PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago ? University of Kentucky hurdler Mikel Thomas won a gold medal by taking the men?s 110m hurdles title during the Sagicor/NAAA National Senior Open Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad last weekend. Thomas, a Trinidad and Tobago native, also took home a silver medal by placing second in the 400m hurdles.
The UK varsity record holder in the 110m hurdles ran 13.96 to clinch the gold over his countrymen on Saturday. In addition to his win, Thomas must make the Olympic ?A? standard cut of 13.55 to qualify to compete for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
On day two of the Championships, the UK junior finished second in the 400m hurdles crossing the finish in 51.40. The mark is a personal record for Thomas and ranks third all-time at UK in the event.
?There was a bit of confusion about what day each hurdle event was going to be run,? UK assistant coach for sprints and hurdles Erin Thomas said. ?He had only about 15 minutes before the race to warm up for the 110 hurdles and we usually workout 45 minutes beforehand. Mikel said he was slow out of the blocks, which is unusual for him, and that he hit a few hurdles but pulled away at the end.
?In the 400m hurdles he ran a personal-best mark to finish second,? said Tucker. ?So it was a meet full of mixed emotions, but when you come out first and second at any championship meet you have to feel good about it.?
Thomas will move on to compete at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships July 3-6 in Cali, Colombia for his next chance to beat the Olympic standard. Over the next two weeks, several other Wildcats will compete at Olympic Trials and other meets to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in August.
Five Wildcats, including UK assistant coach for throws Doug Reynolds, have qualified and officially declared to compete at the United States Track and Field Olympic Trials held June 27 ? July 6 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Freshman Grant Lindsey (high jump) will join three juniors Chase Madison (discus), Rashaud Scott (discus) and Ashley Muffet (shot put) out west. Reynolds will join two of his pupils in the men?s discus competition.
Sprinter Jenna Martin will compete in the Olympic Trials in her native Canada July 3?6 in Windsor, Ontario. The sophomore will compete in the 400m dash; Martin comes in with the fourth-best outdoor mark in the event.
Junior Jose Acevedo has already qualified for the 2008 Olympics as a sprinter for his native Venezuela.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for further track and field updates.
