March 2, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Arkansas men’s track and field team captured its fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference indoor title, while the Tennessee women claimed their third indoor crown in five years Sunday on the final day of the 2009 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Kentucky in its E.J. Nutter Fieldhouse.
The Lady Vols tallied 111 points to hold off defending champion LSU (105) for the Big Orange’s fourth-ever SEC Indoor Trophy to go along with titles in 1984, 2005 and 2007. Arkansas was third with 97, followed by Florida (84), South Carolina (57), Auburn (54), Kentucky (49.5), Ole Miss (32), Mississippi State (28), Alabama (26.5), Georgia (14) and Vanderbilt (5).
“This was an unbelievable effort,” UT head coach J.J. Clark said. “I’ve never had this many SEC Champions. People really pulled out great performances and it was a team effort. It was a very good meet for us. We dug in and got it done. LSU didn’t die or fold, they came out and did some great things. We’re just happy to come out on top, especially in such a great conference.”
On the men’s side, Arkansas placed first with 130 total points, followed by Florida (102) and Tennessee (78). South Carolina and Auburn finished in a tie for fourth place with 65 points, followed by LSU (64), Kentucky (48), Georgia (48), Alabama (35) and Ole Miss (29).
“I’ve been an observer for a lot of years watching the SEC meet and I’d marvel on Sunday nights looking at the results,” Arkansas head coach Chris Bucknam said. “Never did I think a year ago that I’d be a part of this. It’s certainly an unbelievable league. It’s another national meet – it’s the national meet before the national meet in so many ways as you saw today. It’s got great coaches in it. It was everything I thought it was and even more. It’s a little bit of justification on how good this team is, but you have to go out and prove it and I think we did that today in an unbelievable league, with great competition on a really fast track.”
For all of the latest information on the 2009 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships, please log on to www.secsports.com.
FINAL WOMEN’S TEAM STANDINGS
1) Tennessee 111
2) LSU105
3) Arkansas 97
4) Florida 84
5) South Carolina 57
6) Auburn 54
7) Kentucky 49.5
8) Ole Miss 32
9) Mississippi State 28
10) Alabama 26.5
11) Georgia 14
12) Vanderbilt 5
FINAL MEN’S TEAM STANDINGS
1) Arkansas 130
2) Florida 102
3) Tennessee 78
4) South Carolina 65
4) Auburn 65
6) LSU 64
7) Kentucky 48
8) Georgia 48
9) Alabama 35
10) Ole Miss 29
