May 24, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky track and field team boasts 19 athletes who have qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round held this weekend, May 27-29 at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N. C.

The Kentucky track and field team qualifies 19 athletes across the events’ board for the first round of NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship competition.

The 2010 outdoor season emerges with a new format for NCAA Championship qualification. As opposed to previous years when regional competition consisted of four regional qualifiers across the nation, the format is now narrowed to two preliminary rounds in an east and west region.

Eight UK athletes enter the field as one of the top 48 in running events for the region.  Senior Rondel Sorrillo an SEC 200m dash champion qualifies in both the men’s 100 meter and 200m dash. The other men’s qualifiers include junior Sharif Webb in the 800m run along with junior Josh Nadzam and Jeremy Zagorski in the 1,500m run.

The women’s runners include sophomore Precious Nwokey in the 100 hurdles, junior Jazmyn Shorter and senior Jenna Martin in the 400m dash and freshman Cally Macumber in the 5,000m run.

The men’s 4x100m relay and women’s 4x400m relay teams will also have the chance to advance to the championships with their preliminary qualifying marks.

Field event qualifiers include men’s thrower Colin Boever in the discus throw and junior David Banks in the triple jump.

Women’s field event qualifiers include Seniors Kristen Smith in the hammer throw and Ashley Muffet in the shot put and discus. Junior Mary Angell qualifies in the discus throw, while Jennifer Svoboda makes the mark in the shot put. Sophomores Samantha Stenzel and Precious Nwokey wrap up the list of qualifiers. Stenzel will compete in the women’s pole vault and Nwokey in the high jump.

For all of your Kentucky track and field news and NCAA East Preliminary Round information visit UKathletics.com.