May 15, 2014

Results

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore Sarah Graham set three personal bests in the first four events of the heptathlon to sit in third place after the opening day of competition at the 2014 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Kentucky. In the decathlon, freshman Alexandre Asselin, the only other Gamecock in action on Thursday, had a strong day as well and is in fourth after the first five events.

After turning in her first sub-14 second time in the 100-meter hurdles with a 13.97 to open the day, Graham cruised through the high jump competition, clearing seven-straight bars without a miss. After matching her PR of 5’8 ¾” (1.75m) that stood as the No. 3 clearance in program history, Graham made quick work at 5’10” (1.78m) to better her entry. The Gamecock was unable to get over 5’11 ¼” (1.81m), and she, along with heptathlon American junior record holder Kendell Williams of Georgia, earned 953 points for the high jump.

Graham moved on to the shot put and posted her third PR of the day, notching a heave of 36’4″ (11.07m). The 600 points kept her in second place behind Williams. In the 200-meter dash, the day’s final event, Graham felt the fatigue, but finished the day in third with 3,330 points.

After a solid showing in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.21, Asselin jumped into second place after the day’s second event, matching his long jump personal best with a leap of 23’6 ¾” (7.18m). The mark earned him 857 points.

In the shot put, Asselin threw 40′ (12.19m) to maintain his second-place position. A clearance of 6′ ½” (1.84m) in the high jump gave him 661 points, but dropped him to fourth entering the final event of the day. Asselin set his second career best of the afternoon in the 400-meters to end the day, running 50.34. Asselin will enter tomorrow in fourth place with 3,749 points.

Tomorrow, action picks back up at noon with the remaining decathlon events (110mH, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin and 1500m) and the final three heptathlon events (Long Jump, Javelin, 800m). Friday also features the men’s hammer throw and 10,000 meter finals in addition to prelims of the 800 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter hurdles.