Peare Named SEC Runner of the Week, Women Ranked No. 5
By Jacob Most
March 25, 2014 –
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Allison Peare was named Southeastern Conference Runner of the Week after posting a conference-leading 1,500-meter time last weekend, the league office announced on Tuesday.
Peare ran 4:23.03 to win the women’s 1,500m at the Arizona State Baldy Castillo Invitational.
She defeated, among others, her teammate and 2013 SEC 5K and 10K champion Chelsea Oswald.
The time leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally, having come less than a week after twice running the mile in as many days at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
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Women’s Team Ranked Preseason No. 5
The UK women’s team earned its highest-ever ranking in Tuesday’s United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) outdoor preseason computer rankings.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 5 to start the season. The UK women’s team’s previous best outdoor ranking all-time was No. 24 midway through the 2013 season.
The UK men’s team begins the season ranked No. 37 this season, which is the team’s highest ranking since checking in at No. 35 last season although the Wildcats finished the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships in 18th place.
Early Conference Leaders
Kentucky had a few other athletes post conference-leading marks at last weekend’s Castillo Invitational.
Kayla Parker ran the second-fastest 100m hurdles time in the country, 13.23.
Sha’Keela Saunders broke the UK freshman record, with a long jump mark of 6.27m/20-7 which ranks second in the SEC, third in the country, but first nationally amongst freshmen.
Matt Hillenbrand currently leads the SEC and ranks second in the nation at 1,500m with a personal-best 3:43.90 having come in a win at the Castillo Invitational just a week after he ran two mile races at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Keffri Neal was second in the same race with a time of 3:45.22, which ranks second in the conference and fifth nationally.
Keilah Tyson and Dominque Booker are currently ranked fifth and 10th in the nation at 200m respectively.
Tyson became the second-fastest outdoor 200m performer in school history, running 23.55 to win that event. Booker was second in 23.69 to become the No. 4 UK 200m performer all-time.
The Week Ahead
The Wildcats will break up this weekend with select sprinters and throwers traveling to the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, while a larger group composed of jumpers, distance runners, sprinters and more inexperienced throwers will compete at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in Cincinnati.
