May 27, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Seniors Keenan Hall, Jenna Martin and Sharif Webb were not affected by the unseasonably cold weather at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind., and posted marks in their respective events at the East Preliminary Round that have put them into the NCAA Division I national championship field in Des Moines, Iowa.
Martin, a native of Nova Scotia, Canada, turned in two very impressive races at the East preliminary. One day after cruising to an event-best time of 53.40 in the women’s 400m dash, Martin again posted the best time in the 400m dash, crossing the finish line with a season-best mark of 52.30.
Webb also punched his ticket to Des Moines to compete in the national championships when he finished with the 11th-fastest time in the men’s 800m run, crossing the finish line at 1:49.28. Webb, a Paramus, N.J., native, finished just outside of the top three in his heat, but had the second fastest time among all competitors who did not finish in the top three in their respective heats, and thus earned his spot in the championships.
Hall was the third Wildcat to secure a spot at nationals with a 12th-place performance in the men’s triple jump. The senior finished with a long jump of 15.52m/50-11.00 which claim the final qualifying spot. Junior Steve Crouse and senior David Banks also competed in the triple jump with Crouse making the finals but could not improve his mark and finished 15th overall at 15.18m/49-09.75.
The Wildcats were represented very well in the men’s 110m hurdles with sophomore Darryl Bradshaw and junior Keith Hayes earning spots in Saturday’s quarterfinals competition with a spot in the NCAA championship field on the line. Bradshaw recorded the ninth-fastest time in the event with a mark of 14.16, while Bradshaw posted a time of 13.82, tops in the NCAA Division I East Preliminary. Hayes, a Wichita, Kan., native, also competed in the men’s 400m hurdles, finishing with a time of 59.99.
Junior Terri-Ann Grant finished tied for 13th in the women’s high jump, putting her one spot out of the NCAA-qualifying 12th position. Grant cleared a height of 1.78m/5-10.00, her highest mark while at Kentucky. The junior’s mark is also tied for third all-time on UK’s high jump list with Victoria Dunlap, who set the mark in 2008.
In the women’s shot put, senior Mary Angell advanced to the final qualifying round of the East preliminary, but fell just outside of the top-12 qualifying mark with a throw of 15.60m/51-02.25 to close out the event in 15th place.
Kentucky’s top runner in the women’s 100m hurdles, junior Precious Nwokey, finished with a time of 14.03 on Friday. Nwokey has posted numerous results in 2011 that place her among the program’s best, including the sixth-best mark in the long jump (19-10.75), the fifth-best mark in the high jump (5-09.25), and was a member of the Wildcats third-fastest time ever in the 1,600m relay (3:36.90).
The 2011 NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round will conclude Saturday with a spot in the NCAA championship field on the line for each event. Representing the Wildcats in the field events will be Angell in the women’s discus and senior Colin Boevers in the men’s discus, the two-time defending Southeastern Conference champion. On the track, Hayes and Bradshaw will compete in the men’s 110m hurdles, sophomore Cally Macumber will race in the women’s 5,000m run and Martin, Jazmyn Shorter, Shiara Robinson and Nwokey will go for the Cats in the women’s 4x400m relay.
For continuous updates, follow the Kentucky track and field team on Twitter @Kentuckytrack and on UKathletics.com.
NCAA Outdoor Championships Qualifiers
Women
Jenna Martin – 400m Dash
Men
Keenan Hall – Triple Jump
Sharif Webb – 800m Dash
Friday, May 27 Results
Women’s Shot Put – 1:00 p.m.
15. Mary Angell – 15.60m/51-02.25
Women’s High Jump – 1:00 p.m.
T13. Terri-Ann Grant – 1.78m/5-10.00
NH. Precious Nwokey
Men’s Triple Jump – 6:00 p.m.
12. Keenan Hall – 15.52m/50-11.00
15. Steve Crouse – 15.18m/49-09.75
19. David Banks – 15.10/49-06.50
Women’s 100m Hurdles First Round – 4:30 p.m.
35. Precious Nwokey – 14.03
Men’s 110m Hurdles First Round – 5:00 p.m.
1. Keith Hayes – 13.82
9. Darryl Bradshaw – 14.16
Women’s 400m Dash Quarterfinal – 5:30 p.m.
1. Jenna Martin – 52.30
Men’s 800m Run Quarterfinal – 6:45 p.m.
11. Sharif Webb – 1:49.28
Men’s 400m Hurdles Quarterfinal – 7:15 p.m.
24. Keith Hayes – 59.99
Women’s 200m Dash First Round – 7:30 p.m.
41. Jazmyn Shorter – 24.62
Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase Quarterfinal – 9:10 p.m.
27. Luis Orta – 9:02.51
Saturday, May 28
Field Events
11:00 a.m. – W Discus – Mary Angell
5:00 p.m. – M Discus – Colin Boevers
Track Events
7:20 p.m. – M 110m Hurdles Quarterfinal – Darryl, Bradshaw, Keith Hayes
8:05 p.m. – W 5,000m Run Semifinal– Cally Macumber
9:25 p.m. – W 4x400m Relay Quarterfinal
