KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? The University of Kentucky track and field teams competed hard on a blustery day at the Sea Ray Relays Friday at LaPorte Stadium. The Cats battled 15-20 mph winds and picked up two more regional qualifying marks to push the squad’s total to a stout 20 for the season.
Freshman sprinter Gordon McKenzie slipped under the regional standard in the 100 with a season-best 10.49 (10.45 PR). McKenzie?s mark gave the men?s squad its 12th regional qualifying mark of the season. McKenzie also owns a mark in the 200 (21.17). Fellow frosh Brandon Austin posted a personal-best with a time of 10.71.
The men sprinters competed in the unconventional 4×200 relay and placed a strong second (1:23.57) behind Middle Tennessee State (1:23.21). The youthful squad included freshmen Jose Acevedo, sophomore Justin Harrison, junior Luis Luna and McKenzie.
Harrison and Browning were Wildcats? top performers in the 400, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. Both sprinters went below the regional standard of 47.60 yet own faster season-bests.
Sophomore John Richardson placed second in the 1,500 and improved his season-best and regional qualifying mark to 3:45.34. Freshman Ryan Finn (3:56.5) and sophomore Andre Silva (3:57.59, season-best) also competed.
Sophomore Gabe McLaren came through with a season-best and UK?s top time in the 800 (1:52.94).
Senior hurdler Dedrick Tillerson continued his consistency with a solid 52.38 in the 400 hurdles. Tillerson placed ninth overall, but was fourth among collegiate competitors due to a large amount of club and professional athletes competing at the meet.
For the women, junior Georganne Way picked up her second regional mark in as many weekends with an impressive time of 4:25.0 (tenth all-time UK) in the 1,500. Last weekend, Way and sophomore Lavera Morris both went below the standard in the 800.
Pole vaulter Mary Durham continued her impressive freshman run by tying her season-best with a jump of 10-11.75. Fellow freshman Maggie Tincher improved her season-best by three inches with a jump of 10-6.
High jumper freshman Lindsay Moody tied a season-best with a leap of 5-3, while senior Rachel Kohler, back from injury, saw her first action of the season (5-3).
First-year sprinter Ashley Trimble notched a PR in the 100 hurdles (14.42).
Kentucky continues action tomorrow (Sat.) at the Sea Relays with live stats available on ukathletics.com. The UK throwers will compete at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
