Feb. 12, 2009
AMES, Iowa – The University of Kentucky track and field teams travel north this weekend to compete against athletes from over 80 institutions on the Lied Recreation Athletic Facility track at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.
Competition begins Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET with select field events and continues Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET. Live stats will be available at UKathletics.com.
The Kentucky men’s team moved up three spots this week to No. 18 in the country after a strong showing at the McCravy Memorial Meet. Six ranked teams will be on-hand this weekend besides the Cats including No. 6 Florida, No. 15 Northern Iowa, No. 19 Oklahoma, No. 20 Nebraska, No. 22 Arizona and No. 25 Missouri. The only other SEC men’s team in Ames is Auburn.
This week, UK’s claims several marks ranking among the top in the country.
Seniors Chase Madison and Rashaud Scott both rank nationally in the shot put. Madison’s distance of 61-7.75 is fifth nationwide while Scott’s shot put throw of 59-10.25 is 11th. Scott also ranks in the weight-throw with the 10th-best mark of 67-00.75.
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 seventh nationally.
Thomas also ranks in a tie for eighth in the country with a time of 7.79 in the 60m hurdles. Acevedo claims two top-20 times. His 400m dash time of 47.16 ranks 15th in the country while his 200m time ranks 19th in NCAA competition at 21.22.
In the 60m dash, senior Gordon McKenzie ranks in a tie for 12th nationally at 6.68 while Austin ranks in a deadlock for 20th in the country with a time of 6.71.
On the women’s side, the Cats are joined by four ranked squads, No.12 Arizona, No.17 Florida, No. 20 Nebraska, No. 24 Auburn as well as SEC foe Vanderbilt.
UK senior Ashley Trimble owns the Wildcats’ first provisional mark of the season in the pentathlon. Trimble’s point total of 3,989 ranks ninth in the nation and tops the SEC.
Last weekend at the McCravy, UK women’s 4x400m relay ran their best time of the season, clocking in at 3:42.43. The Wildcat team of sophomore Jazmyn Shorter, Trimble, sophomore Brittany Cabbler and freshman Precious Nwokey placed third overall.
In the women’s shot put, sophomore Jennifer Svoboda led the throws contingent with a season-best toss of 49-8.50 to finish fourth. Classmate Mary Angell placed two spots behind in sixth with her personal-best throw as a Wildcat. Angell stretched the tape to 49-0.25 to move up to seventh all-time in the UK annals. Senior Emilee Strot took home seventh place with a season-best distance of 48-11.
Additionally, junior Heather Smith earned her second personal-best mark of the year in the weight throw. Smith threw a fifth-place distance of 58-09.25 to move up one spot on UK’s all-time record list to sixth.
Be sure to check out live stats both Friday and Saturday available at UKathletics.com with recaps following the conclusion of each day’s action.
