Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

UK calls on DH Braden Kapteyn to close things out in the ninth. He gets pinch-hitter Jeff Lockwood to fly to left and Zach Osborne to take a called third strike. Kentrail Davis draws a walk, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. A wild pitch moves Davis to second base. But Kapteyn runs down a short pop foul off the bat of Blake Forsythe to end the game. FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 6, Tennessee 4.

Cats take 6-4 lead into ninth

Tennessee goes to the bullpen again to open the bottom of the eighth. Left-hander Will Locante comes in, with righty Matt Ramsey moving to right field in place of Jarred Frazier. Locante beans Bryan Rose with a 3-2 pitch, strikes out Chad Wright, walks Andy Burns and fans Chris Bisson. The Vols go to their bullpen again, calling in right-hander Stephen McCray. He strikes out Gunner Glad. Heading to the ninth inning: Kentucky 6, Tennessee 4.

Paxton strikes out side in 8th

UK lefty James Paxton strikes out the side, in order, in the eighth. Going to the bottom of the inning: Kentucky 6, Tennessee 4.

Cats leave ‘em loaded in 7th

In the seventh inning, a leadoff single by Kentucky’s Chris Bisson and a walk by Gunner Glad brings an end to Nick Hernandez’s night on the mound for Tennessee. Coach Todd Raleigh calls for right-hander Ryne Simpson. Marcus Nidiffer bunts the runners to second and third, and Raleigh replaces Simpson with lefty Adam Adkins. Keenan Wiley walks on four pitches, loading the bases. Adkins exits and right-hander Matt Ramsey enters the game for Tennessee. Ramsey fans Braden Kapteyn and gets Chris McClendon on a comebacker. At the end of seven innings: Kentucky 6, Tennessee 4.

Vols score 1 in 7th; Cats lead 6-4

A one-out single by Kentrail Davis ignites a Tennessee rally in the seventh inning. Blake Forsythe walks and both runners advance on a James Paxton wild pitch. Davis scores on Cody Haven’s sacrifice fly to center, Forsythe taking third. P.J. Polk grounds out on a tough play by third baseman Chris McClendon. Seventh-inning stretch time: Kentucky 6, Tennessee 4.

Cats roar back with six-run sixth

Chad Wright

For a second inning in a row, Kentucky opens with back-to-back singles, this time by Andy Burns and Chris Bisson, to put runners on the corners. Gunner Glad’s fly to center is too shallow to score Burns. A wild pitch moves Bisson to second base before Marcus Nidiffer draws a walk to load the bases. Keenan Wiley, who singled to open the previous inning, fouls off a couple of 3-2 pitches before lining a two-run single down the third-base line. Nidiffer holds at second. Braden Kapteyn brings Nidiffer home with the tying run and moves Wiley to third with a double to left. Vols lefty Nick Hernandez spears Chris McClendon’s bullet-comebacker to notch the second out, but Bryan Rose walks to load the bases. Chad Wright, 0-for-3 to this point, clears the bases with a double down the line that glances off the glove of left-fielder P.J. Polk. Wright goes to third on a wild pitch. Burns flies to deep left. At the end of six innings: Kentucky 6, Tennessee 3.

Cats trail 3-0 in middle of 6th

Tennessee gets a two-out single from Cody Grisham, but nothing else in the sixth inning. Going to the bottom of the inning: Tennessee 3, Kentucky 0.

Cats threaten but don’t score in fifth

Kentucky mounts its strongest threat in the fifth, starting with back-to-back singles by Keenan Wiley and Braden Kapteyn. Chris McClendon’s bunt moves runners to second and third with one out. But Vols left Nick Hernandez retires Bryan Rose on a pop foul and gets Chad Wright on a groundout to second. Going to the sixth inning: Tennessee 3, Kentucky 0.

Vols go down in order in fifth

A correction on the fourth-inning scoring for Tennessee (see revised information below).

In the top of the fifth, Tennessee goes down in order. In the middle of the fifth: Tennessee 3, Kentucky 0.

Vols lead Cats 3-0 through 4th

Tennessee left-hander Nick Hernandez sets Kentucky down in order in the fourth. Going to the fifth: Tennessee 3, Kentucky 0.

Vols push lead to 3-0 in fourth

Zach Osborne

UK lefty James Paxton strikes out the first two batters in the fourth inning, but the second of those – Tyler Horne — reaches first on a wild pitch. Cody Grisham’s single to left advances Horne to third and Grisham takes second on the throw to third. Paxton comes back to strike out Jarred Frazier. But Zach Osborne, a freshman out of Pleasure Ridge Park, singles up the middle drives in both runners. In the middle of the fourth: Tennessee 3, Kentucky 0.

Vols lead Cats 1-0 through third

Kentucky’s No. 9 hitter, Bryan Rose, is hit by a pitch to start the third inning. But Chad Wright grounds into a 4-6-3 doubld play and Andy Burns lines out to center. Going to the fourth inning: Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0.

Tennessee strands two in 3rd inning

In the top of the third inning, Tennessee’s Blake Forsythe reaches first on a two-out fielding error by shortstop Andy Burns. Cody Hawn draws a walk, but James Paxton catches P.J. Polk looking at a third strike. In the middle of the third: Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0.

Cats waste Nidiffer’s second-inning single

Kentucky gets a leadoff single from Marcus Nidiffer but can’t move him past second base. After two complete innings: Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0.

Tennessee down in order in 2nd inning

James Paxton

Kentucky left-hander James Paxton retires the Tennessee Volunteers in order in the second inning. Going to the bottom of the second: Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0.

Tennessee leads Kentucky 1-0 through 1st

Kentucky threatens in the bottom of the first but gets nothing. Andy Burns laces a one-out single to left. As Chris Bisson strikes out, Burns steals second. Gunner Glad hits a ball hard, but right at third baseman Cody Brown, who tags Burns for the third out. After one inning: Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0.

Tennessee gets a run in first

Blake Forsythe

Tennessee strikes in the top of the first, doing all its damage after the first two batters are retired. Blake Forsythe singles through the right side of the infield, then goes to second as Cody Hawn reaches on a third-strike wild pitch. P.J. Polk’s single to right scores Forsythe, Hawn stopping at second. After half an inning: Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0.

Late lineup change puts Wade on bench

A late lineup change for Kentucky. SS Chris Wade will not start due to a sore hamstring. Andy Burns, originally set to DH, moves to short. Braden Kapteyn goes in as DH. The revised lineup is listed below.

SEC baseball: Tennessee at Kentucky

Getting ready for Friday’s opener of a three-game Southeastern Conference baseball series at Cliff Hagan Stadium, with Kentucky (22-22 overall, 8-13) playing host to Tennessee (20-25, 6-15).

UK comes in 10th overall in the SEC, Tennessee 11th. Only the top eight teams will qualify for the SEC Tournament, May 20-24, at Hoover, Ala.

The top eight entering weekend play, in order: LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Auburn is No. 9.

The weather 30 minutes before the scheduled game time is 72 degrees, overcast, an 18 mph wind blowing from right field to left, with gusts to 25 mph.

The lineups:

Tennessee — Zach Osborne, ss; Kentrail Davis, cf; Blake Forsythe, c; Cody Hawn, 1b; P.J. Polk, lf; Cody Brown, 3b; Tyler Horne, dh; Cody Grisham, 2b; Jarred Frazier, rf. Pitching: LH Nick Hernandez (2-4, 5.26).

Kentucky — Chad Wright, lf; Andy Burns, ss; Chris Bisson, 2b; Gunner Glad, 1b; Marcus Nidiffer, c; Keenan Wiley, cf; Braden Kapteyn, dh; Chris McClendon, 3b; Bryan Rose, rf. Pitching: LH James Paxton (4-2, 5.53).

Umpires — Tony Maners, home; John Whitaker, 1b; Owen Butts, 3b.

The title is the 12th in 13 years and 16th in 18 years for Arkansas, but the first under Coach Chris Bucknam — successor to the legendary John McDonnell.

Tennessee rallied to edge defending champion LSU for the women’s championship, 111-105. Arkansas was third with 97 points.

Kentucky placed seventh in both the men’s (48 points) and women’s (49 1/2) competition.

“We’ve got a lot of holes to fill, and it’s trying to balance the scholarship money across the event areas so that we’re more competitive across the board,” UK Coach Don Weber said. “But for what we had out there today, especially on the men’s side but even on the women’s side, I was really pleased with the way they competed. Their will to win.

“So we’re not where we want to be. We’ve got have more depth, more balance. But the way they competed, I was pretty pleased.”

Mikel Thomas

UK’s top efforts came from Mikel Thomas, runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles, and Jose Acevedo, who was third in the 400, seventh in the 200 and anchored the Wildcats’ third-place 4-by-400 relay.

“Man, there’s nobody that wanted it more than me,” Thomas said after running second to South Carolina’s Jason Richardson. “I got out great. I had it for like three hurdles, smashed that No. 4, but I stayed in there and fought all the way across the line and gave it all I had.”

Richardson clocked 7.72. Thomas, a senior who competed for Trinidad and Tobago at last summer’s Beijing Olympics, was timed in 7.77.

Jose Acevedo

Acevedo won his 400 heat in 46.85, but was upstaged by second-heat winner Robert Simmons of LSU (46.22). Acevedo’s 200 of 21.14 placed him just behind teammate Justin Austin (20.99). Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence won in 20.81.

The 4-by-400 went to Florida (3:05.82), followed by South Carolina (3:06.11) and the Wildcats (3;06.78).

“It was a really good day,” said Acevedo, a senior who ran the 200 for Venzuela at last summer’s Beijing Olympics. ”I ran 46 (seconds) twice in the 400. I haven’t run under 47 in like three years, so I was pretty pleased about that. The 200, after running the 400, believe me, I was really tired and I couldn’t give more. But I still ran good, 21.1 indoors.”

Arkansas’ Bucknam credited his assistant coaches and the Razorback seniors who made it all possible.

“They came with a first-year coach with just a short period of time left,” Bucknam said. “I asked them to lead the program and to help us get through this this year. And, of course, they did. With flying colors.

“So my hat’s off to the seniors that stepped it up another level. When there was adversity, when there was a coaching change, they continued to train hard. And this is the end result.”

Dorian Ulrey, who came with Bucknam from Northern Iowa, led a 1-2-4-8 Arkansas finish in the mile. Bucknam finished in 3:59.77. Duncan Phillips came in second (4:01.30), Michael Chinchar took fourth (4:03.52), with Rick Elliott eighth (4:08.33).

“We train all year round for this meet and one other particular indoor meet,” Ulrey said, nodding to the NCAA Championships. “We just ran smooth. We ran relaxed. Our whole plan was to just blanket the finish with Razorbacks, and that’s exactly what we did.”

Arkansas’ other wins Sunday came from Alex McClary in the 800 and in the distance medley relay (Chinchar, Jake Stephens, McClary and Phillips). With the team title in hand, Ulrey opted out of the relay in order to spread the event titles around.

Ulrey tipped his hat to McDonnell, saying he was pleased “to be able to continue that excellent tradition with the new coach and the new athletes, and kind of usher in a new era for Arkansas. And we’ve done a pretty good job this weekend.”

The Razorbacks got a 2-3 finish in the triple jump from Nkosinza Balumbu and Tarek Batchelor. as well as second-place finishes by J-Mee Samuels in the 60, Niit Marek in the 200 and Shawn Forrest in the 5,000. Samuels, who also took fifth in the 200, got things rolling.

“It energized our team when J-Mee busted out that great 60,” Bucknam said. “He’d been struggling all year. To see him come through like he did and hit an auto-qualifier (6.63) against (LSU’s) Trindon Holliday, a world-class sprinter in his own right, that was a big start for us. Then it just built from that point on.”

Florida freshman Christian Taylor, who won the long jump Saturday, added the triple jump Sunday, knocking off defending champion Balumba with a fifth-round distance of 52-10 1/4. Taylor scored 22 1/2 points to win the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Tennessee’s women blanketed the results sheet, scoring in 14 of 17 events.

Sarah Bowman led the Vols completing a third consecutive trifecta with wins in the mile, 3,000 meters and as anchor of the distance medley relay. That added up to 22 1/2 points and the Commissioner’s Trophy as the high scorer of the meet.

Tennessee also got wins from a pair of former walk-ons: Celriece Law in the 60-meter hurdles and Phoebe Wright in the 800. Law also placed third in the triple jump. Lynne Layne placed second in the 60 and 200, adding an eighth-place finish in the long jump.

Quoteworthy

Christian Taylor, Fla., triple jump winner – “I was happy I came through, … happy to get out on the fifth jump and then just watch. … That (5) is my new number. I’ll take it. I’m blessed with good health and strong training. I’ll carry this to nationals.”

Jason Richardson, S.C., hurdles winner – “It went OK. … I’m blessed that I came out as champion. That’s all I can ask.”

Richardson, on trailing Kentucky’s Thomas out of the blocks – ”I usually come on at the end, so I didn’t panic and I didn’t fret. I just stayed confident in my training and I was able to come out on top at the end.”

Trindon Holliday, LSU, 60-meter dash winner – “I didn’t have the start that I wanted to have. I kind of stumbled a little bit, but I was able to maintain what I was doing and finish the race.”

Holliday on having the second-best qualifying time, behind Kentucky’s Rondel Sorrillo, Sunday’s fourth-place finisher – ”It wasn’t any cause for concern. It was more motivation than anything. So I just told myself to come out and ‘I’m gonna be ready to go when the gun’s shot.’”

Tennessee Lady Vols Coach J.J. Clark – ”We had a couple things go our way and had some youngsters come through. We had some SEC champions come through with big points for us, and that’s what really helped to pull us through. It was a great meet for our Lady Vols, really something to remember.”

Catherine Kalmer, on leading Arkansas’ 1-2-3 finish in the women’s 5,000 – ”We’re very excited. We just decided to come out here today and try to get a national (qualifying) mark. Unfortunately we didn’t run as fast as we’d hoped for, but I still think we made a point that Arkansas distance running is something to be reckoned with.”

Earlier coverage from Sunday’s meet

Update: Newspaper duties call, but here are the final team standings. I’ll update this blog once I’m done with my Herald-Leader paper duty!

Men – Arkansas 130; Florida 102; Tennessee 78; South Carolina and Auburn 65; LSU 64; Kentucky 48; Georgia 47; Alabama 35; Ole Miss 29. Commissioner’s Trophy (for points leader): Christian Taylor, Florida.

Women – Tennessee 111; LSU 105; Arkansas 97; Florida 84; South Carolina 57; Auburn 54; Kentucky 49 1/2; Ole Miss 32; Mississippi State 28; Alabama 26 1/2; Georgia 14; Vanderbilt 5. Commissioner’s Trophy: Sarah Bowman, Tennessee.

*With the men’s team championship in hand, Arkansas gave 3,000-meter and mile champion Dorian Ulrey a rest, having him set out the distance medley relay. No matter. The Razorbacks still won in 9:47.31.

Michael Chinchar led off, followed by Jake Stephens, 800-meter champion Alex McClary and Duncan Phillips.

Phillips outkicked Alabama’s Emmanuel Bor on the final straightaway. Bama came in at 9:47.66.

After 16 events, Arkansas has 127 points. Florida has 92, Tennessee 77, Auburn 65, LSU 60 and South Carolina 57. Kentucky and Georgia are tied for seventh with 42 points.

Christine Kalmer, Denise Bargiachi and Catherine White gave Arkansas a 1-2-3 sweep in the women’s 5,000. Kalmer won in 16:20.06, followed by Bargiachi, the defending champion.

Through 13 events, LSU leads Tennessee 92-83 in the women’s standings. Arkansas has 81, Auburn 48. Kentucky is seventh with 31 1/2.

* 200-meter wins go to Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence (20.81) and LSU’s Samantha Henry (23.45). Kentucky’s Justin Austin and Jose Acevedo placed 6-7 in the men’s race.

Through 15 men’s events, Arkansas leads Florida 117-87. Tennessee has 73, LSU 60, Auburn 59. UK is eighth with 40.

Through 12 women’s events, LSU leads Tennessee 92-80. Arkansas is next with 57, then South Carolina with 46, Auburn with 44, Florida 41 and UK 31 1/2.

* Winners at 800 meters were Arkansas’ Alex McClary (1:49.37) for the men and Tennessee’s Phoebe Wright (2:02.31) for the women.

Arkansas leads the men’s standings 105-87 over Florida. Tennessee has 72, LSU 60. Kentucky is seventh with 35.

With a 2-4-5 finish in the 800, LSU has taken a 76-72 lead over the Tennessee women. Arkansas has 55, South Carolina 46. UK is seventh with 31 1/2.

* More winners include Dorian Ulrey of Arkansas in the mile (3:59.77), Robert Simmons of LSU in the 400 (46.22) and Tyson David of Alabama in the 5,000.

Through 13 events, the Arkansas men hold a 95-77 lead over Florida. Tennessee is third (64), followed by LSU and South Carolina (57 each), Auburn 48 and Kentucky 35.

Auburn’s Joanna Atkins prevailed in the women’s 400 (52.61).

Through 10 women’s events, Tennessee and LSU remain tied with 59 points. Arkansas has 53, South Carolina 46. Kentucky is seventh with 31 1/2.

* Quick update: Through nine events, Tennessee and LSU are tied to the women’s lead with 59 points. Then it’s Arkansas (48), Florida (35), South Carolina (33) and Kenutcky (31 1/2).

LSU’s Samantha Henry took the 60 meters (7.21) over Tennessee’s Lynne Layne (7.22).

Tennessee’s Sarah Bowman, winner of Saturday’s 3K, won the mile in 4:41.35. She is the first woman ever to sweep the SEC mile and 3K three years in a row.

* South Carolina’s Jason Richardson just edged Kentucky’s Mikel Thomas in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, 7.72 seconds to 7.77.

Results are rolling in now. My duty as a newspaper reporter call first, so updates will be less frequent. However, results are availalbe very quickly online at ukathletics.com.

A 23-point bonanza in the pole vault has put Tennessee on top of the men’s standings.

The Vols jump from third place to first, leading Arkansas 62-51. Florida is third with 45, followed by South Carolina’s 37 and LSU’s 32. Kentucky is 10th with 13 points.

Tennessee went 1-2 in the vault, Joe Berry and Brad Holtz each topping 17-3. Michael Ayers, winner of the heptathlon, cleared 17-0 for fourth place.

Taylor gets his second win for Gators

Florida freshman Christian Taylor picked up his second win, taking the men’s triple jump just the way he won Saturday’s long jump.

Christian Taylor

David Banks

Defending champion Nkosinza Balumbu of Arkansas led through four rounds.

But Taylor, just as happened Saturday, came up with a winning effort on his fifth attempt, 52 feet, 10 1/4 inches.

Balumbu, jumping last, finished with a 52-footer in the fifth round and 52-1 1/4 on his last try. Teammate Tarek Batchelor finished third at 50-2 3/4.

Kentucky’s David Banks, seeded 11th, popped a season-best 49-8 1/4 to place fifth.

Arkansas leads the men’s points race with 51 points. Florida has 43, Tennessee 39, South Carolina 27. UK is 10th with 13 points.

Auburn senior Raevan Harris took top honors in the women’s high jump at 6-0 3/4. LSU’s Brittani Carter was runner-up at 5-11 1/2.

For UK, pentathletes Ashley Newby and Precious Nwokey finished seventh (5-5 1/4) and 15th (5-3 1/4). Natalie Wise no-heighted.

Arkansas leads the women’s standings with 45 points. LSU has 40, Kentucky 29 1/2 and Tennessee 25.

LSU’s Henning dominates in weight throw

The first title to be won Sunday, the final day of the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, goes to LSU’s Walter Henning.

Walter Henning

The sophomore from Kings Park, N.Y., dominated the men’s 35-pound weight throw with a winning distance of 75-feet, 5 1/2 inches at the University of Kentucky’s Nutter Field House.

Henning, who transferred from North Carolina, where his junior world record of 72-3 earned him third place in the NCAA Indoor Champs.

Saturday, he had four throws beyond 22 meters. No other thrower reached 21 meters.

South Carolina sophomore Mike Zajac was second at 20.67 meters — 68 feet, 1 1/2 inches.

Kentucky’s Rashaud Scott slipped from fourth place in flight competition to sixth in the finals. His best mark, 63-11 3/4, came in the third round. He fouled all three attempts in the finals.

Through six men’s events, Arkansas leads Tennessee 37-34. Florida has 33, South Carolina 27, and LSU is tied with Auburn at 25. Kentucky is 10th with nine points.

Sarah Bowman, Tenn., on her unprecedented three-peat sweep of the mile, 3K and distance medley relay: “Each year you have to go in with your right, and you can’t expect to be handed anything. You have to work for everything. So I came in ready to work.”

Olympic rings.

Jose Acevedo

First-place finishes by Jose Acevedo and Mikel Thomas, both veterans of the Beijing Olympics, led Kentucky. Chase Madison made it a UK hat trick, winning the shot put.

Top female performer at UK’s Nutter Fieldhouse was double-winner Hyleas Fountain, the Olympic silver-medalist in the heptathlon from Dayton, Ohio.

The meet was the second and last home competition for UK before it plays host to the Southeastern Conference Championships, Feb. 27-March 1.
Acevedo, who competed at 200 meters for in the Olympics, tied the Venezuelan national record for 60 meters in Saturday’s finals, placing third. He later won the 200 in 21.22, an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

In all, 20 collegiate performances met NCAA provisional standards. Twelve non-collegians also reached provisional standards and four hit automatic qualifing marks.

“It was good. The 60, I opened with my PR (personal record). I was impressed about that - 6.79,” Acevedo said. “It was awesome. And I was trying to do better in the finals. My start wasn’t as good as the prelims, so that cost me a chance to run under 6.70. That was the goal, but I still feel really good about 6.76.”

Rondel Sorillo

His 6.76 matched the Venezuelan record set by Victor Castillo, who placed 15th in the long jump at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

D’Angelo Cherry, who set a national high school record for 55 meters last year, won the 60 in 6.64. UK senior Gordon McKenzie took second, with a personal-best and NCAA provisional mark of 6.68. Acevedo was among three runners timed in 6.76. Going to ten-thousands of a second, Acevedo’s 6.7511 edged unattached David Dickens’ 6.7547 and Eastern Kentucky’s Shannon Davis’ 6.7575.

UK freshman Justin Austin ran a provisional-qualifying 6.74 preliminary, but did not test a sore leg in the finals.

In the 200, Acevedo topped UK newcomer Rondel Sorillo, 21.22 to 21.33. EKU’s Davis took third in 21.55.

“I was feeling a little bit tight just because of the 60,” Acevedo said. “That (60) is not my event; I’m not used to it. … But I tried to do my best. I got out with Rondel. He’s a really good competitor. He’s a really good runner.

“I was just trying to run with him more than run my race, and I think that was my mistake in the 200. But 21.22 is a provisional mark. It’s a pretty good day.”

Sorillo, from Trinidad and Tobago, competed in the same Olympic qualifying heat as Acevedo. That August day, Sorillo won in 20.58; Acevedo was fifth in 21.06. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, the eventual gold-medal winner and world record-setter, ran second in the heat.

Mikel Thomas

Sorillo, who has two years of college in Trinidad under his belt, ran unattached as he is not yet eligible for UK.

Thomas, also a Trinidad Olympian last summer, met the NCAA provisional standard by winning the 60-meter hurdles in 7.80. Runner-up Terence Somerville of Cincinnati matched the provisional cut of 7.91.

“In the trials, I didn’t really get out of the blocks,” Thomas said of his 7.95 prelim. “I got out better (in the finals). This one was cleaner, but in between (hurdles) it’s not really where I need to be. A little tight. A little slow.”
UK’s Madison, a senior, won the shot put by more than four feet over Louisville’s Steve Hnat. Madison’s mark of 61 feet, 7 3/4 inches is an NCAA provisional qualifier.

“That’s definitely the best series of my life,” said Madison, who had efforts of 59-6 3/4, 59-0 1/4, foul, 60-2, 59-10 1/4 and 61-7 3/4. “Building consistencey now through SECs and through the national meet, that’s what I want.”

Chase Madison

Madison beat his previous best (59-2 3/4) four times.

“A lot more technical work,” he said in explaining his improvement. “A lot more quality work. Not just quantity, but quality.

“Focus on technique, not distance. … Let the distance come in competition, not practice.”

UK’s Colin Boevers placed eighth in the shot. Teammate Rashaud Scott, the NCAA discus champion and a provisional qualifier in Friday’s weight throw, fouled twice and passed his third turn.

Fountain, who won SEC titles for Georgia in the high jump, long jump and pentathlon (collegiate-record 4,417 points) here in 2004, was the Saturday’s quality performer among the women.

Hyleas Fountain

Fountain set a meet record of 21-5 1/2 in the long jump, then beat the meet and fieldhouse record with an 8.02 in the 60-meter hurdles.

“Right now, training for USAs (championships) and just trying to retain my title in the long jump there,” Fountain said of her 2009 goals. “The biggest meet, of course, is the World Championships in Berlin.”

A timing malfunction made it necessary to re-run Fountain’s preliminary heat of the hurdles. She won both times, 8.13 in the one that counted.
“I just kind of looked at it as a good warmup,” she said.

Furman’s Patrick Morgan, a former standout for Boyle County High School, came off the final turn to kick past Middle Tennessee State’s Festus Chemaoi and win the men’s mile in a personal-best and school-record 4:05.90. Chemaoi, timed in 4:065.29, caught Morgan by surprise and surged to a big lead with about two laps left.

Patrick Morgan

“He made a really good move there,” Morgan said. “I didn’t think I could catch him. I started to kick with about 300 to go, and he just slowly came closer, so I knew I had to (catch him).”

Eastern Kentucky’s Joseph Maina edged UK’s Luis Orta by three-hundredths of a second for third place, finishing in 4:10.59.
Former EKU all-American Jacob Korir, like Maina a Kenyan, used similar tactics to win the 3,000 meters in a meet-record 8:07.09. Mississippi State’s Matt Cameron, competing unattached, led until the final 200 meters.

Western Kentucky swept the 4-by-400 relays for men (3:12.90) and women (NCAA-provisional 3:37.97). Janet Jesang (9:26.68) and Eimear O’Brien gave the Hilltoppers a 1-2 finish in the women’s 3,000, and Valerie Brown snared the 400 (53.58). Jesang and Brown both met NCAA provisional standards.

Janet Jesang

Jesang, a junior from Uganda, hopes to qualify for NCAAs at 5,000 meters next week.

Kelly McNeice, from Northern Ireland, swept the women’s 800 (2:09.45) and mile (4:45.71), followed each time by Zamzam Sangau, a Middle Tennessee State junior from Uganda.

Saravia Richardson gave Louisville its lone win with a provisional qualifying time of 7.44 in the women’s 60.

Other female winners included Chandra Brewer in the shot (55-5 1/2), Chelsea Taylor in the high jump (5-11 1/2) and Trish Bartholomew in the 200 (23.64).

Brewer, a South Florida graduate, placed fourth at last summer’s U.S. Olympic Trials.

Taylor, a top-20 ranked jumper and multi-eventer, is scheduled to return here in three weeks, competing for Alabama.

Jeff Chakouian

Ohio Northern’s James O’Brien scored one for the smaller schools, taking the lead with 50 meters left en route to winning the men’s 800 in a provisional qualifying time of 1:49.70.

Elvis Forde

Carl Morgan upheld Middle Tennessee’s reputation as a perennial power in the jumps, taking the long jump (24-3 3/4).

Other winners were unattached Jamil Hubbard in the 400 (46.58) and Cincinnati’s Shane Shockey in the pole vault (16-0 3/4).

Louisville held its spot at No. 11, while Kentucky dropped from 16 to 21 in the latest men’s indoor track and field rankings, released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

On the women’s side, U of L dropped one spot to No. 22, while UK dropped out of the poll from No. 25.

Jose Acevedo

U of L is scheduled to send split squads this weekend to UK’s Rod McCravy Memorial meet and to Notre Dame’s Meyo Invitational.

UK’s Jose Acevedo was a double-winner last weekend at the Penn State National Invitational. The Olympian from Venezuela took the 200 in 21.35 seconds, then led off UK’s winning 4-by-400 relay (3:13.90). Justin Austin, Mikel Thomas and Brandon Austin joined Acevedo on the relay.

Thomas, an Olympic hurdler for Trinidad and Tobago, is joined at UK this season by Olympic teammate Rondel Sorillo, a junior transfer from the University of Trinidad. Sorillo made it to the second round of the 200 meters last summer at Beijing, running

Rondel Sorillo

20.58 to win his first-round heat — over eventual gold-medal winner Usain Bolt of Jamaica. Acevedo placed fifth in the same heat.

As for the weekly rankings, Arkansas’ men remain No. 1, led by back-to-back winner of the Southeastern Conference Track Athlete of the Week Dorian Ulrey. Ulrey and Shawn Forrest ran 1-2 in the Washington Invitational 3,000 meters, with Ulrey posting the best time in the nation this season.

Arizona State remains No. 2, while Oregon moves up a spot to No. 3, trading places with Florida.

Oregon Olympian Ashton Eaton scored 6,174 heptathlon points at the Washington Invitational, the second-best score in NCAA history. Eaton won six of seven events: 60 meters (6.84), long jump (24-11), high jump (6-10.5), 60m hurdles (7.91), pole vault (16-3.5) and 1,000m (2:39.92). Eaton thus earned Athlete of the Week honors from USA Track & Field.

UK, which will host the SEC Indoor Championships, Feb. 27-March 1, is among six ranked SEC men’s teams. The others: Arkansas (1), Florida (4), LSU (10), Georgia (12) and South Carolina (14).

 Texas A&M, Tennessee and Michigan remain 1-2-3 in the women’s ratings.

Tennessee leads six SEC teams in the rankings. The others: LSU (5), South Carolina (11), Arkansas (12), Florida (17) and Auburn (23).

USTFCCCA Division indoor track and field rankings (Feb. 4, 2009) 

SEC teams underlined.

MEN

 Dropped Out:  #21 Georgetown and #24 Oklahoma State. 

WOMEN

Chris Rusin

Left-hander Chris Rusin of Kentucky has been named pre-season all-Southeastern Conference by Rivals.com.

Rivals.com also picked the Wildcats to finish fourth in the SEC East.

Rusin became the Wildcats first pitcher in 11 years to earn first-team all-SEC honors last season, following Scott Downs in 1997. Rusin made nine “quality starts” in 13 chances, finishing with a 6-3 record, 3.33 ERA and 65 strikeouts over 83 2/3 innings.

His numbers were skewed when he tried to pitch through an injury in the NCAA Tournament — a career-worst outing against Michigan that last  1 1/3 innings. Leaving that game out of the equation, Rusin was 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder had a 2.63 ERA over five road starts, including two complete games.

“We feel like Chris was the best starting pitcher in the SEC last year, earning first-team all-league honors,” Coach Gary Henderson said in a UK press release. “He is an absolute vital part to this year’s success, and his leadership and veteran presence will be critical for our club.”

Kentucky opens play Feb. 20 against Troy in the Caravelle Resort Tournament at Conway, S.C.

The Rivals.com pre-season all-SEC team – C: Bryce Massanari, Georgia; 1B: Rich Poythress, Georgia; 2B: Ryan Schimpf, LSU; SS: Josh Rutledge, Alabama; 3B: Josh Adams, Florida; OF: Kentrail Davis, Tennessee; Blake Dean, LSU; and Chase Leavitt, Arkansas; SP: Chris Rusin, Kentucky; Mike Minor, Vanderbilt; and Trevor Holder, Georgia; RP: Scott Bittle, Ole Miss.

The Rivals.com SEC divisional predictions:

East – 1. Georgia; 2. Florida; 3. Vanderbilt; 4. Kentucky; 5. South Carolina; 6. Tennessee.

West – 1. LSU; 2. Ole Miss; 3. Alabama; 4. Arkansas; 5. Auburn; 6. Mississippi State.

The top 10 in order (Legends underlined): Jason Castro, C; Bud Norris, RHP; Ross Seaton, RHP; Brian Bogusevic, OF; Chris Johnson, 3B; Jordan Lyles, RHP; Felipe Paulino, RHP; Drew Sutton, SS/2B; Collin DeLome, OF; Jay Austin, OF. Castro, Norris and Johnson have invitations to major-league spring training with the Astros. Castro is Houston’s top draft pick of 2008, out of Miami (Fla.).

Baseball America’s “Best Tools” designees in the Astros system include: Bogusevic (a converted pitcher), best hitter for average; Johnson, best power hitter and best infield arm; Sutton, best strike-zone discipline; and Norris, best fastball. Other ex-Legends on the Best Tools list are Sammy Gervacio, best slider; Polin Trinidad, best control; Tommy Manzella, best defensive infielder; and Josh Flores, best defensive outfielder.

* More ex-files – Houston signed RHP Paul Estrada; reclaimed 2B Jonny Ash from Milwaukee in the 3A Rule 5 draft; and sent OF Jordan Parraz to Kansas City as the “player to be named” in a deal that sent LHP Tyler Lumsden to the Astros.

* The Brewers signed former Clark County High School RHP Matt Ginter.

Cats not included in Baseball America pre-season Top 25

Kentucky cracked pre-season polls released by Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (23) and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (19), but not with Baseball America. Louisville checked in at No. 23 in the BBA rankings. Texas A&M is No. 1, followed by LSU, the first of five Southeastern Conference teams listed. The other four: Mississippi (6), Georgia (14), Alabama (21) and Arkansas (22).

The Reds are coming! The Reds are coming!

A reminder that the Cincinnati Reds Winter Caravan is scheduled to stop at Fayette Mall in Lexington on Saturday, 6-8:30 p.m.

Scheduled to make the trip are Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips, No. 1 draft pick Devin Mesoraco and Reds Hall of Famer Lee May. Fans also will have the chance to meet Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, TV analyst Chris Welsh, Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini and Assistant General Manager Bob Miller, as well as team mascot Gapper.

Lexington is part of the Caravan’s “Southern Tour” stops. Simultaneous “Northern” and “Western” tours will feature others in the Reds family.

All the stops are free to the public, and two tickets to opening day (April 6 vs. New York Mets) will be raffled at each stop.

The full Southern Tour:

Thursday, Jan. 22 — 3:15-4:45 p.m., Charleston (W.Va.) Towne Center; 6:30-8:30 p.m., Huntington (W.Va.)/Ashland, Ky., Fannin Motors.

Friday, Jan. 23 — 7-8:30 p.m., Bowling Green, Ky., Greenwood Mall.

Saturday, Jan. 24 — 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Nashville, RiverGate Mall; 6-8:30 p.m., Lexington, Fayette Mall.

Sunday, Jan. 25 — 12:15-1:45 p.m., Maysville (Ky.) Conference Center.

The Northern Tour will stop at Vienna, W.Va.; Athens, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio. General Manager Walt Jocketty, broadcaster Thom Brennaman, Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini, Reds Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Browning, Reds Minor League Player of the Year Chris Valaika, infielder Jeff Keppinger, pitcher Mike Lincoln, coach Billy Hatcher and mascot Mr. Redlegs will take part in all or parts of the Northern Tour.

The Western Tour includes one Kentucky site, Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats (Jan. 22, 4:30-7 p.m.). Also on the circuit are Indiana stops in Evansville, Bloomington, Indianapolis and Muncie, as well as the final leg at Dayton, Ohio. Western  participants include Manager Dusty Baker, broadcasters George Grande and Jeff Brantley, outfielder Chris Dickerson, utility player Jerry Hairston Jr., 2008 top draft pick Yonder Alonso and mascot Rosie Red. 

In addition to Lexington, CEO Bob Castellini will visit Louisville and Columbus.

More details are available online at: www.reds.com/caravan.