AMES, Iowa and SEATTLE – Numerous personal bests were met and Ashley Muffet recorded the team?s first NCAA automatic qualifying mark of the season Saturday as the Kentucky track and field teams wrapped up weekend competition at both the Iowa State Classic and the Husky Classic.
In the Iowa State Classic, Muffet bested her own personal-best and school record with a toss of 55-10.5 in the meet to punch her ticket to the upcoming NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
The men?s 4×400 relay team, one of the highlights of last season?s team, posted its best mark of the season with a provisional-qualifying time of 3:07.21, just shy of last season?s best mark of 3:07.01 which was the fourth-fastest mark in the country. The relay squad consisted of Justin Harrison, Nathan Browning, Jose Acevedo and Luis Luna. Luna finished the fourth and final leg with a mark of 45.94.
Freshman sprinter Jenna Martin tallied a provisional-qualifying mark in the women?s 400 meter with a collegiate-best time of 53.86. Thrower Andy Fryman again posted a provisional-qualifying score in the men?s shot put with a toss of 60-7.75. Luis Luna also was a provisional qualifier in the 400 meter dash with a mark of 46.92.
The distance runners continued to show improvement at the Husky Classic as senior Georganne Way ran a 4:54.11 in the women?s mile and freshman Katherine Peterson notched a collegiate-best time of 5:00.30. Junior Lavera Morris was a provisional qualifier in the 800 meter with a time of 2:08.04, while Jackie Gordon finished in 2:16.04.
Kentucky has a week off before playing host to the Southeastern Conference Championships Feb. 23-25 in Lexington?s E.J. Nutter Field House. Live statistics for the event will be available at ukathletics.com.
The Southeastern Conference Championships are next for the Wildcats, hosted by UK in the Nutter Field House, Feb. 23-25.
Iowa State Classic (Ames, Iowa) Men?s Shot Put 1. Andy Fryman 60-7.75 P 4. Gavin Ball 57-6.25 60 Meter Dash 4. Mikel Thomas 6.82 400 Meter Dash 4. Luis Luna 46.92 P 14. Justin Harrison 47.27 34. Kwasi Obeng 48.54 51. Nathan Browning 49.01 77. Geoffrey Daley 49.66 Men?s 4x400 Relay 1. Kentucky 3:07.21 Women?s Shot Put 1. Ashley Muffet 55-10.5 A 400 Meter 2. Jenna Martin 53.86 P 44. Kleo Mack 58.23 800 Meter 29. Ashley Trimble 2:14.10 Husky Classic (Seattle, Wash.) Women?s Mile Run Georganne Way 4:54.11 Katherine Peterson 5:00.30 800 Meter Lavera Morris 2:08.04 P Jackie Gordon 2:16.04 5,000 Meter Taylor Miller 17:25.67 Andrea Halasek 18:11.72 Men?s Mile Run John Richardson 4:05.82 Ryan Finn 4:11.57 Nick Reeves 4:15.97 800 Meter Stephan Smith 1:51.00 Scott Geisinger 1:59.20 5,000 Meter Andre? Silva 14:39.19 Bruce Hordusky 14:47.62 John Thompson 15:13.04 Chris Long 15:43.39 4 Chris Long 15:43.39
