Ekholm, Steiner Win Events Friday at Razorback Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.. – Kentucky track and field freshman standout Abby Steiner won the 200-meter dash in a fantastic early-season time of 22.97 and Ellen Ekholm tied the indoor school record to win the high jump as headlines to the Wildcats’ Friday at the televised Razorback Invitational.
 
Steiner and Ekholm’s 10 points apiece led the way for the No. 8-ranked UK women’s team, which is in second place with seven of 17 events scored. Arkansas – ranked No. 1 in this week’s USTFCCCA computer rankings – leads with 59.5 points, while Oregon is in third place with 38 points, and Kansas State is fourth with 36 points.

UK is in seventh place in the men’s team standings with six of 17 events scored.

Men’s team Friday report
Matthew Peare was the UK men’s team’s top scorer, taking second place in the men’s pole vault to LSU’s freshman reigning European Champion Mondo Duplantis. Peare cleared 16’1.25″/4.91m to score eight points.
 
Dwight St. Hillaire placed third to score six points in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.13. Daniel Roberts maintained his career form, running a .01 PB 21.42. to place 11th.
 
Freshman Jacob Smith appeared to run 21.11, but was later disqualified apparently for too many consecutive steps inside the lane line.
 
Women’s team Friday report
Steiner broke 23 second indoors for the first time in her young career, running the No. 4 time on the UK indoor all-time performers’ list. Kianna Gray complimented Steiner’s win with a three-point sixth-place time of 23.55.
 
UK’s two women’s high jumpers both cleared personal best heights. Ellen Ekholm won with a PB-tying 6’0″/1.83m. She also tied Raina Turner’s 23-year-old school record.
 
Ekholm had never cleared that height indoors and equaled the absolute PB she set outdoors at Arkansas last spring. Carly Hinkle set a new PB to place second, clearing 5’10.75″/1.80m to move to No. 6 on the UK all-time list.

Molly Leppelmeier shattered her PB to place fourth and score five points in the weight throw. The sophomore transfer reached a mark of 62’4.5″/19.01m more than two feet past her prior best.
 
Tatiana Aholou scored five points in the women’s long jump with a fourth-place mark of 19’2.75″/5.86m.
 
Meet primer
The Kentucky track and field teams are competing among 10 of the best teams in the country – including nine ranked (men’s and women’s) teams – this weekend at the Razorback Invitational.
 
The meet is running Friday and Saturday at the the host site for the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships next month.
 
Saturday’s live television window on the SEC network will begin at 2:03 p.m.ET with the women’s 400m invitational.

The Wildcats will host their last indoor home meet next weekend – the Rod McCravy Memorial.
 

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