April 19, 2003
WALNUT, Calif. – The University of Kentucky track and field team enjoyed a solid weekend of competition at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut, Calif., this weekend. Several team members shined in middle distance action, including a personal-best time of 1:47.70 by junior transfer Jean Balan in the men’s 800 meter invitational race.
Several Wildcat throwers had impressiver performances as well, with Nicole Allyn setting a new school record in the hammer throw with her toss of 182-05.00 to finish sixth. Three UK women competed in the discus finals with Ildiko Varga winning the event with her throw of 169-11.00. Gennessa Guzman was third with a mark of 164-01.00, while Molly Lonergan finished eighth with a distance of 160-08.00.
In the men’s 800-meter university division race, UK claimed three top-10 finishes, led by James Doaty’s third-place time of 1:49.71. Senior Chad Johnson was sixth (1:50.20), while Balan took seventh place in the race with a time of 1:50.21. Kris Landers, another junior transfer, took 13th place in the race with a solid time of 1:50.87.
In the men’s 1,500-meter run, Hunter Spencer finished seventh overall with a time of 3:44.62. Thomas Morgan finished the men’s 5,000 meters in 14:13.43. Spencer was fourth in the men’s 800-meter Olympic run with a time of 1:48.78 as well.
On the women’s side, Beth Heimann had an incredible run in the 800-meter Olympic division run, taking second place with a time of 2:07.12. Heimann also finished 13th in the 1,500 meters with a finish in 4:27.49. Caitlin Phillips had a mark of 16:52.21 in the 5,000 meters for the women as well.
Senior Matt Smothermon was third in the high jump with a leap of 6-07.50. Simidele Adeagbo was fifth in the women’s triple jump, landing at 42-08.00.
Wrapping up the group for UK was redshirt junior Ernest Simms, who took fifth place in the 100 meters with a time of 10.69.
UK returns to action on Thursday, April 24 at the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. The team will split its squad that weekend, with some Wildcats staying close to home to compete in Louisville’s Cardinal Invitational on Saturday, April 26.
