Sprinters Shine on Final Day at SEC Outdoors

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- As he has done throughout his career in an LSU uniform, senior Trindon Holliday made history in Sunday’s finale at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships by being crowned SEC champion of the 100-meter dash for the second time in his career.

Holliday’s performance helped fuel the Tigers third-place finish in the final team standings as the team racked up 98.5 points over the course of four days of competition. Arkansas successfully defended its SEC title with 141 points, while Florida finished runner-up with 129 points.

After bringing an SEC Outdoor championship back home to Baton Rouge in each of the last two seasons, the Lady Tigers scored 113 points in the meet to finish runner-up to Florida (135.5).

Fans have the opportunity to watch a two-hour tape-delay broadcast of the meet on May 23 from 5-7 p.m. CT as part of SEC-TV on Fox Sports Net-South and Fox Sports Net-Southwest.

“I thought we really had a great meet on both sides,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “You have to give a lot of credit to Florida for the way they took charge of the women’s race. They did put it together in a big way and probably scored more points than expected. Our women scored a lot of points across the board in all of the event areas and I thought performed very well.

“I feel the same way about our men’s team in the way they came here and competed in an NCAA Championship type of environment. Like the women, the men competed very well in the jumps and the throws just as much as the sprint events. It was really a great team effort on both sides.”

Following a 90-minute weather delay which left the straightaway at Percy Beard Track saturated for each of the nine men in the 100-meter final, Holliday stepped into the blocks with yet another SEC championship in his sights after running away with the title in his first appearance in 2007.

And there was little doubt about who would take home this year’s crown as Holliday led from the gun and crossed the finish line with a new personal best and NCAA best time of 10.01 seconds.

With his performance, Holliday became the first male track athlete in program history to win two SEC 100-meter titles in his career. Former LSU stars Fabian Muyaba (1993), Chris Cummings (1997), Byron Logan (1998) and Richard Thompson (2008) have also been crowned champion in the event as the Tigers own the last three titles dating back to Holliday’s first win in 2007.

In addition to his win in the 100 meters, Holliday anchored the Tigers’ 4x100-meter relay team to All-SEC honors as he teamed with junior Armanti Hayes, junior Will Coppage and sophomore Gabriel Mvumvure to finish runner-up in the event with a seasonal-best time of 38.86.

“It means a lot to me because of the past guys we’ve had here. For me to be the first to win two is really special,” Holliday said. “I always tell myself to just stay focused on what I’ve got to do and come out and run a smart race. I feel like I did that. I wasn’t expecting to run a time like that since the track was so wet, and it was tough to have to warm up twice before the race.

“I just knew that I had to take care of business when I had to take care of business. That’s exactly what I came here to do, and I feel pretty good about where I am heading into regionals.”

With Holliday’s dominating victory still fresh in everyone’s mind, the Lady Tigers followed with a sweep of the top two spots in the women’s 100-meter dash.

Sophomore Kenyanna Wilson raced across the finish line in 11.32 to nip junior Samantha Henry at the tape and win her first career individual SEC championship. Henry won All-SEC honors for the Lady Tigers with a second-place finish as she clocked a time of 11.34 in the race. Wilson and Henry combined for 18 big points in the event to help lead LSU’s charge up the standings.

With no time to rest, the duo returned to the track less than an hour later for the 200-meter final as they had their sights set on racking up even more points for the Lady Tigers’ cause.

This time, it was Henry taking home the SEC title in a time of 23.36 and Wilson adding a second All-SEC honor to her resume with a personal-best time of 23.44. Their effort single-handedly kept the Lady Tigers in the race for the team championship as the meet came to a close.

“The rain delay made it really tough on us today, but I think we did a good job of staying focused on what we needed to do to get the job done,” Wilson said. “We knew we had to score a lot of points to keep up with Florida and Tennessee. It was going to be a tight race at the end, and it was our job to make sure we put ourselves in position to compete down the stretch.”

LSU added a fourth SEC title to its trophy case in the final event of the meet with Cassandra Tate, Kayann Thompson, Brittany Hall and LaTavia Thomas running 3 minutes, 34.11 seconds to beat Auburn (3:34.40) to the finish line in the 4x400-meter relay. The Lady Tigers defended the crown they won in the event a year ago as it marked their eighth SEC Outdoor title in the event all-time.

For Thomas, Thompson and Hall, it marked their second race of the evening as they combined for a total of 16 points in the final of the 800 meters in perhaps the most exciting event of the meet.

Thomas set a new personal best of 2:02.77 to earn All-SEC honors with a second-place finish and move into the No. 4 spot on LSU’s all-time outdoor performance list in the event. Thompson finished fourth in 2:03.64, while Hall also set a personal best of 2:03.68 to place sixth.

“What a tremendous 800-meter race to see,” Shaver said. “I would be willing to bet there’s never been a race at the conference level with six women running 2:03 or better. Any one of them have the ability to make the NCAA final in that event. There probably isn’t an event in this conference with that kind of quality depth and All-American kind of potential this season.”

Two other Lady Tigers earned all-conference honors on the meet’s final day as freshman standout Rachel Laurent tied for second place in the pole vault with a clearance of 13 feet, 5 ¼ inches, while sophomore Brittani Carter followed with a runner-up finish in the high jump with a mark of  5-11 ½. Both also earned All-SEC honors at the SEC Indoor Championships in March.

While the Lady Tigers brought home the title in the 4x400-meter relay, the men’s team of Robert Simmons, Ade Alleyne-Forte, Jamar Howard and Hayes earned All-SEC honors while running an impressive seasonal-best time of 3:04.75 to finish runner-up to South Carolina (3:04.49).

The Tigers and Lady Tigers will continue their run to the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in two weeks as they look to qualify at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships to be held May 29-30 at Cardinal Park Stadium in Louisville, Ky.


2009 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Sunday at Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Fla. (All race distances in meters)

Men

100
1. Trindon Holliday, LSU, 10.01; 2. Jeremy Hall, Florida, 10.08; 3. Marcus Rowland, Auburn, 10.13; 4. Terrell Wilks, Florida, 10.15; 5. J-Mee Samuels, Arkansas, 10.26; 6. Deangelo Cherry, Mississippi State, 10.30; 7. Johnathan Hancock, South Carolina, 10.34; 8. Rondel Sorrillo, Kentucky, 10.36.

200
1. Jeremy Hall, Florida, 20.51; 2. Calvin Smith, Florida, 20.72; 3. Marcus Rowland, Auburn, 20.73; 4. Antonio Sales, South Carolina, 20.78; 5. Marek Nitt, Arkansas, 20.91; 6. Gabriel Mvumvure, LSU, 21.00; 7. Evander Wells, Tennessee, 21.15; 8. Rondel Sorrillo, Kentucky, 21.16.

400
1. Calvin Smith, Florida, 44.96; 2. Dwight Mullings, Mississippi State, 44.98; 3. John Bailey, Mississippi State, 45.55; 4. Armanti Hayes, LSU, 45.67; 5. Robert Simmons, LSU, 46.08; 6. Jose Acevedo, Kentucky, 46.17; 7. R.J. Anderson, Florida, 46.46; 8. OB Ngwigwa, South Carolina, 47.20.

800
1. Alex McClary, Arkansas, 1:47.78; 2. Joseph Franklin, Tennessee, 1:48.39; 3. Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas, 1:48.46; 4. Carlos Phillips, Florida, 1:48.48; 5. Andy McClary, Arkansas, 1:49.19; 6. Chris Billbrew, Arkansas, 1:49.30; 7. Stephan Smith, Kentucky, 1:49.46; 8. Emerson Peacock, Tennessee, 1:49.76.

1,500
1. Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas, 3:41.39; 2. Andy McClary, Arkansas, 3:41.96; 3. Felix Kiboiywo, Auburn, 3:44.13; 4. Michael Chinchar, Arkansas, 3:45.68; 5. Emmanuel Bor, Alabama, 3:46.37; 6. Ryley Miller, Georgia, 3:46.74; 7. Justin Taylor, Florida, 3:48.57; 8. Matthew Cameron, Mississippi State, 3:48.76.

5,000
1. Shawn Forrest, Arkansas, 13:43.51; 2. Tyson David, Alabama, 13:55.46; 3. Girma Mecheso, Auburn, 14:00.32; 4. Scott MacPherson, Arkansas, 14:05.57; 5. Jean-Pierre Weerts, Auburn, 14:07.30; 6. Kyle Lewis, Ole Miss, 14:10.00; 7. Sean Blaney, Florida, 14:12.63; 8. Emmanuel Bor, Alabama, 14:16.95.

110 hurdles
1. Jason Richardson, South Carolina, 13.29; 2. Booker Nunley, South Carolina, 13.49; 3. William Wynne, Florida, 13.64; 4. Johnny Dutch, South Carolina, 13.68; 5. Dennis Martin, Florida, 13.83; 6. Barrett Nugent, LSU, 13.88; 7. Mikel Thomas, Kentucky, 13.97; 8. Kalinka Pitt, Florida, 14.03.

400 hurdles
1. Johnny Dutch, South Carolina, 48.58; 2. Justin Gaymon, Georgia, 48.86; 3. William Wynne, Florida, 49.80; 4. Lee Moore, Ole Miss, 50.01; 5. Emmanuel Mayers, Mississippi State, 50.84; 6. Carson Blanks, Ole Miss, 51.05; 7. Patrick Lee, LSU, 51.18; 8. Mikel Thomas, Kentucky, 51.41.

4x100
1. Florida, 38.74; 2. LSU, 38.86; 3. South Carolina, 39.41; 4. Mississippi State, 39.45; 5. Auburn, 39.50; 6. Arkansas, 39.65; 7. Alabama, 39.73; 8. Georgia, 39.75.

4x400
1. South Carolina, 3:04.49; 2. LSU, 3:04.75; 3. Florida, 3:04.85; 4. Kentucky, 3:07.45; 5. Georgia, 3:08.79; 6. Ole Miss, 3:09.23; 7. Arkansas, 3:10.05; 8. Tennessee, 3:10.86.

Triple Jump
1. Wale Odetunde, Ole Miss, 51-8 ½; 2. Nkosinza Balumbu, Arkansas, 51-7 ¾; 3. Tarik Batchelor, Arkansas, 51-2 ¾; 4. Zedric Thomas, LSU, 51-0 ¼; 5. Reggie Haslom, LSU, 50-11 ½; 6. Akeem Hardnett, Tennessee, 50-9 ¼; 7. Kendrick Poullard, Mississippi State, 50-5 ¼; 8. David Banks, Kentucky, 49-3 ½.

Discus
1. Rashaud Scott, Kentucky, 194-4; 2. Zach Clayton, Auburn, 182-10; 3. Chase Madison, Kentucky, 181-3; 4. Colin Boevers, Kentucky, 176-8; 5. Israel Machovec, Georgia, 173-3; 6. Nick Panezich, Tennessee, 167-9; 7. Kemal Mesic, Florida, 166-6; 8. Scott Clayman, Florida, 164-3.

FINAL TEAM SCORES (21 events scored)
1. Arkansas, 141; 2. Florida, 129; 3. LSU, 98.5; 4. South Carolina, 88; T5. Auburn, 72; T5. Georgia, 72; 7. Kentucky, 55; 8. Tennessee, 53; 9. Mississippi State, 44.5; 10. Alabama, 33.5; 11. Ole Miss, 32.5.


Women

100
1. Kenyanna Wilson, LSU, 11.32; 2. Samantha Henry, LSU, 11.34; 3. Lakya Brookins, South Carolina, 11.36; 4. Joanna Atkins, Auburn, 11.42; 5. Shayla Mahan, South Carolina, 11.55; 6. Lynne Layne, Tennessee, 11.56; 7. Gabrielle Glenn, South Carolina, 11.58; 8. Georgina Nembhard, Georgia, 11.73.

200
1. Samantha Henry, LSU, 23.36; 2. Kenyanna Wilson, LSU, 23.44; 3. Joanna Atkins, Auburn, 23.48; 4. Cache Armbrister, Auburn, 23.64; 5. Lynne Layne, Tennessee, 23.70; 6. Liann Kellman, LSU, 24.15; 7. Georgina Nembhard, Georgia, 24.16; 8. Madison McNary, Florida, 24.26.

400
1. LaJada Baldwin, Ole Miss, 51.95; 2. Shelise Williams, Arkansas, 52.41; 3. Alishea Usery, Florida, 53.27; 4. Lakeshia Williams, Auburn, 54.33; 5. Crystal Wilson, Mississippi State, 54.61; 6. Odeika Bent, Georgia, 55.59; 7. Kim House, Georgia, 55.61; 8. Karen Thomas, Arkansas, 55.75.

800
1. Phoebe Wright, Tennessee, 2:02.15; 2. LaTavia Thomas, LSU, 2:02.77; 3. Chanelle Price, Tennessee, 2:03.30; 4. Kayann Thompson, LSU, 2:03.64; 5. Sarah Bowman, Tennessee, 2:03.64; 6. Brittany Hall, LSU, 2:03.68; 7. Charlotte Browning, Florida, 2:06.15; 8. Britney Barnard, Ole Miss, 2:07.65.

1,500
1. Sarah Bowman, Tennessee, 4:15.03; 2. Charlotte Browning, Florida, 4:19.66; 3. Jillian Rosen, Arkansas, 4:21.58; 4. Kristie Krueger, Georgia, 4:24.55; 5. McKayla Plank, Georgia, 4:26.24; 6. Kaitlin Shiver, Florida, 4:26.66; 7. Rolanda Bell, Tennessee, 4:28.18; 8. Samantha Learch, Arkansas, 4:29.51.

5,000
1. Catherine White, Arkansas, 16:29.72; 2. Jackie Areson, Tennessee, 16:32.72; 3. Denise Bargiachi, Arkansas, 16:36.27; 4. Genevieve LaCaze, Florida, 16;42.36; 5. Christine Kalmer, Arkansas, 16:46.69; 6. Kelsey Johnson, Alabama, 16:47.82; 7. Katie Van Horn, Tennessee, 16:52.73; 8. Laura Garrow, Florida, 16:53.95.

100 hurdles
1. Celriece Law, Tennessee, 13.22; 2. Marrissa Harris, Mississippi State, 13.35; 3. Tenaya Jones, LSU, 13.47; 4. Danielle Gilchrist, Auburn, 13.49; 5. Janica Austin, South Carolina, 13.55; 6. Bridgett Rose, Mississippi State, 13.65; 7. Audra Frimpong, Alabama, 13.85.

400 hurdles
1. Danielle Gilchrist, Auburn, 57.83; 2. Sofie Persson, Ole Miss, 57.96; 3. Janica Austin, South Carolina, 58.06; 4. Talaya Owens, Alabama, 58.20; 5. Ellen Wortham, Tennessee, 59.08; 6. Latoya Parkinson, Auburn, 59.18; 7. Ashley Trimble, Kentucky, 59.53; 8. Jasmine Dacus, Ole Miss, 59.60.

4x100
1. Auburn, 44.11; 2. South Carolina, 44.37; 3. Tennessee, 44.70; 4. Ole Miss, 45.46; 5. Alabama, 45.51; 6. Florida, 45.62; 7. Mississippi State, 45.69; 8. Kentucky, 45.87.

4x400
1. LSU, 3:34.11; 2. Auburn, 3:34.40; 3. South Carolina, 3:37.79; 4. Tennessee, 3:38.41; 5. Florida, 3:42.68; 6. Kentucky, 3:43.27; 7. Ole Miss, 3:44.56; 8. Alabama, 3:52.67.

High Jump
1. Raevan Harris, Auburn, 5-11 ½; 2. Brittani Carter, LSU, 5-11 ½; 3. Chealsea Taylor, Alabama, 5-8 ¾; 4. Krystle Schade, Alabama, 5-8 ¾; 5. Carin Walker, Georgia, 5-7; T6. Shaquita Young, 5-5; T6. Corey Bowen, South Carolina, 5-5; T8. Rachel Robbs, Alabama, 5-5; T8. Staley Foster, South Carolina, 5-5.

Pole Vault
1. Katie Stripling, Arkansas, 14-5 ¼; T2. Rachel Laurent, LSU, 13-5 ¼; T2. Alicia Essex, Tennessee, 13-5 ¼; T4. Natalie Moser, Florida, 13-1 ½; T4. Tara Diebold, Arkansas, 13-1 ½; 6. Katelyn Rodrigue, LSU, 13-1 ½; 7. Sallie Gurganus, South Carolina, 13-1 ½; 8. Sarah Landau, Arkansas, 13-1 ½.

Triple Jump
1. Shara Proctor, Florida, 44-0 ¾; 2. Celriece Law, Tennessee, 42-2; 3. Madara Apine, Florida, 42-0; 4. Michelle Jenije, Florida, 40-9 ¾; 5. Ke’Undra Bishop, Kentucky, 40-9 ¾; 6. Wendy Copeland, Mississippi State, 40-7; 7. Melissa Ogbourne, LSU, 40-6; 8. Aria Gaines, Ole Miss, 40-2 ¼.

Shot Put
1. Mariam Kevkhishvilli, Florida, 59-2 ¾; 2. Keely Medeiros, Florida, 54-3 ¼; 3. Annie Alexander, Tennessee, 53-5 ¾; 4. Ashley Muffett, Kentucky, 52-3 ¾; 5. Davina Orieukwu, Ole Miss, 51-3 ¾; 6. Angelica Howard, Alabama, 50-2 ½; 7. Mary Angell, Kentucky, 48-8; 8. Stacee Roberts, South Carolina, 47-7 ¼.

Javelin
1. Evelien Dekkers, Florida, 173-11; 2. Michelle Thompson, Georgia, 171-5; 3. Anna Lyons, LSU, 168-11; 4. Emily Sanders, Georgia, 145-6; 5. Marlee Kevech, Ole Miss, 143-11; 6. Star Sansone, Florida, 142-5; 7. Brieanna Kennedy, LSU, 137-6; 8. Meghan Austin, Alabama, 136-3.

FINAL TEAM SCORES (21 events scored)
1. Florida, 135.5; 2. LSU, 113; 3. Tennessee, 106; 4. Arkansas, 96.5; 5. Auburn, 76; 6. Kentucky, 56; 7. Alabama, 52.5; 8. South Carolina, 51; 9. Georgia, 45.5; 10. Ole Miss, 44; 11. Mississippi State, 42.