SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The University of Kentucky track and field teams began day one competition at the 2006 NCAA Championships Wednesday. Sophomore Lavera Morris highlighted the day for the Cats by advancing to the 800-meter semifinals.

Morris, a native of Orlando, Fla., was one of 16 runners to advance to Thursday?s 800 semifinals with a mark of 2:06.60 (personal-best, 2:06.55, fifth all-time UK). Of the 16 qualifiers, 13 ran times between 2:06.00 and 2:06.82. Three runners managed to go below the 2:06.0 mark, led by California?s Alysia Johnson (2:05.10). Kentucky junior Georganne Way also competed in the 800 but failed to advance with a time of 2:08.06 (PR, 2:06.39, fourth all-time UK).

Freshman Jose Acevedo failed to advance out of the prelims with a sixth place finish in heat four of the 200 (21.49). Acevedo broke the UK frosh record at the Mideast Regional two weeks ago with a mark of 20.79w. The Venezuelan native will now turn his attention to the 4×400 relay which is set to run in tomorrow?s prelims.

Senior Ildiko Varga just missed out on her bid to become a two-time All-American. The Heves, Hungary native ended her Wildcat career with a 15th place finish in the discus (160-2). Varga was less than three feet from reaching the finals. The senior will leave Lexington as the school-record holder in the event (185-10) and a three-time NCAA Championships participant. Varga is also currently tied for third all-time in the hammer throw (186-6).

Tomorrow the Cats will continue with more preliminary action along with Morris? semifinal race. Freshman Ashley Muffet will compete in the shot put for the UK women, while senior Dedrick Tillerson (400 hurdles), sophomore John Richardson (1,500), freshman Gordon McKeznie (100), Andy Fryman (shot put) and the 4×400 relay will take to the track for the men?s squad. Live results for the meet will be available on ukathletics.com. For up-to-date individual and team results, fans can go to ncaasports.com.