By Jacob Most
Dec. 7, 2012 –
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sprinter Morganne Phillips broke a 25-year-old Gladstien Fieldhouse record to help kick off the University of Kentucky track and field team’s indoor season in spectacular fashion on Friday.
The teams’ hard work under first-year head coach Edrick Floreal’s staff was on full display for much of the evening at the Hoosier Open on the Indiana University campus.
Phillips’ record-setting performance was a highlight. Her time of 37.70 in the 300 meters broke the previous mark of 37.93, which had stood since Feb. 7, 1987. Phillips’ time also stands as the fastest in the nation at 300m so far this season.
In all, nine Wildcats won individual events on Friday, giving the Wildcats great confidence to take into the New Year. Twenty-three competitors finished in the top three of their events as further evidence that the Wildcats are adjusting well to the new coaching staff.
Floreal was happy with his teams’ performances, but he was also quick to point out that the night’s results were just the beginning of a long and challenging season.
“Tonight was a good start,” Floreal said. “We had lots of PRs and even broke one facility record, which stood for 25 years. You can see people beginning to believe in their abilities. That’s what I would call a good start.”
Bradley Szypka and Isiah Kent took the top two spots respectively in the shot put. Szypka’s mark of 18.29m/60-00.25 currently leads the nation, and Kent owns the third best mark in America himself at 18.05m/59-02.75.
Keffri Neal vanquished the field in the 1,000m to win with a time of 2:25.97, which currently stands as the best time in the country.
The Kentucky men went 1-2-3 in the 60m hurdles final, as Keith Hayes won with a time of 7.82, Darryl Bradshaw took second (8.06) and Brandon Bagley (8:10) secured the podium sweep. Hayes’ performance was second-best in the nation in the event this season.
Terence Boyd’s winning jump of 6.95m/22-09.75 gave him the top spot in the long jump.
In the men’s 300m, Hayes won with a time of 34.73 and he was followed by Ben Mason (35.14) in second-place.
Kayla Parker claimed the 60m hurdles final with a time of 8.43 to provide another highpoint for the Wildcat women.
Andrew Evans, a 2012 outdoor All-American, won the weight throw with a top mark of 18.03m/59-02.00.
While Phillips’ performance in the 300m stole the show, the Wildcats filled out each of the top six spots in the same event final.
Three Wildcats hold the America’s best performance for their events this season following Friday’s competition.
UPDATE: Dec. 8, 2012 –
Daniel Buckles wrapped up the meet on Saturday with a strong effort in the pentathlon, winning the shot put (11.78m/38-07.75) to add yet another highlight to the Wildcats’ encouraging weekend.
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