DES MOINES, Iowa ? University of Kentucky track and field thrower Rashaud Scott joined senior teammate Andy Fryman as an NCAA two-time finalist and the UK men’s 4×400 meter relay team made an impressive debut at the 2008 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at the Drake Stadium Track on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday.
Scott placed third in his flight and sixth overall in the shot put to qualify for the Saturday final. Scott advanced with a throw of 60-6 on his first attempt. The junior?s shot put bid is the sixth Wildcat finalist appearance of the Championships. Scott and Fryman each have two chances to score points for UK along with freshman Grant Lindsey and the men?s 4x400m relay team.
The men’s 4x400m relay squad automatically qualified for the event final Saturday. Senior Nathan Browning started the race off for the Cats coming across the line at the same time as TCU and top-seeded Baylor. Baylor had won 27-straight races coming in. Senior Justin Harrison ran the second leg for the Cats, taking the lead in the final 50 meters to hand off to sophomore Kwasi Obeng. Obeng held the lead for much of his lap before Baylor and TCU gained ground.
Anchorman Jose Acevedo grabbed the baton in second behind Baylor and took the lead halfway through the lap. Acevedo held the lead with 100 meters to go but Baylor came back to take the lead in the final stretch. The Cats finished second in a time of 3:04.83, the sixth-fastest time of the event. The Cats advance to the final and will be part of the live national broadcast on CBS Saturday as the last event of the Championships.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, junior Mikel Thomas automatically qualified for the semifinal on Friday with a third-place finish in his first round heat. Thomas’ time of 13.72 was the 10th-fastest mark of the prelims. Thomas has broken the UK varsity record in the event no less than four times this season.
Senior John Richardson finished sixth in his 1500m semifinal heat with a time of 3:44.27. The senior’s mark is good for 15th in the nation. Richardson capped a prolific career as a Wildcat with a strong performance in his third Outdoor Championships appearance. The two-time SEC Champion ranks fifth all-time at UK in the 1500m run. He has attained All-Mideast Region honors and numerous conference accolades on and off the track. Richardson became just the second Wildcat in school history to run under four minutes in the mile, perhaps his most impressive feat on the track.
In the women’s 800 meter run semifinal, both Cats competed in heat one. Junior Jessica Ortman finished just 0.02 seconds off of her personal best to place 12th in the nation in a time of 2:06.54. Senior Lavera Morris crossed the finish just behind Ortman, clocking in at 2:07.11 to place 13th nationally.
Like Richardson, Morris concludes a stellar career as a Wildcat runner. The 800-meter specialist has attained All-America status and All-Region recognition, won SEC titles and earned academic awards during her four years at Kentucky.
In the first round of the 200 meter dash, juniors Acevedo and Gordon McKenzie finished with identical times of 21.23. Each Cat finished fourth in their respective heats. Acevedo finished 20th in the country while McKenzie placed 21st nationally.
Six Wildcats will compete on Friday at the Championships.
At 2:00 p.m. ET, freshman Danielle Sampley will be the final Wildcat to compete as she battles other multi-event athletes in the women?s heptathlon over the final two days of the Championships. Sampley will close out a sensational rookie campaign. She currently holds the UK varsity and freshman records in the heptathlon.
The Maryville, Tenn., native broke two additional outdoor freshman records this season in the long jump and the 200 meter dash ? both set during her heptathlon competition. Sampley also can claim two UK Indoor freshman records in the pentathlon and 60m hurdles as well as being part of the varsity indoor 4x400m relay squad that tied the school record.
The first 2008 UK NCAA Outdoor finalists will begin at 4:15 p.m. ET in the men?s discus. Fryman and Scott both qualified for the final Wednesday. Fryman threw 179-11 in windy conditions to place ninth while Scott finished 10th overall in the qualifying with a toss of 176-7. All qualifying throws are wiped out for the final as all 12 finalists will start with a clean slate.
Fryman will have another quick turnaround as the two-time finalist begins the men’s hammer throw final at 6:30 p.m. ET. Fryman’s hammer throw distance of 210-5 was an inch better than a pair of throwers from Missouri to claim the last at-large spot in the final.
At 8:00 p.m. ET, freshman Grant Lindsey will compete in finals of the high jump. Lindsey cleared two heights Wednesday on three attempts. The rookie is the top-ranked freshman coming into the Championships and will look to better his personal-best clearance of 7-3.25 this season.
Thomas will compete in the men?s 110 hurdle semifinal at 9:05 p.m. ET. His UK varsity record mark of 13.57 was accomplished at the Mideast Regional where he placed second overall to automatically qualify for the Championships.
Jenna Martin will be the final Cat to take the track Friday in the women?s 400 meter dash semifinal at 9:15 p.m. ET. The sophomore was the top at-large qualifier in the women’s 400m dash on Wednesday. Martin finished third in her heat crossing the line in 52.84. Her time was the fifth fastest among the 16 semifinalists.
On Friday evening, Cats fans can watch Thomas and Martin compete on CBS College Sports Television, formerly CSTV, as it broadcasts the Championships live from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. ET.
On Saturday, Big Blue fans can watch the men?s 4x400m relay team compete on national network CBS as it broadcasts running event finals live from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. ET. The relay will be the final event of the Championships.
Live results are available from the UKathletics.com homepage and the track and field schedule page.
A full recap of Wildcat performances and a preview of the next day?s events will be available after each day of competition on UKathletics.com.
Kentucky NCAA Championship Meet Participation Schedule
Women?s Heptathlon Day One ? Friday 2:00 p.m. ET
Danielle Sampley
Men?s Discus Throw Final ? Friday 4:15 p.m. ET
Rashaud Scott
Andy Fryman
Men?s Hammer Throw Final ? Friday 6:30 p.m. ET
Andy Fryman
Men?s High Jump Final ? Friday 8:00 p.m. ET
Grant Lindsey
Men?s 110 Meter Hurdles Semifinal ? Friday 9:05 p.m. ET
Mikel Thomas
Women?s 400 Meter Dash Semifinal ? Friday 9:15 p.m. ET
Jenna Martin
