Tickets Link to Live Results (via UKAthletics.com)
CINCINNATI - The 2017 Kentucky Invitational got underway Friday night with the University of Cincinnati track and field program as several Bearcats took part in the weight throw while the women's team fielded a distance medley relay on the track. The events took place at the Nutter Field House in Lexington, Ky., and is the first of two days of competition on the UK campus.
On the track, the team of Meg Westerheide, Deanna Gesicki, Vanessa Robinson and Marina Wrede combined to run 12:13.11 and placed sixth overall in the opening race of the meet. Westerheide led off running the 1,200m leg, running a split of 3:40.6 before handing off to Gesicki, who posted a split of 57.9 on the 400m leg. Robinson followed with a split of 2:20 on the 800m leg before freshman Wrede wrapped up the race with a split of 5:14 in the 1,600m leg. The opening effort of the season was just outside of the program's all-time Top 10 list with a time of 12:07.50 or better needed to join the ledger.
In the field, the weight throw produced a pair of personal best marks with one each coming in the men's and women's competitions. On the men's side, Macklin Tudor, who redshirted his outdoor season in 2016, returned to competition for the Bearcats and placed eighth overall with a best of 17.40m (57-01.00). That mark was just 9cm off his all-time best of 17.49m, which also ranks fourth in program history. John Zedella (15.51m/50-10.75) and Chris Province (14.90m/48-10.75) also competed in the event, placing 12th and 15th, respectively. The top toss of the day for Province was a slight improvement over his personal best of 14.83m.
On the women's side, Nicole Breeden was the top finisher for the Bearcats as her toss of 14.98m (49-01.75) placed her 20th overall in the competition while junior transfer Ashley Williams placed 21st in her UC debut with a toss of 14.94m (49-00.25), a personal best by over one foot. Annette Echikunwoke, the national leader in the event, was unable to secure a mark, fouling all three of her preliminary round attempts.
The Kentucky Invitational concludes Saturday with all remaining events being contested. The field events will open the day at 9 a.m. while the running events begin at noon.
2017 Kentucky Invitational (1/13/17)
Women's Results
Distance Medley Relays
6. Cincinnati - 12:13.11
Meg Westerheide (1200m, 3:40.6)
Deanna Gesicki (400m, 57.9)
Vanessa Robinson (800m, 2:20.0)
Marina Wrede (1600m, 5:14.0)
Weight Throw
20. Nicole Breeden - 14.98m (49-01.75)
21. Ashley Williams - 14.94m (49-00.25) - PR
-- Annette Echikunwoke - foul
Men's Results
Weight Throw
8. Macklin Tudor - 17.40m (57-01.00)
12. John Zedella - 15.51m (50-10.75)
15. Chris Province - 14.90m (48-10.75) -PR