Kentucky track and field showed out at both Clemson’s Tiger Paw Invite and Boston University’s David Hemery Valentine Invite by securing one event win and setting 13 records.
Tiger Paw Invite Day One
Senior Jack Pendergast recorded a 14:25.53 in the men’s 500-meter final, which gave Kentucky its only event win. Four other Wildcats placed in the top five as sophomore Caden Miracle placed second with a 14:25.81, sophomore Miles Brush placed third with a 14:33.91 and sophomore Cade Byer placed fifth with a 14:44.07.
Graduate student Daroyce Flemons set his personal record in weight throwing with a 19.85-meter distance, which put him in fourth place.
On the women’s side, Kentucky secured three silver medals. Senior Payton Phillips secured her second place finish in pole vaulting with a 4.29-meter, sophomore Kate Powers recorded a 22.57-meter in weight throwing and sophomore Cha’iel Johnson set a personal record in the 600-meter with a final time of 1:28.85.
Tiger Paw Invite Day Two
Going into the second day of events at Clemson, junior Tapiwanashe “Carlie” Makarawu moved his way to the top of Kentucky’s all-time list in the 200-meter with a time of 20.31 after sitting at the No. 3 mark.
Makarawu reclaimed the second place slot on the national leaderboard, and sits behind Auburn’s Makanakaishe Charamba.
Both senior Luke Brown and sophomore Grayson Brashear placed second in their respective events. Brown recorded 16.29-meter in the triple jump and Brashear recorded 17.41-meter in the shot put.
Senior Alex Justus obtained a 1:49.46 in the 800-meter final, which placed him at the 10th fastest time in Kentucky history.
Kentucky’s 4-by-400-meter relay team posted another 10th fastest time at 3:30.96.
Both freshman Ava Hendren and junior Elly Heine set personal records at 9:50.38 and 9:51.87 in the 300-meter respectively.
David Hemery Valentine Invite Day One
Kentucky started off hot as sophomore Ed Bird broke his own program record in the 300-meter final at 7:51.38, beating his previous personal best by two seconds.
Freshman Collins Kiprop Kipngok made his way into the record book in the 300-meter final by breaking Kentucky’s freshman record at 7:55.30, and sits at the No. 3 slot in the all-time records. Kipngok now holds the freshman records for the 300-meter, 500-meter and the mile events.
David Hemery Valentine Invite Day Two
Nothing of significance happened on the second day of the meet, with only five athletes from Kentucky competing, and they all placed outside of the top ten.
Kentucky will take a break in the following weeks from competing, and will hit the ground running again on Feb.27-March 1 at the SEC Indoor Championships. This meet will take place at Bryan-College Station, Texas.
