The University of Kentucky track and field squads enjoyed some breakthrough performances at last weekend?s Iowa State Classic with five Cats earning NCAA provisional marks. This week the Cats continue to train as they prepare for the SEC Championships, next Friday in Gainesville, Fla. Listed below are updated notes on the indoor season.
Track Notes ? 2/15
Wildcat NCAA provisional qualifiers
Georganne Way (Jr., Middle Distance)
? Way ran the best meet of her career at the Iowa State Classic, falling well below the provisional standard with a personal-best 2:06.49 in the 800. Way?s mark ranks her ninth nationally, first in the SEC, and second all-time indoors at UK. Way also owns UK?s fastest mile time on the season (4:51.38, fifth SEC).
Lavera Morris (So., Middle Distance)
? Morris also went below the standard last weekend with a personal-best 2:07.88 in the 800. Morris ranks 25th nationally, fifth in the SEC, and third all-time indoors. Morris owns the second fastest UK mile in 2006 (4:53.94, sixth SEC).
Allison Grace (Sr., Distance)
? Grace earned an NCAA mark in Ames, Iowa with an indoor personal-best in the 5,000 meters (16:43.09). Her time ranks her third in the SEC, 35th nationally, and sixth all-time at Kentucky. Grace owns UK?s top marks in the 3K, 5K and third in the mile (4:55.45, ninth SEC).
Ashley Muffet (Fr., Throws)
? In only four meets, Muffet has made quite the impression. The N. Canton, Ohio native hit a provisional mark at the Hoosier Relay (2/4) with a toss of 52-2.75 in the shot put. Muffet ranks 20th nationally, second in the SEC, and third all-time at Kentucky. Muffet also ranks fourth in the weight throw.
Gavin Ball (Jr., Throws)
? Ball has set season-bests in three consecutive meets, culminating in a provisional mark of 58-4 in the shot put last week at ISU. Ball ranks second in the SEC with the toss and 35th nationally. All-time at Kentucky, the junior transfer ranks seventh.
Justin Harrison (So., Sprints)
? Harrison ran a season-best 47.06 in the 400 last weekend. Harrison was one of 12 runners at the prestigious Iowa State Classic to go below the standard. Harrison ranks fifth in the SEC, 22nd nationally, and is also part of Kentucky?s nationally-ranked 4×400 relay squad. Harrison?s personal-best mark of 46.72 ranks second all-time at UK.
4×400 Relay (Harrison, Nathan Browning, Jose Acevedo, Luis Luna)
? The Cats ran a season-best 3:07.65 at Iowa State, ranking them ninth nationally. Earlier this season, the team broke the McCravy Memorial (1/28) meet record, surpassing UK?s 1996 squad which currently owns the indoor school record (3:05.71). UK ranks third among SEC schools in the event.
Other notables
? Freshman Gordon McKenzie has given a jolt to the Kentucky sprint corps. The Queens, N.Y. native ranks seventh in the 60 (6.73, fifth SEC) and tied for sixth in the 200 (21.51) all-time at Kentucky. Both marks are just shy of the provisional standard. Freshman Mary Durham broke the UK indoor record in the pole vault with a leap of 11-7.75 at the Hoosier Relays. Durham is less than two inches from surpassing Lit Kittredge?s school record of 11-9. Former gymnastics standout Michelle Gales has lent a hand to track squad by competing in the triple and long jumps. Gales ranks sixth and tenth, respectively, all-time at UK in those events. Senior Kenya Patton has set indoor personal-bests in the 60 and 200. She now ranks seventh and fourth, respectively, at UK in those events. Sophomore John Richardson owns UK?s top times in the 800 (1:50.31, fourth SEC) and mile (4:06.65, tenth SEC). Freshman Jose Acevedo ranks second on the team in the 200 (21.69) and 400 (47.63, tenth all-time UK).
Check out the UK track and field homepage for updated season and all-time stats.
