Jan. 29, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The University of Kentucky track and field team takes its first road trip this weekend when the Wildcats compete in the Penn State National Invitational at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track, Friday and Saturday.
The Invitational begins Friday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. ET with running events and field events commencing an hour later. On Saturday, running competition resumes at 10:00 a.m. before field events begin at 11:00 a.m.
The Kentucky men are ranked 11th in the preseason poll released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). No. 21 Georgetown is the other ranked team in the men’s field.
The Wildcat men posted six NCAA provisional marks last time out at the Kentucky Invitational and all half-dozen stand nationally two weeks later.
The UK 4x400m team consisting of junior Kwasi Obeng, freshman Justin Austin, and seniors Jose Acevedo and Mikel Thomas posted a time of 3:09.6 that ranks fifth nationally. Thomas also ranks sixth in the country with a time of 7.83 in the 60m hurdles. Relay teammate Acevedo’s 400m time of 47.16 ranks ninth in the country while Austin claims the 10th-best time in the nation in the 60m dash, clocking in at 6.71.
Rashaud Scott owns two top-15 marks nationally. The senior’s shot put throw of 59-10.25 is seventh nationwide while his weight-throw distance of 58-11.5 ranks 15th in the NCAA.
On the women’s side, the Cats are 22nd in the USTFCCCA poll. This weekend’s competition is strong with four ranked teams joining the Cats: No. 4 Tennessee, No. 7 Virginia Tech, No. 11 Arkansas, and the host Nittany Lions at No. 14.
At the Kentucky Invitational, junior Kristin Smith threw a distance of 58-11.5, a few inches shy of her personal best throw that ranks second all-time at UK. Throws teammate Heather Smith notched a personal record, reaching the 57-3.75 mark – good for seventh all-time in the UK record books. Newcomer Mary Angell posted the sixth-best shot put mark in UK history, throwing a distance of 47-7.25. Middle distance runner Jessica Ortman posted two top-three times at the Invitational. Ortman finished second in the mile run clocking in a 4:48.25. The senior added a third-place finish in the 800m run crossing the finish in 2:11.58.
Click on UKathletics.com for the latest results from the Penn State National this weekend.
