Local track and field stars shine
at national champonships in Iowa

UK thrower Raymond Dykstra is a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association First Team All-American. He’s also just a freshman.

Dykstra finished sixth in the javelin Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, earning the Wildcats’ men’s team three points.

A Second Team All-Southeastern Conference performer and All-SEC Freshman Team selection, Dykstra entered the semifinals of the competition as one of just six freshmen. On his second throw of the day, Dykstra recorded a mark of 242-11/74.04m to move into fourth place. By the end of the semifinals, the Grimsby, Canada, native’s position had moved to sixth and it did not change in the finals. Dykstra finishes the year as the top freshman javelin thrower in the country and as the UK record holder in the javelin after throwing 247-05/75.41m at the Texas Relays in late March.

Also competing Thursday was UK junior distance runner Luis Orta. Orta, a Caracas, Venezuela, native who was a Second Team All-SEC performer in the 3,000m steeplechase this year, finished 22nd with a time of 9:08.78. Orta had qualified for the national championships behind a career-best time of 8:44.25, which is the second-fastest 3,000m steeplechase recorded in Kentucky history.

Facing the best of the best Wednesday, sophomore thrower Andrew Evans rose to the occasion with a career-best mark of 193-03/58.91m to finish seventh in the event and earn the Wildcats’ men’s team two points. Evans’ career-best mark, the sixth-best in school history, was on his second attempt of the day, and only adds to his already fantastic season.

From UK Athletics

EKU runner finishes in top 20 in steeplechase

Eastern Kentucky University sophomore Ben Toroitich finished seventh in his heat and 16th overall in the semifinals of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:48.17 on Thursday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium.

The performance earned Toroitich second team All-American honors. Toroitich, a native of Marakwet, Kenya, did not qualify for the finals of the event, which will be held on Saturday afternoon. The top five times from each heat, plus the next four fastest times advanced to the finals.

Junior Soufiane Bouchikhi, who earned first team All-American honors after finishing eighth in the men’s 10,000 meters last night, will run in the men’s 5,000 meters on Friday night at 8:10 p.m. ET.

From EKU Sports

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