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LSU's JuVaughn Harrison, Texas A&M's Tyra Gittens Both Take Two Titles at SEC Championships; Kentucky's Abby Steiner Runs 22.41 200

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DyeStat.com   Feb 27th 2021, 3:02am
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Harrison and Gittens both become only third athlete in their respective genders in conference finals history to sweep high jump and long jump crowns in the same year; Steiner equals No. 3 all-time collegiate performer in prelims, with Boling taking over 200 world lead and Garland repeating as heptathlon champ 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

A sweep by the most productive pair of combination jumpers in the country led to both LSU’s JuVaughn Harrison and Texas A&M’s Tyra Gittens joining elite company in Southeastern Conference indoor history Friday in Fayetteville, Ark.

And Kentucky junior Abby Steiner provided an indication that a collegiate all-time indoor mark could be less than 24 hours away.

Harrison and Gittens both became only the third athletes in their respective genders to win both long jump and high jump titles at the same conference meet, each capturing the difficult double on a short turnaround based on a demanding schedule at Randal Tyson Track Center.

After needing to clear only three bars to secure the high jump crown, deciding to limit his output following a clearance of 7 feet, 2.50 inches (2.20m), Harrison made an immediate impact in the long jump, producing a first-round leap of 27 feet, 4 inches (8.33m) to equal the world-leading mark this year.

Harrison joined LSU’s Thomas Dukes (1957) and Florida’s Michael Morrison (2006) as the only male athletes to sweep the high jump and long jump at the same conference final.

Harrison, who surpassed the 2013 championship meet record of 27-0.75 (8.25m) achieved by Florida’s Marquis Dendy, matched the top performance globally accomplished Feb. 12 by Florida State’s Isaac Grimes inside the same arena at the Tyson Invitational. Grimes captured the Atlantic Coast Conference title Friday, but only jumped 26-0.75 (7.94m) at Clemson.

Tennessee junior Carey McLeod, the defending SEC long jump champion, produced a jump of 27-0.75 in the final round to equal the No. 3 mark in the world this year. McLeod became the first Tennessee athlete to surpass 27 feet.

Arkansas junior Ryan Brown jumped 26-7.75 (8.12m) to take third and Georgia sophomore Matthew Boling was fourth with an effort of 26-5.75 (8.07m).

Boling also ran a world-leading 20.37 in the 200-meter semifinals to equal the No. 19 all-time collegiate indoor performer, with LSU senior Terrance Laird qualifying second in 20.46. Laird entered the meet with the top global performance at 20.41.

Gittens, who rebounded from a frustrating sixth-place finish Thursday in the pentathlon, won the long jump on her final leap, producing a sixth-round effort of 21-8.75 (6.62m) to edge LSU’s Aliyah Whisby, who took the lead in the second round with a personal-best 21-8.25 (6.61m). Whisby was pursuing the first conference title for the Tigers since Jennifer Clayton in 2011.

Gittens also prevailed in a showdown of the top three collegiate high jumpers in the country, clearing 6-2.25 (1.89m) on her first attempt to emerge victorious against LSU senior Abigail O’Donoghue, the 2019 champion, and Georgia sophomore Anna Hall, who both cleared 6-1.25 (1.86m).

Hall and Gittens had both cleared 6-2.25 during Thursday’s pentathlon competition.

Gittens joined Georgia’s Hyleas Fountain (2004) and Ole Miss’ Brittney Reese (2008) as the only female athletes to sweep the SEC long jump and high jump titles in the same year. Fountain also won the pentathlon in 2004 as well.

After qualifying for the 60-meter final in 7.23 seconds, Steiner ran 22.41 in the final event of the day, the 200 prelims, to equal the No. 3 performer in collegiate indoor history and match the No. 4 all-time American competitor.

Steiner, who won the title last year in 22.57, also equaled the No. 11 all-time global performer in the indoor 200. Gabby Thomas of Harvard set the collegiate indoor record by running 22.38 in 2018, with the American all-time indoor mark of 22.33 achieved by Gwen Torrence having stood since 1996.

“It definitely felt comfortable and smooth,” said Steiner, who trails only the 22.40 achieved Jan. 31 by Bahamian star Shaunae Miller-Uibo at an American League Track event at Randal Tyson Track Center among the world competitors this year.

“The main goal was just to get lane five for the final and execute, and I’m very happy with how I executed.”

Georgia sophomore Kyle Garland took over the collegiate lead with 6,012 points to win the heptathlon for the second straight year, helping the Bulldogs capture their ninth consecutive title in the seven-event, two-day competition. Garland had personal-best efforts of 50-4 (15.34m) in the shot put and 15-7 (4.75m) in the pole vault to become the seventh Georgia multi-event competitor to surpass 6,000 points in the heptathlon.

Another Georgia sophomore, Julia Fixsen, won the women’s pole vault title by clearing 14-5.25 (4.40m) on her first attempt after needing three tries to make 14-3.25 (4.35m), becoming the Bulldogs’ first champion in the event since Morgann LeLeux in 2014. Georgia fifth-year senior Kayla Smith was second and reigning champion Lisa Gunnarsson of LSU took third, both clearing 14-3.25.

Fixsen took one attempt at 14-10 (4.52m) and then concluded her competition.

Auburn junior Joyce Kimeli not only prevailed in a women’s 5,000-meter rematch with Arkansas graduate student-athlete Katie Izzo, but also eclipsed the championship meet record achieved last year by the Razorbacks’ standout, winning by a 15:46.88 to 15:47.82 margin. Alabama junior Mercy Chelangat was third in 15:48.38.

Izzo won in 15:48.34 last year, with Kimeli finishing fifth in 16:11.46. It marked the first 5,000 title for Auburn since Lindsey Rogers in 1998.

Ole Miss freshman Cole Bullock won the men’s 5,000 title in 13:59.10, the first championship for the Rebels since MJ Erb in 2017. Arkansas had athletes finish second to sixth for 27 points.



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