Doaty Shatters UK 800-Meter Record; Chakouian Claims Shot Put Title

Freshman Jeff Chakouian won the shot put and freshman JamesDoaty shattered the UK 800-meter record to lead the University ofKentucky track and field squads on the final day of the SoutheasternConference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Sunday, Feb. 25, atthe Nutter Field House on the UK campus. Overall, the men’s teamfinished in a tie for seventh with 44 points, a 20-point improvement fromlast season’s performance, while the women finished ninth with 21.50points.

Chakouian’s throw of 62-02.25 not only won him the event but alsowas the first individual SEC Indoor title for UK since Arnold Payne wonthe 400 meters and Tim Harden won the 55 meters in 1996.

“It just takes looking at these other guys and coming in to make somenoise,” Chakouian said. “I’m not going to back down from anybody in thecountry. I will come out every meet and give it my all. I’ve talked withDoaty, (David) Freeman and (Chad) Johnson, and we want to be thefounding fathers of a dynasty here. We are working toward that.”

Those four are definitely doing their share as witnessed in the men’s800 finals. Doaty came out with all cylinders clicking and ran stride forstride with the best in the country, finishing in second place with a time of1:47.93 to move up to No. 2 nationally. His time was not only a personalbest, but it also automatically qualified him for the NCAA Championshipsand broke the old school record of 1:49.25. Freeman, a freshman,claimed fourth place with a personal-best time1:48.54, while Johnson, asophomore, finished sixth in 1:49.57. Freeman’s and Johnson’s timesprovisionally qualified them for the NCAAs.

“(Otukile) Lekote and Chad took the race out fast,” Doaty said. “I justwanted to keep up and stay close to the front to kick in with 150 metersleft. I was able to do that, and it worked to my advantage. It was just amatter of staying with Lekote because he will drag you through at a fastpace. You just have to hang on.”

Sophomore Thomas Morgan joined that trio for the men’s distancemedley relay in which they placed second in a time of 9:49.44. Thequartet ranks third in the conference with a 2001 top time of 9:42.67, aschool-record.

In the women’s triple jump, sophomore Simidele Adeagbo increasedher personal-best mark with a third-place leap of 42-04.00. Mostimportantly she increased her NCAA provisional qualifying mark andbroke the UK record.

“I’m just happy that I improved on last year,” Adeagbo said. “I hopethis will give me a better chance to go to nationals. I still have some thingsto work on so the future should definitely bring longer jumps.”

Other Cats who scored included sophomore Hunter Spencer in the men’smile (seventh), sophomore Matt Smothermon in the men’s high jump(sixth), freshman Caity Phillips in the women’s mile (seventh) and seniorRebecca Wedel in the women’s weight throw (seventh).

The Cats next travel to the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre DameUniversity for a last chance to earn qualifying marks for the NCAA IndoorChampionships. Action takes place on March 2-3.

AGATE (Top Three and UK Finishers):

Men’s 60-meter Hurdles (Final)1. Ron Bramlett Alabama 7.55A#2. Corey Taylor South Carolina 7.83P3. De’Andre Eiland South Carolina 7.87P (more)Men’s 60 Meters (Finals)1. Leonard Scott Tennessee 6.48A#2. Justin Gatlin Tennessee 6.63P3. Sean Lambert Tennessee 6.67P

Men’s 200 Meters (Finals)1. Leonard Scott Tennessee 20.47A#2. Justin Gatlin Tennessee 20.58A3. Sean Lambert Tennessee 21.05P

Men’s 400 Meters (Finals)1. Avard Moncur Auburn 45.68A#2. Alleyne Francique LSU 45.73A3. Lueroy Colquhoun LSU 46.56P

Men’s 800 Meters (Finals)1. Otukile Lekote South Carolina 1:46.78A2. James Doaty Kentucky 1:47.93A!$3. Dirk Heinze Arkansas 1:48.31P4. David Freeman Kentucky 1:48.54P!6. Chad Johnson Kentucky 1:49.57P

Men’s Mile (Finals)1. David Kimani Alabama 4:00.75A2. Ryan Travis Arkansas 4:01.04P3. Sharif Karie Arkansas 4:02.47P7. Hunter Spencer Kentucky 4:12.98

Men’s 5,000 Meters (Finals)1. Murray Link Arkansas 14:07.29P2. Daniel Lincoln Arkansas 14:12.06P3. Japheth Koech Alabama 14:27.71

Men’s Distance Medley Relay (Finals)1. Arkansas 9:47.742. Kentucky 9:49.44 – David Freeman – Chad Johnson – James Doaty – Thomas Morgan3. Alabama 9:52.10

Men’s 1,600-meter Relay (Finals)1. LSU 3:06.73A2. Florida 3:07.21P3. Auburn 3:08.12P

Men’s Shot Put (Finals)1. Jeff Chakouian Kentucky 62-02.25P2. Reese Hoffa Georgia 60-09.50P3. Gabor Mate Auburn 59-10.50P13. Scott Theis Kentucky 51-04.50

Men’s High Jump (Finals)1. Kenny Evans Arkansas 7-01.75P2. Ryan Sheppard Georgia 6-11.753. Miguel Pate Alabama 6-11.756. Matt Smothermon Kentucky 6-09.75 (more)10. Andrew VanderWagen Kentucky 6-08.00

Men’s Triple Jump (Finals)1. Walter Davis LSU 53-07.75A2. Miguel Pate Alabama 53-01.75A3. Marcus Thomas LSU 52-04.00P

Men’s Final Team Scores1. Arkansas 108; 2. LSU 81; 3. Tennessee 80; 4. Florida 67; 5. Alabama 63; 6. Georgia 62; 7. South Carolina 44; 7. Kentucky 44; 9. Auburn 35;10. Ole Miss 26; 11. Mississippi State 13.

Women’s 60-meter Hurdles (Finals)1. Jacqueline Madison South Carolina 8.16A2. Teneeshia Jones Ole Miss 8.20P3. Lolo Jones LSU 8.25P9. Elmetta Johnson Kentucky 8.63

Women’s 60 Meters (Finals)1. SaDonna Thornton LSU 7.29A2. Teneeshia Jones Ole Miss 7.29A3. Shavonda Benjamin Florida 7.37P

Women’s 200 Meters (Finals)1. Muna Lee LSU 23.11A2. Mikele Barber South Carolina 23.36A3. Amber Robinson Florida 23.53P

Women’s 400 Meters (Finals)1. Demetria Washington South Carolina 52.06A2. Faith Rein Florida 53.22P3. Myra Combs LSU 53.56P

Women’s 800 Meters (Finals)1. Kamille Bratton Florida 2:09.35P2. Kristina Bratton Florida 2:09.43P3. Cicely Campbell Vanderbilt 2:09.73

Women’s Mile (Finals)1. Lilli Kleinmann Arkansas 4:48.602. Tracy Robertson Arkansas 4:51.553. Andreinna Byrd Arkansas 4:51.817. Caity Phillips Kentucky 4:59.29

Women’s 5,000 Meters (Finals)1. Lilli Kleinmann Arkansas 16:39.36P2. Tracy Robertson Arkansas 16:39.37P3. Nerissa Johnson Auburn 17:12.30

Women’s Distance Medley Relay (Finals)1. Arkansas 11:40.392. LSU 11:47.353. Tennessee 11:53.68

Women’s 1,600-meter Relay (Finals)1. USC 3:32.73A#2. Florida 3:34.18A (more)3. LSU 3:37.40P8. Kentucky 3:47.40 – Temitayo Adeagbo – Falana Greenwell – Simidele Adeagbo – Shevan Threats

Women’s Weight Throw (Finals)1. Candice Scott Florida 61-06.25P2. Marie LeJour Arkansas 61-01.25P3. Katie McCoy Georgia 59-04.75P7. Rebecca Wedel Kentucky 55-11.0013. Aisha Smith Kentucky 51-11.75

Women’s Pole Vault (Finals)1. Thorey Elisdottir Georgia 14-05.25A#2. April Steiner Arkansas 13-04.50P3. Laura Hawkins Florida 13-01.50P

Women’s Triple Jump (Finals)1. Bianca Rockett LSU 43-03.00A2. Gi-Gi Miller Arkansas 42-08.75P3. Simidele Adeagbo Kentucky 42-04.00P!$8. Ronda White Kentucky 39-06.0011. Falana Greenwell Kentucky 38-09.7512. Shevan Threats Kentucky 38-09.50

Women’s Final Team Scores

1. Arkansas 137; 2. Florida 109; 3. South Carolina 90; 4. LSU 77; 5.Georgia 61.50; 6. Ole Miss 31; 7. Auburn 30; 8. Alabama 26; 9. Kentucky21.50; 10. Tennessee 16; 11. Mississippi State 13; 12. Vanderbilt 11.

A = NCAA Automatic Qualifying time/mark
P = NCAA Provisional Qualifying time/mark
# = SEC Indoor Championship Record
! = Personal Best
$ = UK Record