AMES, Iowa and BLACKSBURG, Va. ? Several University of Kentucky track and field athletes improved their NCAA qualifying marks this weekend. Kentucky runners set two varsity records in Ames, Iowa, at the Iowa State Qualifier while the UK throws squad broke another in Blacksburg, Va. at Virginia Tech?s Last Chance Meet Saturday afternoon.
UK?s upperclassmen throwers had a magnificent day at the Last Chance Meet. Andy Fryman set a new men?s weight throw record with a toss of 67-3.50, breaking the record he shared with junior Rashaud Scott (65-6). His throw ranks 16th in the nation this year. The senior also earned a provisional mark in the shot put with a heave of 59-4.25, a season-best. Scott?s personal-best put of 62-6.50 places him fourth all-time at UK in the event and ranks seventh in the nation.
At the Qualifier, junior Mikel Thomas broke his own 60m hurdle record for the third time this season clocking in at 7.75. His time ranks eighth in the nation. The women?s 4x400m relay team consisting of sophomore Jenna Martin, freshman Jazmyn Shorter, senior Lavera Morris, and freshman Danielle Sampley tied the UK record time of 3:38.08 set in 1996. The squad improved its mark at 16th in the nation.
The men?s 4x400m relay team also ran a season best time at 3:07.35, improving its seventh-ranked mark in the nation. The team consisted of senior Nathan Browning, sophomore Kwasi Obeng, senior Stephan Smith, and junior Jose Acevedo. Acevedo?s anchor leg split was an amazing 45.5.
Two seniors significantly improved their marks at Ames. In the men?s 400 meter dash, Browning ran a personal-best time of 46.77. The mark ranks fourth all-time at UK and 11th in the nation this season. Morris improved her 800 meter time to seventh nationally after a run of 2:06.05. Her time is just 0.05 seconds off of her qualifying mark last season, also set in Ames, which ranks third all-time in school history.
Junior Jessica Ortman also moved up the school?s 800m all-time list. Ortman?s season-best time of 2:08.24 ranks fourth in the Kentucky annals.
In the men?s 800 meter run, John Richardson ran a personal best time of 1:49.94 to tie for ninth in the UK record books. Smith ran a personal best race at 1:50.06. Both seniors earned provisional marks with their performances.
Sprinter Gordon McKenzie tied his personal-best mark in the 60 meter dash of 6.72 which ranks sixth all-time at Kentucky. The junior also ran a season best time in the 200 meter dash of 21.43.
The Cats are guaranteed two participants at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., in two weeks. Martin earned an automatic bid last weekend in the women?s 400 meter dash at the SEC Indoors Championships. Earlier this season, Richardson earned an NCAA nod in the men?s mile run.
This weekend granted the Wildcats an opportunity to gain entry into the NCAA Championships with either automatic or provisional qualifying marks. Automatic bids guarantee entry into the event final. Provisional marks allow athletes an opportunity to be chosen by the selection committee for competition. Without one of these marks athletes cannot compete at the national championships.
Last season the Cats had two NCAA automatic qualifiers: junior Ashley Muffet in the women?s shot put and the men?s 4x400m relay team. Four additional athletes gained entry via provisional marks. Martin qualified in the 400m dash last season while Morris made the cut in the women?s 800 meter run. Departed seniors Georganne Way (800m run) and Luis Luna (400m dash) also qualified in 2007.
Other UK performances are on ?the bubble? with strong provisional marks this season coming into the weekend.
Acevedo?s 200 meter dash time of 21.08 ranks 12th in the nation. Freshman Derrick Locke?s long jump mark of 25-5.25 is 13th nationwide. Muffet stands eighth in the country for the women?s shot put with a distance of 55-3.
NCAA Indoor Championship invitations will be announced in the next 48 hours. The Cats that qualify will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for competition on Friday and Saturday at the University of Arkansas.
An announcement of Kentucky?s championship qualifiers will be available on UKathletics.com
