LEXINGTON, Ky. ? University of Kentucky track and field athlete Derrick Locke was named the Southeastern Conference?s Track and Field Male Freshman Field Athlete of the Year, as selected by the conference?s head coaches, the league office in Birmingham, Ala., announced Tuesday.
Locke?s long jump debut in New York City was remarkable and the rookie?s performance improved each week leading up to his bid to the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend at the University of Arkansas. He currently ranks 14th nationally, and returns to the Razorbacks? Tyson Track Complex where he has set his two previous best marks.
At the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York City early February, Locke finished seventh with a leap of 24-2.25, recording the fifth-best men?s long jump in UK history. Impressively, the competition was Locke?s first of the season due to a broken rib sustained in the football post-season last December. Locke earned SEC freshman field athlete of the week honors for his performance.
A week later at Arkansas? Tyson Invitational, Locke continued to climb the UK all-time long jump chart. Locke tied the Kentucky freshman record in the event hitting the dirt at 24-6.25. The two-sport athlete tied Tony Woods’ mark set in 1996 placing him in a tie for third on the all-time varsity long jump list.
The Hugo, Okla., native?s best performance to date came at the SEC Indoor Championships two weeks ago. In the preliminaries of the men’s long jump, Locke recorded a jump of 25-2 to lead the competition and earn the top seed in the event championship. Locke?s distance was the UK freshman school record for only a few hours.
In the finals, the rookie set the record again in his final attempt increasing his top freshman mark to 25-5.25. His jump ranks second all-time at UK, two inches shy of the top mark. Locke placed third in the event earning the Cats six points.
Locke and the UK men?s squad are ranked 19th in the country this week, while the Wildcat women?s team slipped to 25th in the nation.
Locke is one of 12 Wildcats headed to Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend for competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
A full recap of the Cats? performances will be available after competition both Friday and Saturday on UKathletics.com.
