AMES, Iowa ? The University of Kentucky track and field teams completed a successful trip to the Iowa State Qualifier Saturday with seven runners and the UK men?s 4×400 relay improving their season-bests. Sophomore Lavera Morris ran a personal-best and the second fastest indoor 800 in school history (2:06.33).
Morris entered this weekend with a mark under the provisional standard but needed a faster time in order to increase her chances at an NCAA Championships berth. The Orlando, Fla. native rose to the occasion and hacked off over a second of her season-best and now ranks ninth nationally. Morris? times sits second all-time behind former Cat Beth Heimann (2:05.72, 2002), while fellow teammate junior Georganne Way ranks third (2:06.49, 2/11, Iowa State). Looking ahead, both Morris and Way own times that have qualified for each of the last 10 national indoor meets.
On the men?s side, all four Kentucky 400 runners notched season-bests, led by Justin Harrison?s provisional 46.96. Junior Luis Luna ran the ninth-fastest time in school history with a 47.50, followed by freshman Jose Acevedo (47.52, tenth all-time UK). Sophomore Nathan Browning posted a 48.17. The four-man crew closed out the meet with a season-best and first place 3:07.01 in the 4×400 relay. The Cats? time (t-fourth nationally) will more than likely earn them a berth in next weekend?s NCAA meet in Fayetteville, Ark.
Sophomore John Richardson went below a provisional mark in the mile and posted a personal-best 4:03.74. The mark was the sixth fastest indoor time in school history.
Sophomore Stephan Smith ran his fastest 800 of the season (1:50.58), but fell short of a provisional mark (1:49.50).
Freshman Gordon McKenzie continued to pick up valuable experience and impressive times. McKenzie placed second in the 60 finals with career-best tying 6.73. McKenzie?s time was .01 from a provisional mark. McKenzie also competed in the 200 (21.37).
Kentucky will now await the final selections for the NCAA Indoor Championships, set for March 10-11, at host University of Arkansas.
