Feb. 29, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2008 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships completed the first day of competition at the Randal Tyson Track Center with three Gamecocks competing in the men’s heptathlon and women’s pentathlon. Kayla Parker finished 16th with 2887 points as the lone Gamecock representative in the pentathlon. In the men’s heptathlon, Curt McGill is in third with 2886 points and Scott Pierce in fifth with 2761 points after four of seven events.
McGill, who finished fifth at the 2007 championships, led off the Carolina attempt in the heptathlon with a ninth place finish for 779 points in the men’s 60-meter dash at 7.30. Scott Pierce ran a 7.40 to accumulate 745 points in 11th place. The duo then moved on to the long jump where they both placed in the top five. Pierce jumped a personal best 22-5 on his final attempt to take fourth overall and grab 774 points. McGill came in at fifth with a distance of 21-11 ½ on his first jump.
Shot put was the third event of the day for the men and was the one that McGill has excelled at of the four throughout the season. 2007 heptathlon winner Jangy Addy of Tennessee took first with McGill leading the rest of the pack with a second place finish. He threw a 44-8 ¼ for 705 points, enough to move him into third overall through the first three events. Pierce threw a 33-1 ¼ and placed 12th for 528 points.
Pierce led the way in the final event of the day in the men’s heptathlon, claiming fifth in the high jump with a height of 6-2 ¾. Pierce, who twice rallied from two fouls before taking three misses at 6-5, finished the event with 714 points. McGill took eighth at a height of 6-0 ½ for 661 points to close his opening day.
In the women’s pentathlon, Parker tied for ninth in the women’s high jump after clearing 5-0 ½. She came close to advancing to the next height but slightly grazed the bar on her third attempt to finish the event with 666 points. She also placed 14th in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 9.36, giving her 1502 points after two events.
She struggled in the shot put at 29-6 ½ for 425 before taking 11th in the long jump at 17-2 ¼. Parker’s day ended in the 800-meter dash where she finished with a time of 3:07.92.
The second day of competition will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) Saturday with the men’s weight throw. The men’s heptathlon will conclude Saturday with the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault and 1000-meter run.
WOMEN’S TEAM STANDINGS AFTER ONE EVENT
1. Arkansas 13, 2. Kentucky 9, 3. Mississippi State 3, 4. Alabama 7, 5. Ole Miss 2
Women’s Pentathlon – All Events (60mH-HJ-LJ-SP-800m)
16. Kayla Parker 2887 points
Men’s Heptathlon – 4 Events (60m-HJ-LJ-SP)
3. Curt McGill 2886 points, 5. Scott Pierce 2761 points
Men’s Heptathlon: Men’s 60m Dash
9. Curt McGill 7.30 (779 points), 11. Scott Pierce 7.40 (745 points)
Men’s Heptathlon: Men’s Long Jump
4. Scott Pierce 22-5 (774 points), 5. Curt McGill 21-11 ½ (741 points)
Men’s Heptathlon: Men’s Shot Put
2. Curt McGill 44-8.25 (705 points), 12. Scott Pierce 33-10 ¼ (505 points)
Men’s Heptathlon: Men’s High Jump
5. Scott Pierce 6-2 ¾ (714 points), 8. Curt McGill 6-0 ½ (661 points)
Women’s Pentathlon: Women’s 60m Hurdles
14. Kayla Parker 9.36 (836 points)
Women’s Pentathlon: Women’s High Jump
T9. Kayla Parker 5-0 ½ (666 points)
Women’s Pentathlon: Women’s Shot Put
15. Kayla Parker 29-6 ½ (425 points)
Women’s Pentathlon: Women’s Long Jump
11. Kayla Parker 17-2 ¼ (626)
Women’s Pentathlon: Women’s 800m Dash
16. Kayla Parker 3:07.92 (295 points)
