Stenzel Shatters School Record in Women’s Pole Vault

Feb. 12, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky track and field team faced the toughest competition of the season Friday as split squads participated at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., and Husky Classic in Seattle.

The Tyson Invitational, hosted by the University of Arkansas, has the deepest field of the season with 62 teams competing, 42 collegiate and 20 non-collegiate. Overall, 17 men’s and 13 women’s teams are ranked in the top 25, according to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Association’s NCAA Division I National Team Rankings, eight of which are in the top-10 on the men’s side.

A very strong Southeastern Conference boasts seven men’s and six women’s teams in the USTFCCCA top-25 rankings, leading all other conferences in the country. Closely behind are the Big XII and Pac 10, who each have six. All ranked teams from the SEC were in competition Friday except Tennessee, making Friday’s events a great learning experience heading into the conference championships held at the same venue on Feb. 26-28.

Samantha Stenzel, UK’s only pole vaulter competing in this weekend’s event, flourished as she put up the best mark in school history. Stenzel soared past her personal best when she cleared 12-04.00 on her first attempt. After failing on her first two attempts at 12-10.00 she slipped by breaking the school record of 12-06.25 set in 2008 by teammate, Mary Chris Durham. Coming into Friday’s competition Stenzel’s previous personal best was 12-01.50, set earlier this season at the Kentucky Invitational on Jan. 15.

“Samantha had a great breakout performance. She needed this to understand how much she is improving and it is great motivation heading into the SEC Championships,” Coach JamesThomas said.

In Seattle, the Cats ran in two events Friday evening, the men’s and women’s 5,000 meter run. Lindsey Petri, in her first 5,000m run of the year placed 15th with a time of 17:35.29. On the men’s side, with a season best time of 14:32.37, Matt Sonnenfeldt finished with a solid fifth place showing to wrap up action for the night.

UK will be back in action on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark., with field events beginning at noon CST and running events at 12:40 p.m. CST. In Seattle, running events will begin at 8 a.m. PST and field events at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Follow live results for Tyson Invitational at Flashresults.com and for the Husky Classic at Gohuskies.com.

Tyson Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark. – February 12-13, 2010)

Womens Pole Vault: (AUTO: 13-11.75 ; PROV: 13-01.50)

5. Samantha Stenzel – 12-10.00

Mens Long Jump: (AUTO: 25-09.25; PROV: 24-07.25)

9. David Banks – 22-09.25

Mens Long Jump Invite: (AUTO: 25-09.25; PROV: 24-07.25)

15. Keenon Hall – 23-07.50

Womens 400m Dash: (AUTO: 52.40; PROV: 54.40)

22. Jenna Martin – 54.8242. Jazmyn Shorter – 56.0465. Brittany Cabbler – 57.5078. Shiara Robinson – 58.18

Mens 400m Dash: (AUTO: 46.15; PROV: 47.25)

29. Justin Austin – 47.9432. Kwasi Obeng – 48.0169. Ben Mason – 50.07