May 26, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Seniors Jenna Martin and Sharif Webb kicked it into another gear in their respective races Thursday to claim first-place honors and qualify for the quarterfinals. On a cold, damp day at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind., Martin blew away the competition in the sixth heat of the 400-meter dash, and Webb came from behind to win the fifth heat of the 800m run.
Martin won the sixth heat of the women’s 400-meter dash in convincing fashion with a time of 53.40 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET. Martin’s first round time was the third fastest of the 48 student athletes competing in the event.
Webb paced himself by staying in the middle of the pack throughout the 800m run before making his move on the final 100m to finish with a time of 1:50.86 and earn a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals. Webb’s time was the sixth fastest in the event.
Junior Keith Hayes qualified for the quarterfinals of the men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 51.81. Hayes finished with the ninth-fastest time in the first round and will compete in the quarterfinals at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. The junior will also be competing in the 110m hurdles on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
Senior Keenan Hall narrowly missed out on the finals in the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.34m/24-01.00. Hall finished 17th in the event, with the top 16 advancing to take three more jumps at a chance to go to nationals. The senior will compete in the men’s triple jump on Friday, which he holds the school record in, at 6:00 p.m.
In the women’s long jump qualifier, junior Precious Nwokey recorded a mark of 5.44m/17-10.25 on her final leap, falling short of the finals. Nwokey will compete in two other events on Friday, beginning with the high jump at 1:00 p.m., followed by the 100m hurdles at 4:30 p.m. The junior from Houston ranks 16th in the nation in the heptathlon with a score of 5,385 and holds the UK record in the event at 5,543.
In her first postseason appearance, freshman Allison Peare gained valuable experience in the women’s 800m run. Peare, a native of North Canton, Ohio, finished the half-mile race with a time of 2:13.27.
The Wildcats will compete again Friday with field events beginning at 1 p.m., followed by track events at 4:30. Kentucky will compete in the women’s shot put, women’s high jump, men’s triple jump, women’s 100m hurdles, men’s 110m hurdles, men’s and women’s 400m dash, men’s and women’s 800m run, women’s 200m dash and men’s 3,000m steeplechase. The 2011 NCAA East Preliminary Round will close out Saturday.
For continuous updates, follow the Kentucky track and field team on Twitter @Kentuckytrack and on UKathletics.com.
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Round
Thursday, May 26
Women’s Long Jump Qualifying – 1:00 p.m.
44. Precious Nwokey – 5.44m/17-10.25
Men’s Long Jump Qualifying – 6:00 p.m.
17. Keenan Hall – 7.34m/24-01.00
Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying – 6:00 p.m.
24. Samantha Stenzel – 3.70m/12-01.50
NH. Shelby Kennard
Men’s 400m Hurdles First Round – 4:00 p.m.
9. Keith Hayes – 51.81
Women’s 400m Dash First Round – 6:30 p.m.
3. Jenna Martin – 53.40
Women’s 800m Run First Round – 7:30 p.m.
42. Allison Peare – 2:13.27
Men’s 800m Run First Round – 8:00 p.m.
6. Sharif Webb 1:50.86
Friday, May 27
Field Events
1:00 p.m. – W Shot Put – Mary Angell
1:00 p.m. – W High Jump – Precious Nwokey, Terri-Ann Grant
6:00 p.m. – M Triple Jump – Keenan Hall, Steve Crouse, David Banks
Track Events
4:30 p.m. – W 100m Hurdles First Round – Precious Nwokey
5:00 p.m. – M 110m Hurdles First Round – Keith Hayes, Darryl Bradshaw
5:30 p.m. – W 400m Dash Quarterfinal – Jenna Martin
6:45 p.m. – M 800m Run Quarterfinal – Sharif Webb
7:15 p.m. – M 400m Hurdles Quarterfinal – Keith Hayes
7:30 p.m. – W 200m Dash First Round – Jazmyn Shorter
9:10 p.m. – M 3,000m Steeplechase Quarterfinal – Luis Orta
Saturday, May 28
Field Events
11:00 a.m. – W Discus – Mary Angell
5:00 p.m. – M Discus – Colin Boevers
Track Events
7:05 p.m. – W 100m Hurdles Quarterfinal – Precious Nwokey
7:20 p.m. – M 110m Hurdles Quarterfinal – Keith Hayes
7:35 p.m. – W 200m Dash Quarterfinal – Jazmyn Shorter
8:05 p.m. – W 5,000m Run Semifinal– Cally Macumber
9:25 p.m. – W 4x400m Relay Quarterfinal
