May 26, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
Senior Kentucky thrower Ashley Muffet was named Women’s Co-Field Athlete of the Year, and three other Wildcats were recognized by the Southeastern Conference as members of All-SEC Outdoor Track Teams announced by the league office in Birmingham, Ala., Monday.
The North Canton, Ohio, native totaled 21 points to win the Women’s SEC Commissioner’s trophy outright this season. Muffet won the women’s discus title on day three to earn All-SEC First Team honors. She recorded the top mark on her first throw from the ring measuring 182-0 and held off the competition for the title. Muffet became the first women’s throwing event conference outdoor champion at Kentucky. Additionally, she became the first UK women’s outdoor SEC champion in any event since former Wildcat Janet Crawford claimed the high jump title in 2002. The discus title was the second conference crown for Muffet after claiming the SEC Indoor shot put title in 2007.
The veteran thrower began competition on day two throwing a personal-best mark of 192-1 in the women’s hammer to place third overall. Muffet concluded her dominating weekend on day four in the shot put. After her first throw of the final measured 52-3.75, she vaulted into fourth place. Muffet notched 21 of Kentucky’s 56 points on the weekend.
UK senior Rashaud Scott, the defending NCAA National Champion in men’s discus, earned All-SEC First Team honors after winning the conference discus title. His throw of 194-4 topped the competition by over 11 feet. The conference crown is Scott’s first of his career to go along with his 2008 Outdoor NCAA and Mideast Regional discus championships. Scott also earned second-team honors in the men’s shot put with a personal-best throw of 62-02.25 to place second overall.
First-year runner Luis Orta clinched All-SEC Second Team honors as well as All-Freshman Team accolades after he seconds crossed the finish line in 8:52.39 to place second overall. Orta smashed his men’s 3,000m steeplechase freshman record at UK by over six seconds, marking the third time this season he set the standard.
Multi-athlete Precious Nwokey also claimed All-Freshman Team honors from the SEC after posting the top finish by a first-year athlete in the women’s heptathlon. She recorded a personal-best heptathlon point total of 4,833 to finish eighth overall in the event and move into fifth place all-time at UK. Aided by a personal-best 800m time of 2:18.84 to finish second in the final event, Nwokey also notched a personal-best javelin throw to move into the final scoring position.
Wildcats with NCAA regional-qualifying marks will compete this weekend at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Louisville, Ky., hosted by the University of Louisville May 29-30.
Kentucky’s 2009 SEC Outdoor Track All-SEC Team Members
Women’s First Team
Ashley Muffet – Discus
Men’s First Team
Rashaud Scott – Discus
Men’s Second Team
Luis Orta – Steeplechase
Rashaud Scott – Shot Put
Men’s Freshman Team
Luis Orta – Steeplechase
Women’s Freshman Team
Precious Nwokey – Heptathlon
