UKTF Set for Full Team Road Test

BLACKSBURG, Va. – For the first and only time this indoor season
the entire Kentucky track and field teams will compete on the road in the same
place.

In what has become an annual team chemistry building exercise, Kentucky will
travel to Virginia Tech’s  Doc Hale Elite
Meet for competition inside Rector Field House on Friday and
Saturday.

After the entire team competed at two home meets in January, this weekend’s
meet will provide the team with a rare in collegiate track and field
opportunity for the entire team to compete on the road in the same place during
the regular season.

For much of the year, different athletes go to different meets in search of
competitive fields in their respective events.

For example next week many of UK’s top sprinters and jumpers are scheduled to
travel to Arkansas’ Tyson Invitational while top distance runners are expected
to run on the oversized track at the Iowa State Classic.

And while this weekend’s competition will likely bring the team closer together
as road trips notoriously do, the more definable goals of rounding into shape
as the championship portion of the season edges nearer and achieving NCAA
Championship qualifier marks will also be of paramount importance.

To that end, many Wildcats have begun the season in strong form.

From the No. 12 UK women’s team, Ariah Graham continues to lead the world in
the rarely-run 500-meter dash, with a time from Dec., while she ranks sixth
nationally in the 800m with a 2:04.64.

Sha’Keela Saunders ranks fourth nationally in the long jump and fifth in the
triple jump.

On the men’s side, Tim Duckworth ranks sixth in the nation in the heptathlon
with his school-record score: 5695, recorded two weeks ago at the McCravy.

Jacob Thomson leads the SEC in the 3k with a converted time of 7:59.50, which
he recorded last Saturday at the Camel City Invitational.

—

The most up-to-date coverage of the UK track and field program is available
via @KentuckyTrack handles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.