Track & Field
Wildcats Win Eight Events on Opening Day of Kentucky Invitational

Wildcats Win Eight Events on Opening Day of Kentucky Invitational

by Tony Neely

LEXINGTON, Kentucky – The Kentucky men’s and women’s track and field teams totaled eight victories and posted four UK all-time top-10 marks Friday in the Kentucky Invitational at the UK Track and Field Complex.

Redshirt freshman Keaton Daniel won the pole vault with a clearance of 18’0.5″/5.50m, improving his own outdoor school record and tying the indoor pole vault record set earlier this year by Matthew Peare. Daniel was followed by Lincoln Young and Dalton Shepler as the Wildcats went 1-2-3 in that event.

It was a big day for Lance Lang, who won the 200-meter dash with a wind-aided time of 20.26w (+3.0). Lang also posted the best qualifying score in the 100m dash with a 10.26 (-0.5) time that is No. 6 in UK history. The 100m finals will be Saturday.

 

Lance Lang
Dwight St. Hillaire, Lance Lang and Kennedy Lightner

Kentucky swept the long jumps. Trey Causey III won the men’s event with a leap of 25’6.25″/7.78m, the second-longest in school history. Annika Williams claimed the women’s title with a personal best of 19’11.5″/6.08m.

Kentucky also swept the 400-meter hurdles. Kenroy Williams took the men’s side with a 50.95 clocking that is No. 3 in Kentucky history, while Masai Russell won the women at 57.46 seconds.

Kentucky added two more field event victories. Rahman Minor won the high jump at 7’0.5″/2.15m and Jade Gates hurled the javelin 147’1″/44.83m.

 

Rahman Minor
Rahman Minor

In addition to the eight official wins, a Wildcat was the top collegiate competitor in both the men’s and women’s hammer throw. Molly Leppelmeier marked 209’2″/63.75m, second overall behind an independent competitor. Charles Lenford Jr. also was second overall/first collegian as he hurled the weight 201’8″/61.46m.

Action resumes Saturday on the track at noon and in the field at 12:30 p.m. UK will hold a Senior Day ceremony, honoring both the 2020 and 2021 classes, at 12:20 p.m.

 

Molly Leppelmeier
Molly Leppelmeier

The Teams
Kentucky is playing host to Austin Peay, Bellarmine, Cincinnati, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Findlay, Indiana State, Marshall, Morehead State, Murray State, Pittsburgh, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State, Western Kentucky and Xavier.

Spectator Information

  • Admission is free for both days. 
  • Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the outdoor track. Please be mindful of the track parking signage for specific locations.
  • All seating is general admission.
  • Spectators will be physically distanced based on state and local guidelines that include capacity restrictions.
  • Spectators will remain separated from all meet personnel (student-athletes, coaches, officials, etc.).
  • Concessions and restrooms will be available.

Event Schedule and Senior Ceremony

Saturday, May 1: The Complex will open for spectators at 11 a.m. Field events are slated from 12:30 to 2 p.m. while track events go from noon to 4 p.m.
Kentucky will honor its 2020 and 2021 senior classes in a ceremony at approximately 12:20 p.m.

What’s at Stake
As the last regular-season meet, this is the Wildcats’ final effort before the postseason. UK will contest the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships May 13-15 at Texas A&M.

Friday, April 30 

 

Women 

Hammer 

Prelim/Final 

2. Molly Leppelmeier: 209’2″/63.75m (top collegian) 

3. Jade Gates: 199’10″/60.92m 

 

Men 

Javelin 

Prelim/Final 

?1. Ethan Shalaway (UK Class of 2019): 217’9″/66.37m 

 

Men 

Pole Vault 

Final 

1. Keaton Daniel: 18’0.5″/5.50m | UK record 

2. Lincoln Young: 17’0″/5.18m | PB, No. 6 on UK All-time list 

3. Dalton Shepler: 16’6″/5.03m | PB, No. 9 on UK all-time list 

 

Women 

Long Jump 

Prelim/Final 

1. Annika Williams: 19’11.5″/6.08m | Three-inch+ PB 

 

Men 

Long Jump 

Prelim/Final 

1. Trey Causey III: 25’6.25″/7.78m | PB 

3. Mohammed Abubakar (UK Class of 2019): 24’9.25″/7.55m 

 

Men 

High Jump 

Final 

1. Rahman Minor: 7’0.5″/2.15m | season best 

 

Men 

Hammer 

Prelim/Final 

2. Charles Lenford Jr.: 201’8″/61.46m (top collegian) 

6. Michael Browning: 182’3″/55.57m 

 

Women 

100 Meter 

Prelim 

7. Kaylyn Heath: 11.75wq (+2.1) | PB 

 

Men 

100 Meter 

Prelim 

1. Lance Lang: 10.26q (-0.5) | PB, T-No. 6 on UK all-time list 

2. Daniel Roberts (UK Class of 2019): 10.44wq (+3.5) 

 

Women 

Javelin 

Prelim/Final 

1. Jade Gates: 147’1″/44.83m | No. 4 on UK all-time list 

 

Women 

3000 Meter 

Final 

3. Sophie Carrier: 9:51.85 

9. Sarah Michels: 10:34.30 

 

Men 

3000 Meter 

Final 

3. Jonah Mitchell: 8:35.22 | PB 

 

Women 

400 Meter Hurdles 

Final 

1. Masai Russell: 57.46 

2. Faith Ross: 57.55 

 

Men 

400 Meter Hurdles 

Final 

1. Kenroy Williams: 50.95 | PB, No. 3 on UK all-time list 

3. Beck O’Daniel: 53.75 

 

Women 

200 Meter 

Final 

6. Megan Moss: 23.60w (+2.1) 

12. Kaylyn Heath: 24.22 (+0.7) | PB 

14. Amaya Chadwick: 24.35 (-1.1) | PB 

15. Shadajah Ballard: 24.43 (+0.7) 

16. Darci Khan: 24.47 (+0.7) | PB 

19. Annika Williams: 24.75 (-1.1) | PB 

 

Men 

200 Meter 

Final 

1. Lance Lang: 20.26w (+3.0) 

2. Dwight St. Hillaire: 20.51w (+3.0) 

4. Kennedy Lightner: 21.06w (+3.0) 

9. Cameron Council: 21.32 (+1.2) 

Saturday, May 1 

12:00 PM 

Women 

4 x 100 Meter 

Final 

Everyone 

12:10 PM 

Men 

4 x 100 Meter 

Final 

Everyone 

12:20 PM 

SENIOR CEREMONY 

12:30 PM 

Women 

Shot Put 

Prelim/Final 

Fautsch, Leppelmeier 

12:30 PM 

Men 

Discus 

Prelim/Final 

Lenford Jr., Sobota, Roller, Browning, Kruzel 

12:40 PM 

Women 

1500 Meter 

Final 

Bockrath, Lacy, Boice, Peeples, Walsh, Melton, Molotky, 

Ouellette 

1 PM 

Men 

1500 Meter 

Final 

D. Allen, J, Allen, Fields, Thomas, Kern, Brizendine, Szalay, 

Duvall, Williams, Mitchell, Withrow 

1:20 PM 

Women 

100 Meter Hurdles 

Prelim 

Russell, Ross, Khan, Chadwick 

1:30 PM 

Women 

Triple Jump 

Prelim/Final 

1:30 PM 

Men 

Triple Jump 

Prelim/Final 

Palmer 

1:40 PM 

Men 

110 Meter Hurdles 

Prelim 

1:50 PM 

Women 

100 Meter 

Final 

Heath 

1:55 PM 

Men 

100 Meter 

Final 

Lang 

2 PM 

Women 

Pole Vault 

Final 

Szerencsits, Bagby, D’Alessandro 

2 PM 

Women 

High Jump 

Final 

Ekholm, Williams, Hinkle 

2 PM 

Men 

Shot Put 

Prelim/Final 

Sobota, Lenford Jr. 

2 PM 

Women 

Discus 

Prelim/Final 

Fautsch, Leppelmeier 

2 PM 

Women 

400 Meter 

Final 

Moss, Miles, Spillman, Taylor 

2:15 PM 

Men 

400 Meter 

Final 

St. Hillaire, Lightner, Council, Turner 

2:30 PM 

Women 

800 Meter 

Final 

Lucas, Melton 

2:45 PM 

Men 

800 Meter 

Final 

D. Allen, Szalay 

3 PM 

Women 

100 Meter Hurdles 

Final 

Russell, Ross, Khan, Chadwick 

3:05 PM 

Men 

110 Meter Hurdles 

Final 

3:15 PM 

Women 

3000 Meter Steeple 

Final 

3:30 PM 

Men 

3000 Meter Steeple 

Final 

Fields, Griffin 

3:45 PM 

Women 

4 x 400 Meter 

Final 

Everyone 

4:00 PM 

Men 

4 x 400 Meter 

Final 

Everyone 

 
Follow along with the Cats onFacebook,Instagram,Twitterand on the web atUKathletics.com.

Related Stories

View all