Jan. 21, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Dezerea Bryant was named Southeastern Conference Co-Runner of the Week alongside Arkansas’ Dominique Scott, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Bryant made one of the most memorable debuts in Kentucky track and field history last Saturday at the Kentucky Invitational, breaking two school records: one in nation-leading time and another as the No. 2 performance in the country this season.

Taking the Nutter Field House track for the first time, Bryant smashed former Olympic Bronze Medalist Passion Richardson’s 18-year-old 60m record (7.34) with a nation-leading and personal-best tying time of 7.19 seconds.

She then obliterated another UK record by crossing the 200-meter finish line in 23.04, posting the nation’s No. 2 performance in the process.

Bryant’s 200m time bettered the previous UK record of 23.34, which had been held by Michelle Brown since 1997.

Bryant also competed in the 4x400m relay, alongside Johna’ Whitaker, Leah Nugent and Angelica Whaley, finishing second to another UK team in a time of 3:44.51.

She was mentioned on the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) 2014 Women’s Preseason watch list for the Bowerman Award — collegiate track & field’s highest individual honor – earlier this year.

She is next scheduled to compete at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet. Of the 14 teams scheduled to compete, six are ranked inside the national top-25 (both men’s and women’s) including No. 3 Oregon men, No. 4 Oregon women, No. 2 Florida men, No. 3 Florida women and No. 24 Alabama women in addition to the No. 6 UK women’s team.

Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio State, Baylor, Miami (FL) and Illinois are other marquis names scheduled to traveled to Lexington, Ky.

The McCravy will take place Jan. 24-25.