The University of Kentucky track and field teams wrapped up competition at Kentucky Invitational today, Jan. 14, at Nutter Field House. The newest Wildcats continued to impress as the Cats captured four titles and made a strong showing in the two-day event.

In the final event of the day, the men?s 4×400-meter relay team edged Auburn in a photo finish with an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 3:10.11.

Former UK gymnast and newcomer Michelle Gales continued an impressive showing as she won the women?s long jump with a distance of 18-5.75. The mark is the 10th best all-time at Kentucky.

Junior Gavin Ball finished fifth in the men?s shot put with a toss of 54-10.25. On the women?s side, freshman Ashley Muffet posted the UK?s fourth-best indoor mark all-time with a throw of 47-10.

Freshman Mary Chris Durham finished third in the women?s pole vault with a leap of 11-05.75.

UK freshman Gordon McKenzie posted a sixth-place finish in the men?s 60-meter dash, which ranks him eighth all-time at UK in that event. In the women?s 60-meter hurdles, freshman Ashley Trimble finished sixth with a time of 8.77 in her first meet as a Wildcat.

Junior Kenya Patton turned in a sixth-place performance with a time of 24.50 in the 200-meter dash, while freshman Jose Acevedo was seventh in the men?s 200-meter with a time of 21.86.

Former Cats David Freeman and Hunter Spencer went one-two in the mile run. Freeman?s attempt to break the four-minute barrier fell inches short (4:01.02). Spencer represented the Indiana Invaders Track Club and finished in 4:03.87. UK sophomore John Richardson had a solid season opener, finishing third in 4:08.34. Sophomores Stephan Smith (4:19.91) and Andre Silva (4:23.07) finished ninth and tenth respectively.

In the women?s mile run, sophomore Georganne Way finished third in a time of 4:56.80, eclipsing last year?s season best by exactly 10 seconds. Senior Allison Grace, sophomore Lavera Morris and freshman Andrea Brown finished sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.

Late Friday night, an exhibition of the men?s and women?s discus was highlighted with two Wildcat victories. Senior Ildiko Varga took home the women?s title with a toss of 179-2, while newcomer Ball won the men?s competition with a throw of 177-0. The discus is not an NCAA sanctioned indoor event.

The Wildcats return to action Jan. 27-28 when they host the Rod McCravy Memorial at Nutter Field House. Admission to the event is free of charge.