LEXINGTON, Ky. ? University of Kentucky track and field athletes competed against one another for good marks and bragging rights Thursday at Nutter Field House during the team?s annual Fall Intra-squad Track Meet.
The sprint competition began with the 60-meter high hurdles where freshman Brendan Ames and junior Mikel Thomas crossed the line in a dead heat at a mark of 8.01. The rookie edged the veteran by 0.004 seconds. Ames? time would have shattered the UK freshman record of 8.12 had it been run in regular-season competition.
Thomas came back a few minutes later to claim the 60-meter dash at 6.80. Last year?s winner, junior Gordon McKenzie, finished second at 6.81. On the women?s side, freshman Jazmyn Shorter led the field across the line at a clip of 7.62. Fellow rookie Danielle Sampley followed close behind in second at 7.64.
In the women?s 300-meter dash sophomore Jenna Martin won for the second year in a row with a time of 38.32, besting last year?s mark by 0.42. On the men?s side, junior Jose Acevedo took home first prize with a pace of 33.75.
?There were a few surprises and disappointments Thursday,? said Erin Tucker, assistant coach for sprints. ?The beautiful thing is the people that surprised me and themselves can use it to continue to work their way up the food chain. The ones that experiences a little bit of a disappointment know what they need to work on and can refocus to get there.
?Overall it was great watching them compete. I didn’t do too much coaching. It was my time to observe them warming up and see if they really had been paying attention this fall. Again, some are not there yet in terms of meet-day preparation, but I know what things I need to stay on them about.?
Field event competition opened the meet and offered a glimpse of the year to come for the Cats. Two of UK?s highly-touted freshman stood out in the jump events Thursday.
?Freshman Ke?Undra Bishop had some great attempts at the triple jump that would have surpassed her previous best marks from high school,? said James Thomas, assistant coach for jumps, vault and multi-events. ?It was good to see her take a modified approach and execute the jumps effectively.
?Freshman Grant Lindsey had some excellent attempts in the high jump. I was very pleased to see him jump so well in a low energy practice environment. I will continue to expect big things from him.?
Shot put competition opens the meet at 2:30 pm ET Friday, followed by the weight throw. Soon after, the long jump and pole vault showcase UK talent. Later, the sprinters race the 150-meter dash and finish the meet with the men?s and women?s 4×400-meter relays.
Kentucky opens the indoor season by hosting the annual Kentucky Invitational, Jan. 11-12 at Nutter Field House.
Schedule of Events
Friday, Dec. 7
2:30 p.m. ? Shot Put
— Followed by Weight Throw
4:30 p.m. ? Long Jump
— Followed by Pole Vault
5:30 p.m. – Men’s 150 M dash
5:35 p.m. – Women’s 4×400 relay
5:40 p.m. – Men’s 4×400 relay
