mikel Thomas
4×400 Meter Relay
1) Justin Austin 2) Rondel Sorrillo 3) Brandon Austin 4) Jose Acevedo
Shot Put
Chase Madison
WOMEN
Pentathlon
Ashley Trimble
