GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Georgia and Arkansas lead on the men’s and women’s sides, respectively, following day two of the 2009 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships Friday. The event is being hosted by the University of Florida at its Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium.
The Georgia men lead Auburn by 10 points while the Razorback women go into the final day of competition at University of Florida’s Percy Beard Track with a 13-point edge over Alabama.
Arkansas’ Etienne Chaplin won the women’s heptathlon event, totaling a season-best 5,594 points to collect an NCAA automatic-qualifying mark. Chaplin edged out 2008 SEC Outdoor Champion Marrissa Harris of Mississippi State, who tallied 5,579 points.
University of Florida freshman Gray Horn won the men’s decathlon after accumulating 7.389 points to top Tennessee’s Michael Ayers by 23 tallies. The battle for the top spot came down to the day’s final event. Horn stood in second place going into the final event, the men’s 1,500m run, but came up big with an 84-point advantage to clinch the title. Horn’s championship is the first men’s decathlon title in UF history.
LSU sophomore thrower Walter Henning won the men’s hammer throw title with a mark of 229-5 on his final throw from the ring. The Tiger led throughout the competition after his initial throw of 228-11.
On the women’s side, Alabama sophomore Angelica Howard won the hammer throw title on her second-to-last throw of 195-10 to overtake the lead from LSU junior Kim Williams’ mark of 192-3 on her third attempt.
In the women’s 10,000m run, Arkansas sophomore Catherine White clocked in at 35:07.50 to take the title. White beat out senior teammate Denise Bargiachi to take the top spot.
Alabama senior Tyson David won his second-straight 10,000m run title Friday evening, crossing the line in 30:09.50. The Crimson Tide distance specialist edged rival Girma Mecheso of Auburn (30:13.53) for the title.
For complete coverage of the 2009 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, please log on to www.secsports.com and www.GatorZone.com.
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