April 29, 2000

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Kentucky men’s 4×800-meter relay teamclaimed third place Saturday in the college men’s Championship of Americaat the Penn Relays crossing the finish line in 7:19.10. The time broke the11-year-old school record by nearly five seconds.

Even though the quartet of senior Jeff Limpert and freshmen Chad Johnson,Thomas Morgan and Hunter Spencer did not repeat their victory from theTexas Relays, they did remove nearly 10 seconds from the Texas time.Limpert and Johnson paced the team with outstanding split times of 1:48.30and 1:46.90.

Senior Matt Kavanagh claimed first in the hammer throw championship with aheave of 218-03.00, which was more than seven feet further than his closestcompetitor and established a seasonal best by nearly four feet. Coming intothis weekend’s competition, he was third in the Southeastern Conference inthe hammer and could move into second with this toss. With the SEC OutdoorChampionships in two weeks, Kavanagh is steadily approaching his personalbest and school record of 221-04.00, which he set at the 1999 NCAAChampionships.

With competition at the Penn Relays complete, a few Cats will visitKnoxville, Tenn., Sunday, April 30, for the Knoxville Invitational. Slatedto see action will be junior Rebecca Wedel (hammer), freshman JanetCrawford (high jump), junior Andrew Vander Wagen and freshman MattSmothermon (high jump), and sophomore Joe Varney and freshman ChadMcAllister (discus).

AGATE: (First place and Kentucky finishers):

College Men’s Hammer Throw Championship:

College Men’s 4×800-Meter Relay: