INIDIANAPOLIS ? Several hopeful University of Kentucky track and field team members learned their NCAA fates Tuesday afternoon as the selections were announced for the National Championship meet. Eleven men will join five women from UK to make the trip to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and compete June 11-14.
Five Wildcat men earned automatic bids to the Championship by placing in the top five in their respective events at the Mideast Regional. Automatic qualifiers included event champion freshman Grant Lindsey (high jump) and fellow champ junior Rashaud Scott (discus). Other athletes making the cut included senior Andy Fryman (discus ? 3rd) as well as juniors Mikel Thomas (110m hurdles ? 2nd) and Jose Acevedo (200m dash ? 5th).
All of the remaining selections were at-large bids which are decided after each of the four regions? five automatic qualifiers. At-large qualifiers are limited up to eight athletes nationally per event who finished in the top 12 within their region. The at-large athletes are selected in descending order by top declared qualifying marks among non-automatic selections until the six to eight bids are filled.
The UK men?s 4×400 meter relay team received good news with a selection after a controversial incident that caused a dropped baton on the final leg of the event. Seniors Nathan Browning, Justin Harrison, sophomore Kwasi Obeng and Acevedo will compete for the Blue and White at Nationals.
Another men?s relay team is also headed to Des Moines. The 4x100m relay squad of Obeng, Acevedo, along with juniors Brandon Austin and Gordon McKenzie will compete for the Cats in the one-lap event.
McKenzie also claimed two at-large nods in the men?s 100m dash as well as the 200m sprint.
Fryman and Scott each earned a second bid in addition to their automatic selection in the discus. Fryman qualified in the hammer throw while Scott received a nod in the shot put.
Senior John Richardson rounded out the men?s selections with a bid in the 1500 meter run.
On the women?s side, two athletes made the cut in the 800 meter run: senior Lavera Morris and junior Jessica Ortman.
In the women?s 400 meter dash sophomore Jenna Martin qualified as an at-large candidate.
Junior thrower Emilee Strot earned an NCAA nod in the women?s discus.
Freshman Danielle Sampley was invited to Nationals via a provisional mark set in the heptathlon which is not conducted at regional meets.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for further updates.
Kentucky NCAA Championship Meet Participants (seed)
Men 100 Meter Dash
(15) Gordon McKenzie
Men 200 Meter Dash
(12) Jose Acevedo
(25) Gordon McKenzie
Men 1500 Meter Run
(17) John Richardson
Men 110 Meter Hurdles
(8) Mikel Thomas
Men 4×100 Meter Relay
(15) Kentucky
1) Kwasi Obeng 2) Jose Acevedo 3) Brandon Austin 4) Gordon McKenzie
Men 4×400 Meter Relay
(6) Kentucky
1) Nathan Browning 2) Justin Harrison 3) Kwasi Obeng 4) Jose Acevedo
Men High Jump
(7) Grant Lindsey
Men Shot Put
(12) Rashaud Scott
Men Discus Throw
(7) Rashaud Scott
(13) Andy Fryman
Men Hammer Throw
(18) Andy Fryman
Women 400 Meter Dash
(18) Jenna Martin
Women 800 Meter Run
(19) Lavera Morris
(24) Jessica Ortman
Women Discus Throw
(19) Emilee Strot
Women Heptathlon
(25) Danielle Sampley
