FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? Junior Rashaud Scott became the University of Kentucky track and field team?s second event champion at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships by claiming the men?s discus title at host University of Arkansas? John McDonnell Field Saturday. Scott?s win capped off the best performance by a Kentucky men?s squad in the Mideast Regional?s six-year history, after a fourth-place tie overall at the meet.
Scott threw a personal-best mark of 199-10 on his first attempt in the discus finals and held the lead to win by almost eight feet over the competition and automatically qualify for the NCAA National Championship Meet hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 11-14. The junior?s throw ranks third all-time in UK history.
Scott joins freshman Grant Lindsey as a Regional Champion and automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Championship Meet. Lindsey claimed the high jump title Friday. Four other automatic bids to Nationals were claimed by the Wildcats on the final day of competition.
Senior Andy Fryman earned his ticket to Des Moines by placing third overall in the discus after a throw of 188-0. Fryman was the only UK athlete to score for the Cats in two individual events this weekend. The Maysville, Ky., native also placed sixth in the men?s hammer throw with a distance of 210-4, likely good for an NCAA at-large selection.
Junior Mikel Thomas placed second in the men’s 110m hurdles with an automatic-qualifying time of 13.57 in gusty conditions aiding runners along the main straightaway. With the effort, Thomas breaks his UK record again for the fourth time this season.
Junior Jose Acevedo joined the automatic qualifier group of Wildcats heading to Des Moines with a fifth-place, automatic-qualifying finish of 20.58. The time ties his personal record set Friday in the prelims and ranks second all-time at UK, tying his Venezuelan National Record.
The men’s 4x100m relay team automatically qualified for the NCAA National Meet with a fourth-place finish in a time of 39.72, just shy of a season-best mark. The team of junior Gordon McKenzie, Acevedo, junior Brandon Austin and sophomore Kwasi Obeng carried the baton for the Cats.
McKenzie just missed the automatic-qualifying cut finishing sixth overall in the men’s 100m dash with a personal-best time of 10.23. His time ranks second all-time at UK only behind former Olympian Tim Harden.
Senior John Richardson finished seventh overall in the men’s 1500m run crossing the line in 3:49.34, earning UK two points.
The No. 17 Wildcat men accumulated the most points in school history at the Mideast Regional with 51 markers. UK tied rival Tennessee for fourth place for the Cats? best regional finish all-time.
However, the UK men?s success also came with a few disappointments late Saturday.
In another controversial relay at a regional meet, the UK men?s 4x400m squad saw its lead slip away in the last leg of the event. Acevedo unexpectedly lost grasp of the baton while battling for the lead in the final 200 meters and the Cats slipped from the lead to finish 11th overall in the meet?s final event. The unfortunate mishap could cost the squad a bid to the National Championships. Senior Nathan Browning, classmate Justin Harrison, sophomore Kwasi Obeng and Acevedo battled eventual champ Mississippi State?s squad for the lead throughout much of the event.
A coach?s protest is pending in the event. Earlier this year, a UK hand-off baton exchange was hampered by an opposing team in the men?s 4x400m indoor relay.
In the next-to-last men?s event, top-seeded junior Chase Madison fouled on his three preliminary throw attempts in the discus, which unfortunately cost the nation?s fourth-ranked thrower the chance to compete in Des Moines. Madison is not able to qualify as an NCAA at-large candidate as a result of finishing outside of the region?s top-12 in the event.
On the women?s side, junior Jessica Ortman became the second scorer for the Wildcats this weekend finishing sixth in the 800m run in a time of 2:09.01, just missing the automatic qualifying cut. Ortman earned three points for the Cats.
Andrea Halasek became the third scorer of the meet for the UK women. The junior placed eighth overall in the steeplechase with a time of 10:56.90, earning the Cats a point.
Freshman Victoria Dunlap finished 10th overall in the women’s high jump clearing a height of 5-7.25.
The women?s 4x400m relay team of freshman Bianca Tyson, classmate Jazmyn Shorter, junior Ashley Trimble and senior Lavera Morris finished 11th overall with a time of 3:42.23.
Junior Jenna Ortman finished 11th overall in the women’s 1500m run with a time of 4:33.48.
In the women’s shot put, junior Emilee Strot finished 13th overall with a throw of 49-5.75. Freshman Jennifer Svoboda finished 15th overall with a distance of 48-7.25.
LSU won both the men’s and women’s Mideast Regional team titles this weekend.
NCAA at-large selections for each event will be announced next week. Qualifying Wildcats will conclude their seasons at the NCAA National Championship Meet hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 11-14. Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the latest updates.
Wildcat Scorers by Event ? Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships after Day 2
MEN (points earned)
Discus
1. Rashaud Scott ? 199-10 (10) REGIONAL CHAMPION, NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
3. Andy Fryman ? 188-0 (6) NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
High Jump
1. Grant Lindsey ? 7-2.5 (10) REGIONAL CHAMPION, NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
110m Hurdles
2. Mikel Thomas ? 13.57 (8) NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
4x100m Relay
4. Gordon McKenzie ? Jose Acevedo ? Brandon Austin ? Kwasi Obeng ? 39.72 (5)
200m Dash
5. Jose Acevedo ? 20.58 (4) NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
100m Dash
6. Gordon McKenzie ? 10.23 (3)
Hammer Throw
6. Andy Fryman ? 210-4 (3)
1500m Run
7. John Richardson ? 3:49.34 (2)
WOMEN (points earned)
800m Run
6. Jessica Ortman ? 2:09.01 (3)
Discus
7. Emilee Strot ? 167-10 (2)
Steeplechase
8. Andrea Halasek ? 10:56.90 (1)
