The University of Kentucky track and field teams will ride a wave of regular season success into the Southeastern Conference Championships this weekend at host University of Arkansas (May 12-14). The men?s squad enters the meet with ten marks currently ranked among the top eight in the conference in various events, while the women?s team boasts seven. Live scoring for the meet will be available on ukathletics.com.
SEC Championships Preview – MEN
Sprints
As a group, the sprinters own nine regional qualifying marks. Freshmen Gordon McKenzie (100, 200), Brandon Austin (100, 200) and Jose Acevedo (200) will compete in the short sprints. Sophomores Justin Harrison and Nathan Browning, and junior Luis Luna all own regional marks in the 400 and will compete in the 200 as well. Those three and Acevedo make up the No. 2 nationally ranked 4×400 relay team. UK?s 4×100 relay squad enters the meet ranked fifth in the conference. Senior Dedrick Tillerson ranks fifth in the SEC in the 400 hurdles and finished fifth last season at the conference meet. Fellow senior Thomas Masthay will compete in both hurdle events.
Middle Distance
Sophomore John Richardson picked up his second regional qualifying mark last weekend with a personal-best 1:49.52 (fourth SEC) in the 800. He also will compete in the 1,500 (season-best 3:45.34). Sophomores Stephan Smith (seventh SEC) and Gabe McLaren, freshmen Scott Geisinger and Ryan Finn, and junior Nick Reeves will compete in the 800. McLaren reached last year?s conference finals. Sophomore Andre Silva and junior Jonathan Thomas will run the 5K.
Field Events
SEC indoor champ junior Gavin Ball earned a regional mark last weekend in the shot put and enters the meet ranked fifth in the conference. He joins Andy Fryman, who comes in ranked first in SEC and ninth nationally (64-4.25) in the event. Fryman will also compete in the discus and hammer throw. Fryman score points for the Wildcats in the shot and discus last year at the SEC Championships. Sophomore Alek Grietens and Ball will also throw the discus.
SEC Championships Preview – WOMEN
Sprints
Senior Kenya Patton will double-up in the 200 and 400 and run a leg in the 4×400 relay. Freshmen Kleo Mack and Alisha Jones will run the 400 and the 4×400 relay. Freshman Ashley Trimble ranks seventh in the conference in the 400 hurdles (1:00.94) and is expected to anchor the 4×400.
Middle Distance
Sophomore Lavera Morris and junior Georganne Way both own regional marks in the 800. Morris owns UK?s fastest time of the season (2:07.70, fifth SEC). Both athletes will run the 1,500 as well. Way stands fifth in the conference in the event with a regional mark of 4:25.0.
Field Events
The UK women?s throwers have recorded an impressive six regional marks among three athletes. Freshman Ashley Muffet placed second in the shot put at the SEC indoor meet and enters the meet ranked in the top ten in the conference in the shot put (second), hammer throw (seventh) and discus (tenth). Senior Nicole Allyn improved her personal-best in the hammer (184-3) last weekend and looks prime to score points for the Cats. School record-holder senior Ildiko Varga enters the meet ranked second in the conference in the discus (185-10) and sixth nationally. She finished fourth last season. Junior Kathleen Biondi ranks tenth in the SEC in the javelin and finished seventh at last year?s conference meet. Senior Michelle Gales posted a personal-best last weekend in the long jump (19-6.50, sixth all-time UK). She will also compete in the triple jump. Freshman record holder Mary Durham and fellow frosh Maggie Tincher will represent the Cats in the pole vault.
