LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky track and field teams swept both 4x400m relays for the second time this year. The relay wins were just two of the five titles the Cats won at the SEC-Big Ten Challenge in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday.
The Wildcat relays stole the show again Saturday with victories on both the men?s and women?s sides. The men?s time of 3:11.56 was over four seconds faster than second-place Florida. For the women, a time of 3:44.45 beat out Ohio State by over three seconds.
Senior Andy Fryman finished second in the men?s weight throw with a mark of 65-01.50 but he earned a provisional mark, used for at-large entry into the NCAA Indoor Championships. The effort placed him second all-time in the UK record books, just one-half inch off the varsity record. Fryman edged out teammate Rashaud Scott?s mark set last week pushing Scott to third in the record books. Scott finished third on the day with a toss of 62-05.50.
Freshman Grant Lindsey earned his second win as well as his second provisional mark in as many weeks by clearing the high jump pole at a height of 7-00.50. Lindsey beat his mark last week by less than an inch to break out of a fifth-place tie on UK?s all-time list, now owning the spot for himself.
Senior John Richardson won the men?s 3000m run with a personal best of 8:15.03 which broke him into the top-10 of the UK annals at ninth place. The win was Richardson?s first of the early season.
Another first-time winner this year, junior Jessica Ortman, earned the Cats a victory in the women?s 800 meter run with a time of 2:11.21. Ortman followed the victory up with a third-place showing in the women?s 3000 meters at 9:53.68; just ahead of classmate Andrea Halasek in fourth (9:55.19).
Two more Cats broke into the Kentucky record books. Sophomore Kwasi Obeng ran fourth in the 60m dash final at 6.80, placing him eighth all-time at UK. Meanwhile junior Emilee Strot finished eighth in the women?s shot put with a throw of 45-04.75, good enough for 10th-best all-time at Kentucky.
Strot?s teammate Ashley Muffet finished second overall in the shot put with a toss of 52-11.25. The distance earned Muffet her second provisional mark in the event. UK freshman Jennifer Svoboda finished fifth in the event.
In the men?s shot put Scott turned the tables on Fryman in friendly competition. The junior Scott (57-05.5) edged out the senior Fryman (57-05-0) by one-half inch to take second overall.
The Wildcats took home two top-three finishes in the triple jump. Freshman Ke?Undra Bishop took home second for the women at a distance of 38-06.0 while classmate David Banks finished third hitting the dirt at 47?02.0.
Three more Cats took home top-three finishes in their individual events. UK freshman Brendan Ames earned second in the men?s long jump with a leap of 22-06.0. Senior Justin Harrison was the second to cross the finish in the men?s 600m run at 1:19.95. Distance specialist Jenna Ortman placed third among the women?s milers at a clip of 4:59.57.
Running for the first time in competition this season, UK?s 4x800m men?s relay team finished third overall with a time of 7:56.85.
The Wildcats have a week off from competition before hosting the Rod McCravy Memorial Track Meet on Feb. 1-2 at E.J. Nutter Field House.
