GAINESVILLE, FL – Texas A&M track & field’s Lianna Davidson and Katelyn Fairchild finished first and second, respectively, in the women’s javelin on the opening day of the SEC Outdoor Championships Thursday at the James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track.
The women’s javelin dynamic duo of Davidson and Fairchild led from the start and didn’t budge to ensure their 1-2 result. Fairchild opened the event with a huge mark of 56.62m/185-9 which would be her furthest of the event, that throw held throughout all six rounds until Davidson bested her teammate on her sixth and final attempt with a season-best toss of 57.89m/189-11. Her victory secured back-to-back years winning SEC gold in the event.
Joshua Mather and Sam H ankins scored the opening points of the meet for the men in their section of the javelin, as the duo placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Mather recorded a personal-best mark of 74.14m/243-3, while Hankins launched his javelin 73.79m/242-1.
Timara Chapman set the tone early in the women’s heptathlon, leading the event after the first four of seven events with 3,727 points. She claimed three wins in the 100m hurdles (13.55), 200m (24.19) and shot put (14.05m/42-10.75), while also securing a second-place finish in the high jump (1.75m/5-8.75).
After the first five events of the decathlon, Blake Harris and Landon Helms rank fourth and sixth, respectively. Harris won the 100m event in a time of 10.55 and finished the day with 3,976 points, while Helms concluded the opening day with 3,672 points. Both men return tomorrow for the final five disciplines of the event.
The trio of Sam Whitmarsh, Kimar Farquharson and Caden Norris put on a dominant display in the men’s 800m prelims, as all three qualified for tomorrow’s final. Whitmarsh won the event in 1:46.30, Farquharson finished third with a time of 1:47.57 and Norris crossed the line fifth in a personal-best mark of 1:47.93 which was also good for No. 11 on Texas A&M’s all-time performers list.
Bryce McCray booked his ticket to the men’s 400m hurdles final with a ninth-place overall result, finishing the race in 50.65. Shortly after on the women’s side of the event, Nissi Kabongo qualified for the final as she ran a personal-best time of 56.81 to win her heat and qualify fifth overall.
The Aggies return to the James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track tomorrow for the second day of the SEC Outdoor Championships.
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