USA Championships Under Way for Track and Field Program

Andrew Evans. Photo courtesy: Spencer Allen – Sports Image Wire

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By Jacob Most

June 21, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa. – Kentucky rising seniors>Andrew Evans and Kayla Parker completed their impressive 2013 championship seasons at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium on Friday.

Andrew Evans finished the discus 15th overall with a top throw 55.24 meters /181 feet 3 inches outside the top 8 marks, which made the final.

Kayla Parker finished 25th in the 100m hurdles first round with a time of 13.48w (+2.1) as she did not advance to the semifinal. She completes a breakout junior season, which saw her achieve All-America status after tying the all-conditions school-record 100h time 13.16.

Kentucky alumus Chase Madison placed fifth in the #USAoutdoors men’s discus final with a top mark 55.24m/181’3″, which came on his fifth attempt.

The top three finishers in each event at the USA Outdoor Championships that have met the “A” qualifying standard in their respective events will U.S. at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow this summer.

The 2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will feature live television coverage on the last three days of the competition. Saturday’s action will be broadcast on Universal Sports from 4-5 p.m. and NBC Sports Network from 5-7 p.m. Sunday’s finale will air on Universal Sports from 2-3 p.m., NBC Sports Network from 3-4 p.m. and NBC from 4-6 p.m.

USA Track & Field will also provide live streaming video at www.usatf.tv for selected events Saturday (7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Sunday (8 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Four members of the UK’s 2013 team – recent graduate Keith Hayes (110-meter hurdles), Parker (100-meter hurdles) and Evans (discus) as well as rising sophomore Rebecca Famurewa (discus) – are competing on the Drake University campus.

Hayes is coming off a fourth-place and First-Team All-America performance at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago where he set the all-conditions UK record 13.32 in the 110m hurdles. His prelim heat, which goes off at 4:10 p.m., will feature 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Jason Richardson in an overall field highlighted by Olympic Gold Medalist and World-Record Holder Aries Merritt.

Rebecca Famurewa, who was SEC Bronze Medalist and honorable mention All-America in 2013, will also make her debut appearance at the USA Championships

Four UK alumni – Sharif Webb (800m) Madison (discus), Andy Fryman (hammer) and Kristen Smith (Hammer) – will also compete inside Drake Stadium on Sunday.

Webb, the UK school-record holder in the event, placed 24th in the 800m first round with a time of 1:50.10.

Also in the USA Championship field was current staff member and former All-American at Wisconsin Ann Detmer. The UK track and field graduate assistant ran 10:35.02 for 26th overall in the 3,000m steeplechase first round.

Other Wildcats competing this weekend include 2010 NCAA 200 Meters Champion Rondel Sorrillo and Mikel Thomas at the Trinidad and Tobago Championships.

Sorrillo, a two-time Olympian, ran 10.52 to make the 100m final, which will go off on Saturday. Thomas, who has also been at the last two Olympic Games, will compete in the 110-meter hurdles final on Saturday.

2012 Olympian, Two-time Canadian Champion and two-time All-American Jenna Martin was the No. 2 qualifier into the the Canadian Championship 400 meters final with a time of 53.7.

USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (ALL TIMES EASTERN)

USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (ALL TIMES EASTERN)