TEMPE, Ariz. ? The University of Kentucky track and field teams started the outdoor season strong with five more regional qualifying marks and multiple top three finishes at the Baldy Castillo Invitational late Saturday evening.
The UK female throwers carried over the momentum of Friday?s success with second and third place finishes in the discus and a second place triumph in the shot put. Senior Ildiko Varga went beyond the regional mark with a toss of 173-4 in the discus, good for second place. Varga owns the school record in the event (182-1, 2004). Freshman Ashley Muffet hit a new personal-best with a third place regional qualifying throw of 156-0 (eighth all-time UK). Muffet backed up her performance in the discus with a second place finish and regional mark in the shot put (49-1.75, fourth all-time UK). Friday, Allyn, Muffet and Varga placed third, fourth and seventh, respectively, in the hammer throw.
Newcomer senior Michelle Gales continued to strive in the jumps with two UK all-time top ten marks. Gales won the long jump with a leap of 19-1.50 (eighth all-time UK) and followed it up with a third place finish in the triple (38-1.50, sixth all-time UK).
The Kentucky male sprinters showed their versatility with a couple of top three finishes. Freshman Gordon McKenzie placed second in the 200 with a regional mark of 21.17, earning him a spot on the UK all-time list (eighth). McKenzie also placed second in the 100 in a time of 10.55. Fellow frosh Jose Acevedo placed third in the 200 (21.26, tenth all-time UK) and fourth in the 100 (10.67). Sophomore Justin Harrison came in sixth in the 200 (21.56).
Freshman Brandon Austin ran a PR in the 100 (10.99), while 400 specialists sophomore Nathan Browning (21.74) and junior Luis Luna (21.62) ran personal-bests in the 200.
Senior Thomas Masthay had a banner meet with third place finishes in the 110 and 400 hurdles. Masthay ran a personal-best in the 110 (14.67), good for fifth all-time, and went 53.29 in the 400. Senior Dedrick Tillerson placed fourth (53.63).
Other UK notables included junior Georganne Way and sophomore Lavera Morris trying their hand at the 400 and placing second and third, respectively. Senior Kenya Patton placed third in the 100 (11.99) and fifth in the 200 (24.32), while freshman Ashley Trimble came in sixth in the 100 hurdles (14.84). Freshman Andrea Brown and senior Candance Leep went two-three in the 800, while freshman Ryan Finn was the Cats? top male performer in the 800 with a fourth place finish (1:56.57). Andy Fryman earned a fifth place finish in the men?s shot put with a regional qualifying toss of 58-1. Junior Kathleen Biondi reached a new PR in the javelin (137-3, seventh place).
The Wildcats will continue training next week as they prepare for the Yellow Jacket Invitational, Fri, March 31-Sat., April, 1, at host Georgia Tech.
