TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ? Sophomore thrower Ashley Muffet (North Canton, Ohio) recorded the second-best hammer throw in school history Friday as she and freshman Emily Bernhardt (Marietta, Ga.) finished second and sixth, respectively, in the event to highlight Kentucky?s opening day at the 2007 Southeastern Conference Championships hosted by the University of Alabama at Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium.
Muffet?s toss of 189-11 bested her previous personal record of 187-7 that she recorded in the Sea Ray Relays in mid April. Bernhardt?s throw went 181-3 as the duo combined to score 11 of UK?s 13 team points on Friday.
The SEC Track and Field Championships continue Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. EDT with the men?s discus. Live results will be available at http://www.flashresults.com/2007_Meets/outdoor/sec, while live updates regarding UK’s athletes will be available on ukathletics.com following the conclusion of each event.
Junior mid-distance runner John Richardson (Ocean City, N.J.) qualified for the finals in the men?s 800-meter run, finishing seventh with a time of 1:49.68, in his first attempt at that event this season. Junior Stephan Smith (Tallahassee, Fla.) just missed qualifying for the finals with a time of 1:50.19. The finals take place at 7:50 p.m. EDT Sunday.
For the second consecutive year, women?s mid-distance runners Georganne Way (Lititz, Pa.) and Lavera Morris (Orlando, Fla.) each qualified for Sunday?s final in the women?s 800-meter run. Way finished eighth with a time of 2:07.54, her best mark of the season, while Morris was ninth with, finishing in 2:07.66. Sunday?s final is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT.
In the men?s 200-meter dash preliminaries, Jose Acevedo (Caracas, Venezuela) had a qualifying time of 21.13, his season-best mark. The finals for the men?s 200-meter dash are scheduled for 8:35 p.m. EDT Sunday.
Sophomore distance runner Taylor Miller (Owensboro, Ky.) added the Cats? other two team points by finishing seventh in the women?s 10,000-meter run.
Complete results and a recap of Kentucky?s participation in the SEC Track and Field Championships throughout the weekend will be available at ukathletics.com.
Kentucky Results on Friday at the SEC Championships
Men?s Hammer Throw
12. Alek Grietens ? 168-11
Women?s Hammer Throw
2. Ashley Muffet ? 189-11
6. Emily Bernhardt ? 181-3
15. Kristen Smith ? 151-2
Men?s 800-Meter Run Preliminaries
7. John Richardson ? 1:49.68q
10. Stephan Smith ? 1:50.19
24. Nick Reeves ? 1:56.78
27. Scott Geisinger ? 2:01.66
Women?s 800-Meter Run Preliminaries
8. Georganne Way ? 2:07.54q
9. Lavera Morris ? 2:07.66q
13. Jackie Gordon ? 2:12.97
Men?s 200-Meter Dash Preliminaries
8. Jose Acevedo ? 21.13 (-0.1)q
16. Gordon McKenzie ? 21.42 (+0.9)
18. Brandon Austin ? 21.55 (+0.9)
23. Nathan Browning ? 21.90 (-0.6)
25. Kwasi Obeng ? 22.13 (+0.1)
Women?s 200-Meter Dash Preliminaries
20. Jenna Martin ? 24.27
Men?s 400-Meter Hurdle Preliminaries
10. Mikel Thomas ? 52.56
11. Geoffrey Daley – 52.59
Women?s 400-Meter Hurdle Preliminaries
10. Ashley Trimble ? 1:01.45
Women?s 10,000-Meter Run
7. Taylor Miller ? 37:33.45
