LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky track and field squads will travel to Bloomington, Ind., for the NCAA Mideast Regional, May 27-28. A group of 16 UK athletes, who previously met NCAA regional qualifying standards, will compete for a chance to showcase their talents at the NCAA Track & Field Championships. Eight top-25 men?s teams and three top-25 women?s teams will set the stage for the third running of the Mideast Regional.
UK senior Jeff Chakouian and freshman Michael Mason should perform well, as both claimed runner-up honors at the SEC Championships on May 15 and are positioned second and third, respectively, in the Mideast rankings. Chakouian looks to defend his 2004 Southeast Regional title, while Mason brings indoor post-season experience to Bloomington. Thriving on competitive situations, the freshman should excite the crowd and looks to break his personal-best jump of 7-03 this weekend.
Maysville, Ky., native Andy Fryman will compete for the Cats in both the discus and shot put. The sophomore placed eighth in the shot put at the Southeast Regional meet last season. Fryman will be joined in the discus flight by freshman Alek Grietens who will make his first regional appearance.
The women?s field event squad will be represented by seniors Gennessa Guzman and Nicole Allyn and junior Ildiko Varga. Guzman and Allyn hope to better their SEC Championship performances in the hammer throw, while Guzman and Varga look to place in the discus. Varga took second in the event at the Southeast Regional last year with a personal-best and school record throw of 182-01.00.
Senior Brooke Patterson, who finished seventh last season in the 800 meters at the Southeast Regional will have one last opportunity to move on to the NCAA Championships. The Lancaster, Ohio, native finished third in the event at the SEC Championships and will be joined by sophomore Georganne Way and freshman Lavera Morris, both making their first regional appearances.
In the women?s 5,000 meters, senior Allison Grace will attempt to improve on her strong third place finish at the SEC Championships. A newcomer to the race, Grace finished with a personal-best time of 16:30.87 and is ranked among the top-10 runners at the regional.
The men?s sprint squad will showcase a handful of young talent. Freshman Justin Harrison will compete for the Cats in the 400 meters, while junior Dedrick Tillerson will battle for top honors in the men?s 400-meter hurdles. The Kentucky men?s 4×400-meter relay, consisting of freshman Stephan Smith, Tillerson, Harrison and freshman Nathan Browning will vie for top honors, while freshman Gabe McLaren will run for the first time at regional competition in the men?s 800 meters.
Of the 16 Wildcat athletes, five will either continue on to nationals or conclude their collegiate careers. The regional format is set up so the top five individuals and top three relay teams in regional competition will automatically qualify for the 2005 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
