May 28, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. –
The University of Kentucky track and field team will compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships this weekend at host University of Louisville’s Cardinal Park.
Twenty-two Wildcats made the trip to Louisville to vie for the chance to participate at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in two weeks at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. The Mideast Regional is one of four NCAA regional meets taking place this weekend. The top-five finishers in each regional event automatically qualify for the NCAA Championship meet.
The Kentucky men’s and women’s teams each claim 14 entries on the Mideast Regional start lists. Throwing events account for half of the 28 regional marks with multiple entries in the discus and shot put events.
Senior Rashaud Scott, the defending NCAA National Champion in men’s discus, leads the nation in the event with a top throw of 212-9. He also leads the region in the shot put with a distance of 62-2.25.
Several other Wildcat men rank among the top 10 of regional participants this weekend.
Senior Chase Madison’s discus mark of 196-7 ranks second regionally and sixth nationally. Both relay teams rank near the top of the region. The 4x400m relay squad claims the second-best time in the region (3:05.77) while the 4x100m relay team ranks sixth regionally at 39.83. Senior sprinter Jose Acevedo’s 200m dash time of 20.80 stands seventh in the region. Junior Rondel Sorrillo ranks eighth in the Mideast with a 100m dash time of 10.33. Freshman Luis Orta’s steeplechase mark of 8:52.39 comes in tenth on the regional start list.
Coming into the weekend the UK men are ranked at No. 20, one of five nationally-ranked regional squads in the latest top-25 poll. All five teams hail from the Southeastern Conference including No. 6 Arkansas, No. 8 LSU, No.10 Auburn and No. 23 Mississippi State.
On the women’s side, the Wildcats will compete against five top-25 teams, including four SEC squads. No. 3 LSU, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 10 Michigan, No. 16 Arkansas, and No. 17 Auburn will provide tough competition.
UK thrower Ashley Muffet ranks second in the regional and fourth nationally in the women’s discus with a throw of 187-8. She also ranks ninth in the region for the shot put with a mark of 53-4.25
Other Wildcat women that rank among the top 10 in their regional events include junior Kristin Smith who stands fourth in the Mideast in the hammer throw with a mark of 199-2. Senior Ashley Trimble ranks seventh in the region with a time of 13.48 in the 100m hurdles. Classmate Jessica Ortman stands ninth regionally in the 800m run with a time of 2:06.62. Senior thrower Emilee Strot’s discus mark of 171-2 ranks ninth in the Mideast.
Big Blue fans may purchase tickets at Cardinal Park. Two-day session tickets cost $20 per adult and $10 for students and seniors. Daily tickets cost $15 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Attendees are encouraged to park in the garage across from the U of L Track and Soccer Stadium on Floyd Street for $3. Additional parking for the track and field event will be in the corner lot at Fourth Street and Cardinal Avenue for $3, with a free shuttle available to and from the stadium.
Live stats of the event will be available at the beginning of Friday’s competition on UKathletics.com.
A full recap of the Cats’ performances will be available after competition each day on UKathletics.com.
Kentucky Mideast Regional Participants Competing on Friday May 29
Men’s 4x100m Relay Prelims – 1:45 p.m. ET
Jose Acevedo / Gordon McKenzie / Kwasi Obeng / Rondel Sorrillo
Women’s Hammer Throw – 2:30 p.m. ET
Kristin Smith
Men’s Shot Put – 2:30 p.m. ET
Colin Boevers
Rashaud Scott
Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles Prelims – 2:40 p.m. ET
Ashley Trimble
Men’s 100 Meter Dash Prelims – 3:40 p.m. ET
Rondel Sorrillo
Women’s 800 Meter Run Prelims – 4:40 p.m. ET
Jessica Ortman
Men’s 800 Meter Run Prelims – 5:00 p.m. ET
Stephan Smith
Women’s Long Jump – 5:00 p.m. ET
Danielle Sampley
Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles Prelims – 5:20 p.m. ET
Ashley Trimble
Women’s Discus – 5:30 p.m. ET
Mary Angell
Ashley Muffet
Emilee Strot
Men’s 200 Meter Dash Prelims – 6:20 p.m. ET
Jose Acevedo
Rondel Sorrillo
Women’s 5,000 Meter Run – 6:40 p.m. ET
Katherine Peterson
