The University of Florida women’s track and field team posted three NCAA East Region Championship qualifying marks in the second day of competition at the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium on Friday led by junior Lorain McKenzie (Clarendon, Jamaica) who achieved the feat in the 800m by running the second-fastest time in the Southeastern Conference this season. Freshmen pole vaulters Lori Bowen (Surfside, Fla.) and Lauren Menke (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) also attained the regional standard.

“Lorain did very well for us,” Florida women’s track and field interim head coach Steve Lemke said. “We knew she was going to keep getting better and she showed that with her performance today. She’s stepping it up right before the conference and that is very good to see. Lori and Lauren both posted regional qualifying marks again this week and it is great to see them showing consistency in their vaults.”

McKenzie ran a personal-best 2:05.70 in the 800m, the 10th-fastest time in UF history, to finish the event in second place. The mark surpassed McKenzie’s previous-best clocking by almost three seconds, and it ranks as third-best time among NCAA East Region qualifiers and 12th-best in the nation this season. McKenzie has now achieved the regional standard three times in 2007.

In the pole vault, both Bowen and Menke cleared the bar at 3.80m/12-5.50 to finish in a tie for eighth with four other competitors. For Bowen, it marks the fifth time she has reached the regional standard this season. Menke tied a personal-best and regionally qualified for the second week in a row with the mark, which matched her performance from last weekend’s National Training Center Spring Fling. Menke’s vault ranks as the seventh-best in the SEC, while Bowen’s best vault of the season, 3.91m/12-10.0 achieved at the NTC Spring Fling, ranks as the fourth best in the SEC.

Florida will compete at separate meets on Saturday. A portion of the squad will conclude competition at the Drake Relays, while a group of sprinters will travel to compete in the California Collegiate Challenge in Berkeley, Calif. Live results of the Drake Relays can be found at www.drakerelays.org, while live results of the California Collegiate Challenge will be available at www.calbears.com.

-UF-