March 1, 2003
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Kentucky track and field junior Jeff Chakouian claimed his fourth Southeastern Conference event title in the shot put in just five competitions at the SEC Indoor Championships on Saturday, March 1 in Gainesville, Fla. The star’s toss of 63-03.50 was a provisional qualifying mark as well.
Chakouian was the only event winner today as the rest of the Wildcats focused on competing in the preliminary heats of their respective races. David Freeman shined in the men’s mile, finishing first in the prelims with a time of 4:03.42. He and teammate Hunter Spencer, who finished fifth, will advance to tomorrow’s final.
In the women’s mile, Brooke Patterson took third in prelims and will advance to the finals with fellow Cat Candace Leep, who was eighth on Saturday. Redshirt junior Ernest Simms finished first in the men’s 55 meter preliminaries with a time of 6.21 and will advance to the finals on Sunday.
In men’s 800-meter action, UK’s James Doaty and Paul Ciurlys earned spots in Sunday’s finals after finishing seventh and ninth, respectively. Teammates Jean Balan and Kris Landers just missed the cut. Beth Heimann was fourth for the women in the event and will compete for the title on Sunday at 2:50 p.m.
Wrapping up Saturdays competition was the men’s and women’s 3000-meter run, which saw Thomas Morgan finish fifth for the men with a time of 8:09.82 and Caitlin Phillips take third for the women with a mark of 9:36.51.
Competition resumes at 10 a.m. Sunday with the men’s weight throw and wraps up at 4:30 p.m. with the women’s 4 x 400-meter relay. Results can be obtained immediately following each event at www.gatorzone.com/trackfield.
