KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? University of Kentucky track and field jumper Derrick Locke leapt into the university?s record books in his first outdoor competition by breaking the UK varsity and freshman outdoor long jump marks at the Sea Ray Relays hosted by Tennessee Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Locke finished fourth overall with a long jump distance of 25-3.25 to set a new standard at Kentucky breaking the decade-old record set by Andrew Channer by two inches. Locke also eclipsed Channer?s freshman mark of 25-0 set in 1997. In addition, the personal-best leap earns Locke an NCAA regional-qualifying mark.
The Wildcats would earn 10 additional regional marks on the final day of competition in Knoxville.
Another freshman jumper made an impression in his first outdoor collegiate meet. Grant Lindsey won the high jump clearing 7-00.50. The height is the fourth-best in school history and earns Lindsey his first regional-qualifying mark.
The men?s 4×400 meter relay squad also nabbed a regional mark by winning the meet?s final event. The squad of senior Nathan Browning, sophomore Kwasi Obeng and juniors Mikel Thomas and Jose Acevedo crossed the line in 3:06.52; outpacing the other 21 teams by more than 1.4 seconds. .
The women?s 4×400 meter team of sophomore Jenna Martin, junior Ashley Trimble, and freshmen Danielle Sampley and Jazmyn Shorter also beat the NCAA regional cut with a time of 3:41.61.
The Wildcat throws squad obtained five regional-qualifying marks.
In the men?s discus invitational, junior Chase Madison threw the third-best distance in school history. Madison?s third-place throw of 191-0 is his best as a Wildcat. Senior Andy Fryman placed fifth with a distance of 182-7 that was just one inch shy of his personal-best mark that ranks fifth in the UK annals and earned the veteran a regional mark.
Junior Emilee Strot climbed three spots in the UK record books with the sixth-best throw ever by a Wildcat. Strot?s third-place release of 163-11 cleared the qualifying standard and is her best throw at Kentucky.
In the women?s shot put, freshman Jennifer Svoboda threw a personal-best distance of 47-7.25. Her regional-qualifying mark improves her seventh-place standing all-time in the Kentucky archives.
Junior Rashaud Scott improved on his sixth-best shot put heave in school history. Scott?s toss of 62-1.25 is his best at UK and gives him a spot in the regional.
The Cats? two final regional-qualifying marks were set in the men?s 200 meter dash. Juniors Gordon McKenzie (21.22) and Acevedo (21.23) crossed the line nearly at the same time.
In the women?s triple jump, freshman Ke?Undra Bishop bettered her seventh-place school mark with a leap of 37-11.50.
Other top-five finishes for the Cats included the women?s distance medley relay second-place team of senior Lavera Morris, junior Kleo Mack, junior Jessica Ortman and sophomore Katherine Peterson (11:50.64). In the women?s steeplechase, junior Jenna Ortman (11:05.15), sophomore Lindsay Petri (11:07.85), and sophomore Claire Laverty (11:14.82) finished second, third and fourth, respectively.
The Cats have a week off before competing in the Drake Relays and Triton Invitational in two weeks.
