4 Wildcats Move on to NCAA Track & Field East Prelims Day One

Four Wildcats advanced on to the NCAA National Championships by virtue of the top-12 finishes at the NCAA East Preliminary Championship on Thursday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium.
Kentucky had 10 places (qualified the aforementioned four spots – two men, two women) in the NCAA Championships field available on Thursday. Eight Wildcats advanced from preliminary races into quarterfinals, which will go off on Saturday.
Beckie Famurewa was the top qualifier to move on to Eugene in the hammer throw from the East Prelims. She turned in an impressive field series improving on each of her three throws with a final mark at 207’2”/63.14m
Freshman Sarah Blake was the first Wildcat to clinch her spot in Eugene. She unleashed an eight-feet, two-inch PR of 163’8″/49.90m to place fourth in the javelin. The mark is a new school record and freshman record with the implement that’s been in use since 1985.
Jacob Thomson cruised on to Eugene in a typically tactical 10k. The Southeastern Conference 5k and 10k Champion’s time was 30:03.72 to place third.
Fred Dorsey placed seventh in the long jump. His mark of 24’10.5”/7.58m earned his spot on the plane to Oregon.
Thursday advancers from prelims into quarterfinals
Daje Pugh and Kiah Seymour both earned automatic qualifying places in the 400m hurdles quarterfinal.
Pugh ran a PR time of 57.68Q to place third in heat one. Seymour ran 57.93 to place second in heat five.
The top-three finishers in nine-lane heats advanced automatically, and the next six fastest times advanced.
Four Wildcats: Kianna Gray, Javianne Oliver, Precious Hitchcock and Destiny Carter,
advanced to the 100m quarterfinals.
Kianna Gray ran a wind-legal PR 11.21Q (+0.7) to finish with the top time of the preliminary heats.
Javianne Oliver automatically advanced to the women’s 100m quarterfinal by placing second in prelim heat three. She also ran a wind-legal PR time of 11.42Q (-0.2).
Precious Hitchcock ran 11.43 (+0.7,  a wind-legal PR, to place fourth in heat one and advance on time.
Destiny Carter won heat six in 11.47Q (+0.5) to advance automatically.
Jasmine Mitchell ran a PR 52.52Q, becoming the No. 3 performer in school history, to place second in heat five of the 400m and advance to the quarterfinal.
Ariah Graham placed third in her 800m prelim to advance automatically to the quarterfinals with a time of 2:06.45Q.
Thursday Notables
Brandi Walker placed 13th in the hammer throw with a toss of 193’/58.84m. She finished one spot, and two inches shy of advancing.
Kentucky did not advance any women’s long jumpers. Sha’Keela Saunders fouled on her first two attempts and reached 19’8.25”/6m (+1.4) on the third to place 22nd.
Carter placed 29th with a mark of 19’2.75”/5.86m (-0.4). Marie-Josee Ebwea-Bile placed 27th.
Donatella Asemota placed seventh in heat three of the women’s 100m with a time of 11.78 (-0.4). She didn’t advance.
David Cline placed 26th and Logan Bryer placed 44th in the men’s hammer throw.
Kentucky will continue the East Preliminary Championships on Friday.
The most up-to-date coverage of the UK track and field program is available via @KentuckyTrack handles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
 

• All Field Events: Single round, three attempts. Advance top-12 placers from final to Eugene. No ties

 
 
‑ GO CATS –
by Jake Most