LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Kentucky?s track and field athletes begin their quests in the 2007 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships on Saturday in E.J. Nutter Field House.
The SEC Championships, which began Friday with the pentathlon and heptathlon events, begin at 10 a.m. EST with the field events. Live statistics of the event will be available at ukathletics.com.
Sophomore thrower Ashley Muffet leads a strong cast of Kentucky athletes who are looking to make an impact at the league meet this season. She became the school?s first NCAA automatic qualifier this season with a school-record toss of 55-10.5 at the Iowa State Classic. She was named the SEC Female Field Athlete of the Week for her accomplishments and is ranked third in the nation in Trackwire?s Dandy Dozen.
The Wildcats have notched eight other NCAA provisional-qualifying marks this season. Freshman sprinter Jenna Martin is the nation?s top freshman in the 400 meter with a mark of 53.86 in the Iowa State Classic, the fourth-best mark in the SEC this season. She is ranked 12th in Trackwire?s Dandy Dozen.
The men?s 4×400 relay team, which ran the fourth-fastest time in the country last season, is ranked third nationally in the Dandy Dozen and tallied a season-best 3:07.21 in the event at the Iowa State Classic.
Sophomore sprinter Mikel Thomas broke the school?s record in the men?s 60 meter hurdles with a mark of 8.03 in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Senior sprinter Luis Luna registered the school?s third-fastest time in the 400 meter dash with a 46.92 at the Iowa State Classic.
In last season?s SEC Championships, held at the Stephen C. O?Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla., Kentucky claimed two event crowns. Gavin Ball won the men?s shot put with a toss of 61-2.25 and was UK?s top male points scorer, while the women?s distance medley relay of Lavera Morris, Ashley Trimble, Andrea Brown and Georganne Way also won the SEC title.
Each of the league?s 10 men?s teams (Mississippi State and Vanderbilt do not sponsor men?s indoor track) and 12 women?s teams will be participating in the prestigious meet. Five men?s teams and six women?s teams competing in the meet are ranked in the Trackwire Top 25, and five women?s teams are in the nation?s top 10.
Complete results and a recap will be available at ukathletics.com.
Kentucky Athletes Participating on Saturday, Feb. 24 Women's Weight Throw (Finals) - 10 a.m. Emily Bernhardt Ashley Muffet Kristen Smith Women's Pole Vault (Finals) - 12 p.m. Maggie Tincher Men's Shot Put (Finals) - 2 p.m. Gavin Ball Andy Fryman Men's 60 Meter Hurdles (Prelims) - 2:10 p.m. Geoffrey Daley Mikel Thomas Men's 60 Meter Dash (Prelims) - 3:10 p.m. Brandon Austin Kwasi Obeng Mikel Thomas Men's Mile Run (Prelims) - 3:50 p.m. Nick Reeves John Richardson Women's Mile Run (Prelims) - 4:10 p.m. Andrea Halasek Katherine Peterson Leah Ryan Georganne Way Men's 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) - 4:30 p.m. Jose Acevedo Nathan Browning Geoffrey Daley Luis Luna Women's 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) - 4:50 p.m. Kleo Mack Jenna Martin Men's 800 Meter (Prelims) - 5:10 p.m. Scott Geisinger Andy Rhodenbaugh Stephan Smith Women's 800 Meter (Prelims) - 5:35 p.m. Meredith Barton Jackie Gordon Lavera Morris Jennifer Smith Ashley Trimble Georganne Way Men's 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) - 6 p.m. Jose Acevedo Brandon Austin Nathan Browning Gordon McKenzie Kwasi Obeng Women's 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) - 6:25 p.m. Jenna Martin Men's 3,000 Meter (Finals) - 6:55 p.m. Bruce Hordusky Chris Long Jonathan Thomas John Thompson Zach Wilder
