UKTF Volunteer Coaches, Alumni Shine At USATF Indoor Championships

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Five members of the Kentucky track & field program, two volunteer coaches and three alumni, all earned medals while competing at the USATF Indoor Championships this week.

Two of the five medals earned were gold medals as UKTF swept the men’s and women’s 400-meter indoor championships through alumnus Alexis Holmes and Brian Faust on Saturday.

Holmes ran the event with ease pulling away from challenger Talitha Diggs on the first lap. She crossed the line in 50.34 setting a new meet record and personal best to book her ticket to the World Athletics Indoor Championships next month.

Holmes won’t be alone in Glasgow as recent graduate Brian Faust also won but in a more challenging way. The Atlanta native sat in third going into the final turn in his 400-meter championship but as he neared the finish line, he impressively propelled his way to the front, passing two runners to steal the championship away from challenger Jacory Patterson. Faust set a new personal best of 45.47 to win narrowly over Patterson’s 45.48.

UKTF also saw three bronze medals at the USATF Indoor Championships coming from alumnus Daniel Roberts in the men’s 60-meter hurdles and volunteer coaches Masai Russell in the women’s 60-meter hurdles and Ronnie Baker in the 60-meter dash.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships will take place on March 1-3 in Glasgow, Scotland.

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