CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND!!!

What a weekend!!!



In track and field, there are weekends that come ever so often where you just happy to be a track and field fan, this is one of those weekends. Today I will discuss one of the big conferece wrap ups.



SEC MEN

We will start off with my favorite conference the SEC. This meet again came down to three schools, Florida, Arkansas and LSU. I will admit that I am a huge Florida Gator fan, mainly of their track and field team. I think Mike Holloway is one of the most underrated coaches and has established a solid staff. Unfortunately however Arkansas again was too much for the Gators.











*Sprints



Jeffrey Demps a sophomore football star from Florida led the nation in the men's 60 meter dash with a time of 6.59 seconds. Another sophomore Marcus Rowland however was the winner clocking in at 6.62 to take the title. Those were points that Florida could have used.



Senior Calvin Smith of Florida was able to put 10 points on the board for the Florida Gators clocking in at 20.73 in the final and running a 20.67 in the preliminary both automatic qualifying times for the NCAA Championships. Rowland clocked in at 20.80 to finish second, also automatically qualifying for the Championship Meet.



Smith was unfortunate in trying to carry that success over to the 400 were he is the defending champion. Torrin Lawrence who currently ranks number four all time in NCAA history, won the men's 400 in a meet record 45.10 and talented freshman Kirani James of Alabama took second in 45.24 and Smith finished third in 45.61.



In a heated sophomore battle in the men's 60 meter hurdles, Barrett Nugent of LSU took the conference title clockin in at automatic 7.65, Booker Nunley of South Carolina was also automatic clockin at 7.68.



The Gators lived up to the hype by continuing their winning ways in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:05.53. The relay consits of Tony McQuay, Christian Taylor, Jovon Toppin and Calvin Smith.



*Distance



This conference has been for decades been lead by the distance dominance of Arkansas. This year was no different. LSU keep things honest finishing 1-2 in the men's 800 with junior Richard Jones hitting the only auto mark at 1:47.78 and freshman teammate Sadiki White in at 1:49.62. Arkansas was able to pick up nine points with freshman Drew Butler clocking in at 1:50.75 to finish fourth and junior Chris Bilbrew finishing fifth with a time of 1:50.80.



Arkansas continued that success in the men's 1 mile race with senior Dorian Ulrey winning the crown in 4:02.56, junior Michael Chinchar finishing fourth in 4:07.75 and sophomore Rick Elliott to finish eighth in 4:10.56. In the mile alone Arkansas was able to pick up 16 team points. Senior Justin Taylor was able to put 8 team points on the board for the Florida Gators finishing second in 4:06.17.



Ulrey did not stop at the mile, he added another conference crown to his resume by winning the men's 3,000 with a winning time of 8:00.05. Freshman star Solomon Haile finished second for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 8:02.27. Another freshman Eric Fernandez clocking at 8:04.76 to place fourth, senior Scott MacPherson finishing fifth in 8:06.11 and sophomre Lane Boyer finishing sixth with a time of 8:07.91. The Razorbacks were able to pick up 30 total team points.



The Razorbacks would continue their winning ways with similar characters, senior MacPherson took the title in the men's 5,000 the winning time of 13:49.57, Hernandez took fifth in 14:05.45, Boyer placed seventh in 14:08.60 and Haile clocking in at 14:18.76 to finish eighth respectively. Ben Cheryiout of Auburn finished second with a time of 13:54.86.



The Razorbacks were also able to take the title in the Men's Distance Medley Relay with a sensational anchor by Ulrey with their winning time of 9:48.92. Along with Ulrey, Michael Chinchar, Drew Butler and Andrew Pennington.



*Field Events



In the Jumps Christian Taylor added another title to his young resume. The sophomore won the men's triple jump with his second attempt leaping to automatic 55-2 3/4. Freshman teammate Omar Craddock placed third leaping to 53-1 1/2 on his first attempt. LSU jumping star Zedric Thomas placed second leaping 53-3 1/2 on his fifth attempt.



Taylor was not able transfer that success over to the long jump, however he finished third respectively leaping to 25-6 3/4. Arkansas was able to capitalized in the men's long jump finishing 1-2 with senior Alain Bailey leaping to 26-9 3/4 for the win and sophomore Tarik Batchelor in 26-6 1/2. Both Razorbacks made automatic leaps.



It was another 1-2 finish in a jumping competition in the men's high jump. Ricky Robertson and Brian Knight finished 1-2 to give the Ole Miss Rebels 18 team points. Robertson reached a height of 7-4 1/4 while Knight reached 7-3 1/4.



Senior Elliott Hayne led the way in the men's pole with the only 17 foot jump reaching 17-7 1/4 to claim the title for the South Carolina Gamecocks.



Junior Kemal Mesic was able to put 10 points on the board for the Florida Gators hauling the shot put 61-1 1/4 leading freshman Peter Novotny of Georgia who hauled a 58-1 effort.



Junior Walter Herring continued his winning ways for the LSU Tigers throwing the weight throw 78-1 for a meet record winning by more that 10 feet. Teammate Michael Lauro finished third with an effort of 67-2 3/4 and Mike Zajac of South Carolina took second with a throw of 67-3 1/2.



NEXT POST: SEC WOMEN'S REVIEW



(WILL BE SHORTER)