Josh Sobota and Shadajah Ballard Lead UKTF on Day 2 of Vanderbilt Invitational
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Kentucky track & field team concluded a weekend full of competition with day two of the Vanderbilt Invitational, featuring event wins from Josh Sobota in the shot put, Shadajah Ballard in the 60-Meter, and more.
The Wildcats also competed in the Red Raider Open at Texas Tech on Friday, January 21, where the women’s 4×400-Meter relay earned a school record of 3:28.62 and Kennedy Lightner ran for a school record in the 200m (20.52) on Friday evening at the Red Raider Invitational.
On day one of the Vanderbilt Invitational, Michael Browning finished second in the weight throw (62’8″/19.10m)) and Phoebe McCowan and Jenna Schwinghamer earned first (2:45.59) and second (2:46.35) in the women’s 1000m.
Day Two of the Vanderbilt Invitational
The Wildcats earned three event wins on the second day of the Vanderbilt Invitational.
Josh Sobota started off day two with a win in the shot put (61’0.75″/18.61m) for the second week in a row.
Shadajah Ballard dominated the 60m hurdles, winning the event in 8.30 after also earning the top qualifying spot in prelims.
Kaylyn Heath earned a win in the 60m with a time of 7.44. She finished second in prelims but beat out Vanderbilt’s Haley Bishop for first in the final.
Molly Leppelmeier was Kentucky’s top finisher in the women’s shot put for the second week in a row, placing third overall in the event (51’3.50″/15.63m).
Freshman Theo Bachmann impressed in the 3000m with a third-place run (8:19.16).
Phoebe McCowan, also a freshman, had another solid day with a fifth-place finish in the 800m (2:08.33), earning herself a spot on the UK all-time top times list in the event with the eighth-fastest time.
Success at the Red Raider Open
At the Red Raider Open the Wildcats got four event wins, including both 4x400m relays, Lightner’s school record and Dwight St. Hillaire’s 400m run.
Lightner was the star of Friday night for Kentucky, running 20.52 for the second-fastest time in the NCAA this season and the school record. The previous record was held by teammate Langston Jackson (20.65).
The junior also played a huge part in the Wildcats’ 4x400m relay win when he came from behind in the final leg to run a 44.68 split and beat out Houston and Texas.
The women’s 4x400m school record relay consisted of Masai Russell, Abby Steiner, Karimah Davis and Alexis Holmes. Steiner and Holmes ran the fastest legs of the relay at 51.4, but Holmes got the last second push after the final curve got the Wildcats the win over Arkansas.
St. Hillaire also earned an event win for Kentucky, finishing the 400m with a time of 46.11. Brian Faust finished second in the race, coming in with a personal best at 46.66. It was also the fifth-fastest 400m in UKTF history.
Some prominent second place finishers were Steiner in the 60m, Masai Russell in the 60m hurdles, Rahman Minor in the high jump and Tai Brown in the 60m hurdles.
Steiner placed second in the 60 with a personal best 7.17, surpassing former teammate Celera Barnes for the fourth-ranked 60m in UKTF history.
Tai Brown ran a personal best in the 60m hurdles (7.72), moving up to fourth all-time in the event for Kentucky.
Russell tied her personal best in the 60m hurdles (8.01) with her second-place finish.
Rahman Minor made his season debut in the high jump, placing second with a final jump of 7’0.5″/2.15m.
Day One of the Vanderbilt Invitational
Freshman McCowan impressed in the women’s 1000m, winning the race in 2:45.59, followed by Jenna Schwinghamer in second (2:46.35).
Browning placed second in the weight throw (62’8″/19.10m), which is a personal best and 10th-best all-time for Kentucky. Freshman Logan Coles followed Browning in sixth (60’4.50″/18.40m).
In the 200m, Shadajah Ballard placed fifth (24.33) and Kaylyn Heath finished seventh (24.74).
In the men’s race, Rodney Heath Jr. finished fourth (21.82).
Next Up
The Wildcats will return to Lexington to compete in the Rod Mcravy Memorial Meet on Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29 at Nutter Field House. The meet will be broadcasted on SEC Network.
Follow Kentucky Track and Field and Cross Country on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and at UKathletics.com.
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Vanderbilt Invite Day 2 |
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11:00 AM |
Men’s Shot Put |
Final |
?1. Josh Sobota: 61’0.75″/18.61m |
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Noon |
Women’s 60m Hurdles |
Prelim |
1. Shadajah Ballard: 8:48Q |
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12:20 p.m. |
Men’s 60m Hurdles |
Prelim |
?4. Patrick Kimball: 8.20q |
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12:40 PM |
Women’s 60 Meters |
Prelim |
?2. Kaylyn Heath: 7.51Q |
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1:00 PM |
Men’s 60 Meters |
Prelim |
?6. Rodney Heath: 6.89Q |
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1:00 PM |
Women’s Triple Jump |
Final |
?x |
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1:00 PM |
Men’s Triple Jump |
Final |
X |
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1:20 PM |
Women’s 1 Mile Run |
Final |
7. Rachel Boice: 4:54.04 |
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2:00 PM |
Women’s Shot Put |
Final |
3. Molly Leppemeier: 51’3.50″/15.63m 10. Leah Moore: 45’2.50″/13.78m |
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2:00 PM |
Indoor Heptathlon #7, 1000m |
Final |
X |
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2:10 PM |
Men’s 60m Hurdles |
Final |
4. Patrick Kimball: 8.12 |
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2:15 PM |
Women’s 60m Hurdles |
Final |
1.Shadajah Ballard: 8.30 |
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2:20 PM |
Men’s 60m |
Final |
7. Rodney Heath Jr: 6.89 |
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2:25 PM |
Women’s 60m |
Final |
1.Kaylyn Heath: 7.44 |
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2:30 PM |
Women’s Pole Vault |
Final |
X |
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2:35 PM |
Women’s 400m |
Final |
X |
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2:50 PM |
Men’s 400m |
Final |
10. Beck O’Daniel: 49.65 |
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3:05 PM |
Women’s 800m |
Final |
5. Phoebe McCowan: 2:08.33 (8th all-time at UK) 6. Jenna Schwinghamer: 2:08.35 8. Bryanna Lucas: 2:08.70 (10th all-time at UK) 9. Deanna Martin: 2:10.71 |
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3:20 PM |
Men’s 800m |
Final |
9. Alex Justus: 1:53.85 |
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3:35 PM |
Women’s 3000m |
Final |
5. Kaylie Kenne: 9:52.62 |
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4:00 PM |
Men’s 3000m |
Final |
3. Theo Bachmann: 8:19.16 9. Jackson Watts: 8:26.32 |
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4:25 PM |
Women’s 4x400m Relay |
Final |
2. Bryanna Lucas, Deanna Martin, Phoebe McCowan, Jenna Schwinghamer: 3:48.87 |
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4:50 PM |
Men’s 4x400m Relay |
Final |
Final |
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Red Raider Open: Friday, January 21 |
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10:45 AM |
Men |
400m B Sections |
Final |
1.Kenroy Williams – 47.98 |
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11:45 AM |
Women |
60m Invite |
Final |
6. Devynne Charlton – 7.43 (Q) 9. Anthaya Charlton – 7.67 |
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11:55 AM |
Women |
60m |
Prelims |
2.Abby Steiner – 7.19 (Q) (PR) 8. Masai Russell – 7.40 (q) 10. Karimah Davis – 7.63 |
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12:10 PM |
Men |
60m |
Prelims |
4. Langston Jackson – 6.67 (Q) 6. Myles Anders – 6.68 |
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12:30 PM |
Women |
60 Hurdles invite |
Prelims |
1.Devynne Charlton (UK volunteer coach)– 7.99 (Q) |
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12:35 PM |
Women |
60 Hurdles |
Prelims |
2. Masai Russell – 8.07 (Q) 10. Darci Khan – 8.45 14. Annika Williams – 8.76 |
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12:50 PM |
Men |
60 Hurdles |
Prelims |
3.Tai Brown – 7.89 (Q) |
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1:00 PM |
Women |
Long Jump |
Final |
7. Anthaya Charlton – 19’6″/5.94m 26. Annika Williams – Foul |
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1:00 PM |
Men |
Long Jump |
Final |
7. Robbie Springfield – 23’11.75″/7.31m 10. Luke Brown – 23’6.75″/7.18m |
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1:55 PM |
Men |
60m Hurdles |
Final |
2.Tai Brown – 7.72 (PR, 4th-fastest for UK all-time) |
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2:00 PM |
Women |
60m Hurdles Invite |
Final |
1.Devynne Charlton – 7.99 |
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2:05 PM |
Women |
60m Hurdles |
Final |
2.Masai Russell – 8.01 |
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2:15 PM |
Women |
60m |
Final |
2.Abby Steiner – 7.17 (PR, 4th fastest for UK all-time) 7. Masai Russell – 7.44 |
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2:20 PM |
Men |
60m |
Final |
7. Langston Jackson – 6.75 |
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2:25 PM |
Women |
400m |
Final |
5. Alexis Holmes – 52.69 13. Karimah Davis – 54.81 Megan Moss – DNF |
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2:40 PM |
Men |
400m |
Final |
1.Dwight St. Hillaire – 46.11 2.Brian Faust – 46.66 (PR, 5th all-time for UK) |
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3:15 PM |
Men |
High Jump |
Final |
2.Rahman Minor – 7’0.5″/2.15m 8. Donsten Brown – 6’6.75″/2.00m |
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3:30 PM |
Women |
200m A Sections |
Final |
Dajour Miles – DNS |
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3:50 PM |
Men |
200m A Sections |
Final |
1.Kennedy Lightner – 20.52 (PR, School Record, 2nd fastest time in NCAA) 7. Myles Anders – 21.09 10. Jacob Smith – 21.43 14. Langston Jackson – 21.66 |
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4:00 PM |
Men |
Triple Jump |
Final |
Joseph Palmer – DNF |
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4:40 PM |
Women |
4x400m Relay |
Final |
1.Masai Russell, Abby Steiner, Karimah Davis, Alexis Holmes – 3:28.62 (School Record, leading 4x400m time in the world) |
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5:10 PM |
Men |
4x400m Relay |
Final |
1.Dwight St. Hillaire, Brian Faust, Jacob Smith, Kennedy Lightner – 3:06.86 |
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Vanderbilt Invite Day 1 |
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10:30 AM |
Indoor Heptathlon #1 60 Meters |
Final |
?X |
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11:15 AM |
Indoor Heptathlon #2 Long Jump |
Final |
X |
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11:30 AM |
Indoor Pentathlon #1 60m Hurdles |
Final |
?X |
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12:15 PM |
Indoor Pentathlon #2 High Jump |
Final |
?X |
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12:15 PM |
Indoor Heptathlon #3 Shot Put |
Final |
?X |
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1:15 PM |
Indoor Heptathlon #4 High Jump |
Final |
?X |
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1:30 PM |
Indoor Pentathlon #3 Shot Put |
Final |
X |
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2:30 PM |
Indoor Pentathlon #4 Long Jump |
Final |
X |
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3:00 PM |
Women’s High Jump |
Final |
X |
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3:00 PM |
Men’s Weight Throw |
Final |
2. Michael Browning: 62’8″/19.10m 6. Logan Coles: 60’4.50″/18.40m |
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3:15 PM |
Men’s High Jump |
Final |
X |
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3:30 PM |
Indoor Pentathlon #5 800 Meters |
Final |
X |
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3:30 PM |
Women’s Long Jump |
Final |
X |
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3:30 PM |
Men’s Long Jump |
Final |
X |
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3:30 PM |
Men’s Pole Vault |
Final |
X |
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5:30 PM |
Women’s 200 Meters |
Final |
5. Shadajah Ballard: 24.33 7. Kaylyn Heath: 24.74 15. Jaida Knowles: 25.42 |
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6:00 PM |
Women’s Weight Throw |
Final |
5. Molly Leppelmeier: 65’11.50″/20.10m 8. Jade Gates: 63’9″/19.43m |
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6:00 PM |
Men’s 200 Meters |
Final |
4. Rodney Heath Jr.: 21.82 29. Patrick Kimball: 23.52 |
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6:30 PM |
Women’s 4000m DMR |
Final |
X |
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6:45 PM |
Men’s 4000m DMR |
Final |
X |
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7:00 PM |
Women’s 5000 Meters |
Final |
X |
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7:20 PM |
Men’s 5000 Meters |
Final |
X |
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7:40 PM |
Women’s 1000 Meters |
Final |
1.Phoebe McCowan: 2:45.59 (2nd all-time at UK) 2. Jenna Schwinghamer: 2:46.35 (3rd all-time at UK) 4. Deanna Martin: 2:47.80 (5th all-time at UK) 6. Bryanna Lucas: 2:54.42 |
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7:50 PM |
Men’s 1000 Meters |
Final |
3. Alex Justus: 2:27.88 5. Mclean Griffin: 2:28.93 6. Harper Moore: 2:30.10 |
