Kentucky
Kentucky Gymnastics Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Program Records and Two Perfect Scores
LEXINGTON, Ky. β No. 7 Kentucky gymnastics (4-2, 2-1 SEC) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a program record 197.950-195.650 victory over No. 18 Georgia (1-3, 0-3 SEC) for Excite Night in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
Junior Makenzie Wilson and fifth-year senior Raena Worley recorded their first career 10.000βs, the first since Jenny Hansen competed for the Cats 1993-1996. The perfect marks were the first ever recorded in Rupp Arena.
Joined by over 100 Kentucky gymnastics alumni and 10,302 members of Big Blue Nation, the Wildcats showed off and showed out for the 40th Excite Night. Competing in Olympic order, Kentucky began the night with a bang tying its program best on vault, 49.550. Followed by a 49.325 on the uneven bars, the combined 98.875 was the highest ever two-event score in the month of January.
At the conclusion of the third rotation, the balance beam, Kentucky tallied 148.300. The combined score was the highest ever in a home meet. The floor exercise was not an exception as the Cats tied its program best on the event, which was set in 2014, with a 49.650 resulting in an overall new record to kick off the 2024 homestand.
On vault, Wilson executed perfection with a front handspring pike half twist which she drilled into the mat to stick her landing. The 10.000 set a new career and season best for the Tennessee native who previously held a personal best of 9.975 proving why she is the anchor on the event.
Senior Isabella Magnelli posted the second highest score on the first apparatus with a 9.925 while Worley recorded a 9.900. Arianna Patterson earned a 9.875 from the judges with the event rounded ouT by Cecily Rizoβs 9.850 and Delaynee Rodriguezβs 9.725.
Junior Jillian Procasky held the top mark on the uneven bars for the night with a 9.900. Senior Bailey Bunn was not far behind with a 9.875-worthy routine. Three Kentucky gymnasts tallied an 9.850 (Rodriguez, Annie Riegert and Worley) while Rizo scored a 9.775.
Next, it was time for the Beam Queens to shine in the third rotation. Magnelli held the top score of Excite Night with a beautiful routine earning her a 9.925. Freshman leadoff, Rodriguez, recorded a 9.800, but after a judgesβ inquiry, the score was elevated to a 9.900. Bunn stayed balanced with a 9.900 of her own. Freshman Creslyn Brose made her beam debut with a 9.850. The same mark was earned by Worley while Patterson saw a 9.825 flashed from the judgesβ table.
To finish out the historic evening, the Wildcats headed to the floor exercise where Worley earned a long-awaited perfect score β the first of her five-season career at UK. Set up for perfection in the anchor position by her teammates, the Virginia native ended the first home meet of the season in the best way possible. The 10.000 topped her previous career and season best 9.975 on the event.
Worley was not the only one to bring the house down on the floor exercise as Brose set a new career and season best of her own with a 9.975. Hailey Davis rocked out with a 9.900 while Patterson was in her Renaissance Era with a Beyonce-inspired routine that earned her a 9.925. Both Magnelli and Rodriguez scored 9.850.
The historic night set records and celebrated those who have built the program into what it is today. Fans can catch the Cats back in Rupp Arena three more times this season against BYU, Missouri and Florida. For the full 2024 meet schedule, click here.
Season and single-meet tickets are on sale and can be purchased through UKAthletics.com.Β Groups interested in special discounted tickets for meets should email WeAreUK@uky.edu.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, followΒ @UKGymnasticsΒ on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
Kentucky
Body found in Ohio River in northeast Kentucky ID’d as Columbus man
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohioβs Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examinerβs Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbieβs identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
MANHUNTS ACROSS AMERICA IN 2025: FIVE CASES THAT LEFT CITIES, CAMPUSES AND TOWNS ON EDGE
Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
Kentucky
Kentucky Girls Jumpers Surge as State Records Come Into Range
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortiumβs Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the stateβs leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlageβs mark is followed by Simon Kentonβs Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last seasonβs 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coesβ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
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