June 13, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –
Kentucky sprinter Rondel Sorrillo finished second in the country in the men’s 200m dash to cap off a spectacular weekend for the junior at the 2009 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at host University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday.
Sorrillo finished second in the nation in the men’s 200m dash, crossing the finish line in 20.70 running into a headwind on the straightaway in lane six. He picked up eight points for the Cats.
Thursday evening in the semifinals Sorrillo crossed the finish line in 20.45, breaking his UK varsity record set two weeks ago at the Mideast Regional.
The Trinidad and Tobago native had a hand in all 15 points scored by the UK men. His eight points in the 200m final were added to his four tallies in the 100m final Friday evening and the three points he earned as the anchor leg of the sixth-place 4x100m relay team.
The UK men finished the meet in 15th place with 15 points. Texas A&M won the men’s title accumulating 48 tallies and the Aggies also won the women’s championship compiling 50 points.
“Rondel Sorrillo and our sprinters really showed up big this weekend,” UK head coach Don Weber said. “They fought through adversity this year and a lot of injuries, so I am pleased with their efforts. Obviously, I am disappointed that the throws didn’t turn out the way that we had hoped. But I give all of them a lot of credit.”
In the men’s discus final, senior Chase Madison finished ninth nationally with a top mark of 182-0. Madison advanced to the final three throws of the event final on his third attempt after fouling on his first two tries. Senior Rashaud Scott threw a top discus mark of 179-3 but did not qualify for the final three throws of the competition after fouling on his final two attempts to finish 10th in the country.
In Friday’s 100m dash final, junior Sorrillo ran the third-fastest time in UK history clocking in at 10.22 to finish fifth overall and pick up four points for the Cats. The native of Trinidad and Tobago bolted down the straightaway in lane one to record his personal-best time as a Wildcat.
Earlier on day three, the UK men’s 4x100m relay team of senior Gordon McKenzie, classmate Jose Acevedo, junior Kwasi Obeng and Sorrillo earned the first team points of the weekend for Kentucky. The Wildcats placed sixth overall with the fourth-fastest time in school history, crossing the finish in 39.27. As a result, the team picked up three team points for UK.
Several Wildcats will move on to post-season competition at the USATF Junior and Senior Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 24-27. Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the latest news on post-season awards and accomplishments.
Wildcat Scorers by Event – NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
MEN (points earned) – 15
200 Meter Dash
2. Rondel Sorrillo – 20.70 (8)
100 Meter Dash
5. Rondel Sorrillo – 10.22 (4)
4x100m Relay
6. Gordon McKenzie / Jose Acevedo / Kwasi Obeng / Rondel Sorrillo -39.27 (3)
FINAL MEN’S TOP 10 TEAM STANDINGS
1) Texas A&M 48
T2) Florida 46
T2) Florida State 46
T2) Oregon 46
5) LSU 37
6) South Carolina 33.50
7) Stanford 30
8) Arizona State 29
9) Arkansas 27
10) Southern California 26
15) KENTUCKY 15
