May 30, 2014
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After four University of Kentucky track and field athletes booked their tickets to the 2014 NCAA Championships on Thursday night, five runners joined the championship field on Friday night at the 2014 NCAA Track and Field East Regional Championships in Jacksonville, Fla.
At Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida, Angelica Whaley, Dezerea Bryant, Keffri Neal, Kendra Harrison and Leah Nugent all moved into the NCAA Championships on Friday night by advancing past their semifinal rounds.
Harrison shined the brightest on Friday night, as she was crowned the East Regional champion in the women’s 400 meter hurdles, running a 55.90. Also advancing in the 400 meter hurdles from Kentucky was junior Leah Nugent who finished 10th overall and fourth in her heat, running a 57.11 in the semifinals.
In the semifinals of the women’s 100 meter dash, Kentucky’s Dezerea Bryant finished second in her heat and third overall in the regional, completing the race in 11.21 on Friday night. Bryant also had a solid race in the preliminaries of the women’s 200 meter dash, advancing into Saturday’s semifinals.
Angelica Whaley advanced to the NCAA Championships by finishing 12th overall in the regional with a 53.05 in the quarterfinals of the women’s 400 meter dash.
On the men’s side for the Wildcats, Keffri Neal won his heat in the 800 meter run in 1:48.64 to book his spot on the plane to Eugene. Neal, the junior from Canada, finished 12th overall.
Kendra Harrison, Leah Nugent and Kayla Parker all moved into Saturday’s semifinals in the women’s 100 meter hurdles as both Harrison (13.03) and Parker (13.16) winning their respective heats, and also Nugent advancing with a 13.37 finishing third in her heat, and 15th overall in the preliminary rounds.
Also in the preliminary round, Dezerea Bryant solidified her spot in the semifinals on Saturday night with a 23.19, winning her heat and moving on to the next round.
In the field, Kentcky had great success as well, as Madison Jacobs and Rebecca Famurewa both had great showings on Friday night in the women’s discus throw. Famurewa threw a season-best 56.24 (184-6), finishing the day fourth overall on the night. Jacobs skyrocketed up the leaderboard by finishing the day eighth with a throw of 54.41 (178-6).
The 2014 NCAA Track and Field East Regional Championships continue all day on Saturday at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., beginning with men’s discus at Noon ET. Running races will commence at 6 p.m. ET with the men’s 4×100 meter relay.
2014 NCAA Track and Field Championship – East Regional – UK Results
Semifinal Rounds
Women’s 400m Dash
Angelica Whaley – 53.05 (12th – advances to NCAA Championships)
Women’s 100m Dash
Dezerea Bryant – 11.21 (3rd – advances to NCAA Championships)
Keliah Tyson – 14.05
Women’s 400m Hurdles
Kendra Harrison – 55.90 (1st – advances to NCAA Championships)
Leah Nugent – 57.11 (10th – advances to NCAA Championships)
Men’s 800m Run
Keffri Neal – 1:48.64 (12th – advances to NCAA Championships)
Men’s 110m Hurdles
Nick Anderson – 14.05 (25th)
Preliminary Rounds
Women’s 100m Hurdles
Kendra Harrison – 13.03 (advances to regional semifinals)
Leah Nugent – 13.31 (advances to regional semifinals)
Kayla Parker – 13.16 (advances to regional semifinals)
Women’s 200m Dash
Dezerea Bryant – 23.19 (advances to regional semifinals)
Domo Booker – 23.89
Keliah Tyson – 29.71
Field Events
Women’s Pole Vault
Michelle Canterna – 3.90/12-9.5 (31st)
Women’s Discus Throw
Rebecca Famurewa – 56.24/184-6 (4th)
Madison Jacobs – 54.41/184-6 (8th)
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