SAO PAULO, Brazil ? Sophomore Kentucky sprinter Jenna Martin (Nova Scotia, Canada) won her heat and recorded the second-fastest time of the day and the second-fastest time of her life Friday in the semifinals of the women?s 400-meter dash at the Pan Am Junior Athletics Championships to punch her ticket to the finals which take place at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

Martin, competing as a member of Team Canada, finished in a time of 52.87 to qualify automatically. Martin, who is coming off one of the finest rookie campaigns in recent school history, again broke the 53-second mark in her race. She is only one of three female sprinters in Kentucky school history to run faster than 53 seconds in the 400-meter dash.

Prior to Kentucky, Martin had an impressive prep career in Nova Scotia, setting 53 records in her home province. Martin holds the UK freshman school records in both the indoor and outdoor 400 meters.

Complete results and a recap of Martin?s participation in Saturday?s Pan Am Finals will be available at www.ukathletics.com.

Results ? Women?s 400-meter Semifinals (Pan Am Championships ? Sao Paulo, Brazil)

 First Heat 1. Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (Jamaica) ? 52.78Q 2. Jessica Beard (United States) ? 52.88Q 3. Maria Alejandra Idrovo (Colombia) ? 53.70Q 4. Britney St. Louis (Trinidad) 54.00q 5. Natalia Monique dos S. Olivera (Brazil) ? 57.03 6. Maria Narcisa Gonzalez (Ecuador) ? 53.90 Second Heat 1. Jenna Martin (Canada) ? 52.87Q 2. Brandi Cross (United States) ? 53.23Q 3. Janeil Bellille (Trinidad) ? 54.02Q 4. Maria Teresa Rugerio Trevino (Mexico) ? 54.68q 5. Andrea Reid (Jamaica) ? 54.80 6. Erika Chavez (Ecuador) ? 56.06 7. Kemilla Felix Miranda (Brazil) ? 56.30