FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? The University of Kentucky track and field team will compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships this weekend at host University of Arkansas? John McDonnell Field.
Thirty-one Wildcats made the trip to Arkansas to compete for a chance to participate in the NCAA National Meet held in two weeks at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The Mideast Regional is one of four taking place this weekend. The top-five finishers in each regional event automatically qualify for the NCAA Championship meet.
The Kentucky squads enter the Mideast Regional with 40 regional-qualifying marks, good for tenth in the nation including 21 entries for the UK men combined with the Wildcat women?s 19 bids. The UK men rank 10th nationally with eight qualifiers in sprint and hurdle events and stand 12th nationally with six declared throwers, including four in the discus which ties UK with Auburn and UCLA with the most athletes competing in that event nationally.
This season the UK men are ranked at No. 17, one of six nationally-ranked regional squads in the latest top-25 poll. All six teams hail from the Southeastern Conference including No. 1 LSU, No. 7 Arkansas, No.9 Auburn, No. 10 Tennessee and No. 18 Mississippi State.
The Cats? men?s squad has entered 18 new top-10 times/marks into the all-time UK record books this season, with two new varsity records and four updated freshman standards. Junior Mikel Thomas set the UK record in the 110m hurdles three times this year with his best finish at 13.70. Freshman Derrick Locke?s long jump of 25-3.25 set a new varsity and freshman record at UK. Other rookies setting new standards include Brendan Ames (110m hurdles ? 14.14), Colin Boevers (Discus ? 181-4) and Grant Lindsey (High Jump ? 7-3.25).
In the high jump, Lindsey?s height clearance ranks fifth nationally. Madison?s mark is fourth in the country for the discus. Meanwhile, the men?s 4x400m relay time set two weeks ago at the SEC Championships is fifth best in the nation.
On the women?s side, Kentucky will compete against five top-25 teams. No. 1 LSU, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 18 Michigan and No. 22 Ole Miss will provide tough competition.
The Wildcat women?s squad has entered 24 new top-10 times/marks into the all-time UK record books this season, with three new varsity records and three updated freshman standards. Junior Andrea Halasek broke the school record in the steeplechase with a time of 10:35.76. In the women?s pole vault junior Maggie Tincher set the school record at a height of 12-1.50. Freshman Danielle Sampley claims both the varsity and freshman heptathlon records. She also broke the UK freshman long jump record hitting the dirt at 20-5 and set the 200 meter dash rookie record at the SEC Championships.
Live stats of the event will be available at the beginning of the competition on Hogwired.com and the UK track and field schedule page beginning at noon ET Friday.
A full recap of the Cats? performances will be available after competition each day on UKathletics.com.
Kentucky Mideast Regional Participants Competing on Friday May 30
Women?s Hammer Throw ? 12:00 p.m. ET
Kristin Smith
Men?s High Jump ? 1:00 p.m. ET
Grant Lindsey
Men?s Shot Put ? 1:00 p.m. ET
Rashaud Scott
Women?s 4x100m Relay Prelims ? 4:00 p.m. ET
Bianca Tyson/ Danielle Sampley/ Jenna Martin/ Jazmyn Shorter
Men?s 4x100m Relay Prelims ? 4:15 p.m. ET
Gordon McKenzie/ Jose Acevedo/ Brandon Austin/ Kwasi Obeng
Women?s 1500 Meter Run Prelims ? 4:30 p.m. ET
Jenna Ortman
Men?s 1500 Meter Run Prelims ? 4:50 p.m. ET
John Richardson
Women?s 100 Meter Hurdles Prelims ? 5:10 p.m. ET
Danielle Sampley
Ashley Trimble
Men?s 110 Meter Hurdles Prelims ? 5:30 p.m. ET
Brendan Ames
Mikel Thomas
Women?s Long Jump ? 6:00 p.m. ET
Danielle Sampley
Men?s Long Jump ? 6:00 p.m. ET
Derrick Locke
Men?s 100 Meter Dash Prelims ? 6:10 p.m. ET
Gordon McKenzie
Women?s 400 Meter Dash Prelims ? 6:30 p.m. ET
Jenna Martin
Men?s 400 Meter Dash Prelims ? 6:50 p.m. ET
Nathan Browning
Justin Harrison
Women?s 800 Meter Run Prelims ? 7:10 p.m. ET
Lavera Morris
Jessica Ortman
Women?s Discus ? 7:15 p.m. ET
Emilee Strot
Jennifer Svoboda
Women?s 400 Meter Hurdles Prelims ? 7:50 p.m. ET
Ashley Trimble
Men?s 400 Meter Hurdles Prelims ? 8:10 p.m. ET
Mikel Thomas
Men?s 200 Meter Dash Prelims ? 8:50 p.m. ET
Jose Acevedo
Gordon McKenzie
