LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky track and field squads concluded their opening day of the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships Saturday in E.J. Nutter Field House by notching a number of personal and season bests, qualifying for tomorrow?s finals in a number of events.
Freshman sprinter Jenna Martin had a strong day, qualifying for the finals in both the 400 meters. She notched an NCAA provisional-qualifying and personal best mark of 53.44 in the 400 meter, which broke the freshman school record, and a personal-best 24.32 in the 200 meter.
Senior sprinter Luis Luna finished second in the men?s 400-meter dash with a season-best mark of 46.47 to finish as the fourth qualifier in the event.
Sophomore thrower Ashley Muffet, who will compete in her signature shot put event on Sunday, finished sixth in the weight throw with a mark of 58-3, while freshman Emily Bernhardt notched a personal-best mark of 57-2 to finish seventh. Sophomore pole vaulter Maggie Tincher recorded a school-record leap of 12-0.5
Senior standout distance runner Georganne Way qualified for the women?s mile by finishing seventh in the preliminaries with a time of 4:53.75. Junior Lavera Morris, an All-American last season in the 800 meter, and Way finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 800 meter and qualified for tomorrow?s final. Senior John Richardson finished fifth in the men?s mile with a time of 4:06.27 to qualify for tomorrow?s final.
Gavin Ball, last season?s champion in the men?s shot put, finished fourth in this year?s event with a season-best toss of 60-10.75. Senior Andy Fryman was sixth with a 60-7.25. Both were provisional-qualifying marks.
Jose Acevedo was seventh in the 200-meter dash with a provisional-qualifying mark of 21.21.
Kentucky concludes competition in the SEC Championships on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. EST. Complete results and a recap will be available at ukathletics.com. Fox Sports Net South will provide tape-delay coverage of the day?s highlights.
Kentucky Results (2007 Southeastern Conference Championships ? Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007) Women's Weight Throw (Finals) 6. Ashley Muffet ? 58-3 7. Emily Bernhardt ? 57-2 (PB) 14. Kristen Smith ? 52-4 Women's Pole Vault (Finals) 7. Maggie Tincher ? 12-0.5 (PB) Men's Shot Put (Finals) 4. Gavin Ball ? 60-10.75 P (SB) 6. Andy Fryman ? 60-7.25 P Men's 60 Meter Hurdles (Prelims) 13. Geoffrey Daley ? 8.22 Men's 60 Meter Dash (Prelims) 9. Gordon McKenzie ? 6.80 q 14. Brandon Austin ? 6.87 15. Mikel Thomas ? 6.88 16. Kwasi Obeng ? 6.91 22. Antoine Brown ? 7.12 Men's Mile Run (Prelims) 5. John Richardson ? 4:06.27 Q 16. Nick Reeves ? 4:17.20 Women's Mile Run (Prelims) 7. Georganne Way ? 4:53.75 q 12. Andrea Halasek ? 5:03.88 15. Katherine Peterson ? 5:06.45 16. Leah Ryan ? 5:11.18 Men's 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 2. Luis Luna ? 46.47 q (SB) 13. Justin Harrison ? 47.30 T17. Jose Acevedo ? 47.59 19. Nathan Browning ? 47.75 28. Geoffrey Daley ? 49.71 Women's 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 6. Jenna Martin ? 53.44 P q (PR) 21. Kleo Mack ? 56.76 Men's 800 Meter (Prelims) 11. Stephan Smith ? 1:53.08 16. Scott Geisinger ? 1:54.58 22. Andy Rhodenbaugh ? 2:00.12 Women's 800 Meter (Prelims) 2. Lavera Morris ? 2:08.94 P Q 4. Georganne Way ? 2:10.36 Q 10. Jackie Gordon ? 2:11.62 13. Ashley Trimble ? 2:14.05 29. Meredith Barton ? 2:33.75 Men's 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 7. Jose Acevedo ? 21.21 P q (SB) 18. Gordon McKenzie ? 21.69 19. Brandon Austin ? 21.72 20. Nathan Browning ? 21.96 21. Kwasi Obeng ? 22.02 Women's 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) T16. Jenna Martin ? 24.32 (PR) Men's 3,000 Meter (Finals) 13. Bruce Hordusky ? 8:31.53 15. John Thompson - 8:35.36 16. Jonathan Thomas ? 8:37.61 19. Zach Wilder ? 8:46.52
