May 31, 2014
By Chris Shoals — UK Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Kentucky track and field teams saw eight more tickets punched to the 2014 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday night as the Wildcats had five runners, two relay teams and a discus thrower advance into the finals at the East Regional Championships in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dezerea Bryant, who already qualified for NCAA 100m Championship on Friday, collected another chance in the NCAA Championships, finishing first overall and capturing the East Regional Championship with a 23.09 in the women’s 200 meter dash.

Senior Cally Macumber extended her prolific career as a Wildcat on Saturday night, running a personal-best time of 16:03.81 in the women’s 5000 meter run. Macumber’s time was good enough for fourth in her heat, and automatically qualified her for the NCAA finals in Oregon.

Two relay teams bookended the Wildcats’ day at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida, as the women’s 4×100 and 4×400 meter relay teams both etched their way into the NCAA Championships by finishing second in their heats. The 4×100 meter relay team finished in 44.73, completing the night 10th overall and collecting a second-place finish in their heat. The 4×400 meter relay team that punched the final ticket for UK finished in 3:34.98 to finish 12th overall and second in their heat.

Matt Hillenbrand finished fifth in his heat, and was the last qualifier for the NCAA Championships in the men’s 1,500 meter run, finishing in 3:46.04.

Allison Peare finished second overall at the 2014 East Regional and second in her heat in the women’s 1,500 meter run, booking her spot on the plane to Oregon with a 4:14.91.

The Wildcats’ had three semifinalists in the women’s 100 meter hurdles, as Kendra Harrison, Kayla Parker and Leah Nugent all were in the third heat of the event. Harrison went the fastest of the UK trio, finishing third overall at the regional in 12.94. Finishing in fifth, and also qualifying for the NCAA finals was Paker, who ran a 13.01, good enough for a tie for fifth at the regional. Nugent finished 16th overall, with a 13.38.

In the field for Kentucky, Andrew Evans’ solid season continued as he threw a 62.75m (205-10) in the finals of the men’s discus, advancing him into the NCAA Championships. Evans’ throw finished the 2014 East Regional as the fourth-best. 

The 2014 NCAA Championships will be held in Eugene, Ore., from June 11-14.

2014 NCAA Track and Field Championship  – East Regional – UK Results

Semifinal Rounds

Women’s 4x100m Relay

Kentucky – 44.73 (10^th – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Men’s 1500m Run

Matt Hillenbrand – 3:46.04 (12^th – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Women’s 1500m Run

Allison Peare – 4:14.91 (2^nd – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Women’s 100m Hurdles

Kendra Harrison – 12.94 (3^rd – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Kayla Parker – 13.01 (T-5^th – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Leah Nugent – 13.38 (16^th) 

Women’s 200m Dash

Dezerea Bryant – 23.09 (1^st – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Men’s 5000m Run

Adam Kahleifah – 14:18.51 (11^th)

Women’s 5000m Run

Cally Macumber – 16:03.81 (4^th – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Women’s 4x400m Relay

Kentucky – 3:34.98 (12^th – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Field Events

Men’s Discus Throw

Andrew Evans – 62.75, 205-10 (3^rd – Advances to NCAA Championships)

Isiah Kent – 52.56, 172-5 (31^st)

Men’s Pole Vault

Michael Jensen – 5.17, 16-11.5 (24^th)

Women’s Triple Jump

Sha’Keela Saunders – 12.23, 40-1.5 (39^th)

Men’s High Jump

Ibn Short – 2.05, 6-8.75 (T-28^th)

Justin Kretchmer – 2.05, 6-8.75 (T-28^th)

For continuing coverage of UK track and field, log on to UKathletics.com.