FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-The University of Kentucky track and field squads travel to Fayetteville, Ark. for the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 25-27. The University of Arkansas plays host to the three-day conference championship at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
The Cats look to top-ranked SEC freshman, Michael Mason to bring home medalist honors in the high jump after several solid performances this season. Mason holds the UK freshman school record in the high jump after a leap of 7-2 ? in only his second collegiate competition. That leap provisionally qualified him for the NCAA Championships and tied the second highest jump on the Kentucky top times list.
In addition to Mason, sophomore Maysville, Ky. native, Andy Fryman has been a strong competitor in the shot put. Fryman is ranked fourth in the SEC after a heave of 58-09 ? in the shot put could be a contender in the weight throw as he is ranked seventh in the SEC.
The young UK men?s sprint squad has also competed well during the regular indoor season. Junior Dedrick Tillerson has shown tremendous talent since transferring from the Big 10, and will compete in the 4×400-meter relay and the 400-meter run for UK. Freshman Justin Harrison, who is ranked in the top 10 in the SEC and should be a challenger for medalist honors in the 400 meters, as will freshman counterpart Nathan Browning.
The men?s middle distance squad fields a young foursome compete in the 800-meter run. The group, led by Dan Hutson, also includes Stephan Smith, Gabe McClaren and Nick Reeves. Dan Huston recorded a time of 1:51.07 and is ranked in the top-10 800 meter runners in the SEC.
For the women, junior Kenya Patton has competed well in the 200-meter dash and is seventh in the SEC.
Senior leadership will come from three-time All-American Beth Heimann who is ranked fifth in the SEC in the 800 meters with a time of 2:08. Heimann should prove to be a top competitor for UK in the distance medley relay and 800 meters.
Allison Grace also factors in to Kentucky?s top women?s distance group in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. Grace is seated in the top-10 in the SEC in the 3,000 meters, while freshman Liliane Sparkes will compete in the mile for Kentucky and is ranked fifth in the SEC.
The women?s field events squad of high jumper Rachel Kohler and Gennessa Guzman is a duo of strong competitors. Kohler is sixth in the high jump in the SEC after a leap of 5-08 and Guzman provisionally qualified in the weight throw with a heave of 61-09 ?.
The heptathlon will kick off the meet on Friday at 4 p.m. Prelims will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the finals of the weight throw, long jump and 3,000 meters also taking place. On Sunday every event will be a final with the opening ceremonies scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The last event, the 4×400-meter relay, is set for 3:45 p.m.
It is the third time in six years the SEC Championships have been held in the Razorbacks? home. UA played host in 2000 and 2002, claiming the conference title both years. Top-ranked Arkansas is considered the favorite entering the meet, but will encounter strong competition from No.3 Florida, as well as eighth-ranked Auburn and LSU.
Live stats will be available at ukathletics.com.
-UK-
