LEXINGTON, Ky. ? LSU senior Shaunette Davidson claimed the Southeastern Conference women?s pentathlon title Friday to take an early lead after the first day of the 2007 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships in the University of Kentucky?s E.J. Nutter Field House.
Davidson finished with a provisional-qualifying total of 3,896 in the pentathlon, winning both the high jump and long jump, and finishing third in the 60-meter hurdles. The Tigers have claimed the event two consecutive years after Megan Akre captured the 2006 pentathlon title. Davidson?s mark is sixth best in LSU school history.
?I came into the meet looking to qualify automatically for NCAAs, and I went out there tonight and gave it everything I had,? Davidson said. ?I got off to a good start in the hurdles and that paved the way for me to have a good score in the end. I?m proud to be an SEC Champion and get our team off to a good start in the meet.?
Arkansas? Etinne Chaplin finished second in the event with a 3,865, while Vanderbilt?s Garnetta Holloway was third with a 3,832.
The Tigers are in first place in the women?s standings after day one with 10 points, while Arkansas and Vanderbilt are tied for second with eight points apiece.
“I’m proud of what Shaunette was able to do tonight, and she really got our women’s team off to a good start with her performance,” LSU head coach Dennis Shaver said. “We would have liked to see her score some more points to put herself in a better position to make it to the NCAA meet, but what else can you say about someone who wins an SEC championship? We’re excited about what she has accomplished tonight.”
On the men?s side, Tennessee took the lead after the first four events of the men?s heptathlon. Vols Jangy Addy and Chris Helwick are in first and second place, respectively, after the opening four events. Addy, who finished second in the heptathlon at last season?s SEC Indoor Championships, tossed a personal-best 55-1.5 in the shot put to pace his performance.
?It was an excellent first day for us,? Tennessee men?s head coach Bill Webb said. ?Obviously, you can?t PR in every event, but we did win all four events today. Jangy had a huge shot put and is still healthy going into the second day. We are right where we want to be and, hopefully, we can continue over the final three events. This is as good of a first day as I?ve seen in a long time.?
Action in the 2007 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships continues at 10 a.m. EST Saturday with the field events and concludes with the women?s 3,000 meter run at 7:15 p.m. EST. Live scoring will be available at ukathletics.com.
2007 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships ? Day 1 Results
Women?s Team Standings
1. LSU ? 10
2. Arkansas ? 8
2. Vanderbilt ? 8
4. Georgia ? 5
5. South Carolina ? 4
5. Mississippi State – 4
