Saturday was a day for the namesake discipline of the Florida Relays and Kentucky’s teams turned in good performances in a bunch of them.
The Wildcats ran two strong 4×400-meter relays, an elite 4x100m relay and won the women’s sprint medley and the men’s distance medley relays.
“This was a solid weekend of performances for both our men’s and women’s teams,” UK head coach Edrick Floréal said. “We had combination of our students realizing their potential along with lots of hard work. However impressive these marks were, we believe there is a lot more there and so do the kids.”
Kentucky set three school records and four freshman records, won three relays and recorded nine marks that currently rank in the top-five in the NCAA.
The Wildcats finished one of their best all-around meets of 2016 with a fitting flourish, the school record in the “Tom Jones Invitational” 4x400m relay. Kianna Gray, Jasmine Mitchell, Destiny Carter and Kiah Seymour ran 3:28.45 to place second to Florida’s school-record 3:26.28. Kentucky’s time ranks No. 3 in the NCAA this season, at time of publication. Florida’s is the nation leader and Texas ranks No. 2.
Kentucky’s 4x100m relay of Javianne Oliver, Precious Hitchcock, Destiny Carter, and Kianna Gray ran a season-opening 43.41, which ranks No. 3 in UK history and No. 5 in the NCAA right now. Kentucky placed second to Florida among collegiate teams.
Kendall Muhammad, Fred Dorsey, Shane Dillon and Lou Styles won the men’s distance medley in 9:46.77.
Donatella Asemota, Kiah Seymour, Jasmine Mitchell and Ariah Graham ran the second fastest time in school history, 3:43.62, to win the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay.
Kentucky’s 4x400m relay of Sha’Keela Saunders, Precious Hitchcock, Donatella Asemota and Ariah Graham won the women’s open division in 3:34.40.
Marie-Josée Ebwea-Bile reached the UK freshman record, 42’8”/13m, to place as the top collegian, and fourth overall in the triple jump. The mark currently ranks No. 4 in the NCAA.
Xaivier McAllister placed second in the high jump with a clearance at 7’1.75”/2.18m in wet conditions.
Nik Huffman placed eighth in the shot put with a mark of 58’5.75″/17.82m.
The most up-to-date coverage of the UK track and field program is available via @KentuckyTrack handles on Twitter,Instagram and Facebook.
SATURDAY RESULTS
FIELD EVENTS
| Men’s High Jump | 2. Xaivier McAllister: 7’1.75”/2.18m (No. 5 UK all-time) 9. Justin Kretchmer: 6’9”/2.06m 16. Cameron Short: 6’7”/2.01m |
| Men’s Shot Put | NP. Noah Castle |
| Women’s Invite Shot Put | 9. Adriana Brown: 51’10”/15.80m 13. Beckie Famurewa: 49’7”/15.11m |
| Men’s Invite Shot Put | 8. Nik Huffman: 58’5.75″/17.82m |
| Women’s Triple Jump [Back] | 4. Marie-Josee Ebwea-Bile: 42’8”/13m (FR) 12. Sha’Keela Saunders: 41’2.25”/12.55m |
RUNNING EVENTS
| Men’s Sprint Medley Relay | 1. Kentucky (Asemota, Seymour, Mitchell, Graham): 3:43.62 |
| Women’s 4×100 Relay | 2. Kentucky (Oliver, Hitchcock, Carter, Gray): 43.41 – No. 3 UK history, No. 5 in NCAA right now |
| Men’s 4×100 Relay | Kentucky DQ |
| Men’s Distance Medley Relay | 1. Kentucky: (Muhammad, Dorsey, Dillon, Styles): 9:46.77 |
| Women’s 4×400 Relay (Final) | 1. Kentucky (Saunders, Hitchcock, Asemota, Graham): 3:34.40 |
| Women’s Tom Jones Invite 4×400 Relay | 2. Kentucky (Gray, Mitchell, Carter, Seymour): 3:28.45 (UKSR, No. 3 NCAA right now) |
by Jake Most
