LSU’s Harrison equals No. 2 outdoor high jump in NCAA history with 7-8.75 (2.36m) clearance, with Texas A&M’s Gittens producing best scoring combination in long jump and high jump all-time in heptathlon on her way to No. 3 Division 1 mark of 6,418 points; Garland joins Georgia teammate Tilga in surpassing 8,000

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Tyra Gittens was on her way to commanding the spotlight Friday at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships inside her home venue at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas, when the Texas A&M standout found some company in the form of a fellow jumper, who also produced one of the great performances in collegiate history.

Gittens produced a world-leading effort in the women’s heptathlon with 6,418 points, elevating to the No. 3 all-time collegiate competitor, trailing only George Mason’s Diane Guthrie-Gresham (6,527 points) and Oregon’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton (6,440 points).

But LSU’s JuVaughn Harrison responded with a memorable showcase of his own, producing seven consecutive clearances in the men’s high jump without a miss, culminating with a lifetime-best 7-8.75 (2.36m) to also achieve a world-leading effort and equal the No. 2 all-time collegiate outdoor performance.

Harrison, who also equaled the No. 7 performer in American outdoor history, was involved in a great battle with Tennessee’s Darryl Sullivan, who cleared 7-7.75 (2.33m) on his third attempt to match the No. 2 performance in the world this year.

Sullivan was unsuccessful on three attempts at 7-8.75 and Harrison didn’t pursue opportunities at 7-9.25 (2.37m), since he had to transition quickly to the long jump final. Harrison equaled the No. 7 all-time American outdoor competitor with his effort.

The collegiate outdoor record of 7-9.75 (2.38m) established by Hollis Conway of Louisiana-Lafayette has stood since 1989.

Although Harrison repeated as high jump champion, his bid to complete the sweep came up just short, thanks to the sixth-round heroics of Tennessee’s Carey McLeod in the long jump.

McLeod, a Jamaican standout, trailed Harrison the entire competition, before delivering a clutch performance on his final attempt to leap a personal-best 27-4.50 (8.34m), securing the first outdoor crown for the Volunteers since 1981.

Harrison produced an early lead with an opening-round mark of 27-0.50 (8.24m) that stood as the leader until McLeod’s final jump.

Although Gittens placed fourth in the open long jump final, it was her performance in the event in the heptathlon that allowed her to achieve a feat never previously accomplished by a multi-event athlete.

Gittens jumped 22-10 (6.96m) in the heptathlon and cleared 6-4.75 (1.95m) in the high jump, the first time those marks have ever been produced by a heptathlete in the same global competition.

In the history of the heptathlon, the combined 2,330 points Gittens earned from the two events ranks ahead of all-time greats Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Nafissatou Thiam, who both had totals of 2,326 from the two jumps.

Gittens equaled the fifth-best high jump clearance in heptathlon history and produced the No. 3 all-time long jump mark in the two-day event. Her long jump also ranks No. 4 in NCAA outdoor history.

Georgia sophomore Anna Hall was second with 6,117 points, just below her personal-best 6,200 from April 8-9 at the Spec Towns Invitational. Hall closed strong by winning the javelin with a throw of 134-6 (41.01m) and running 2:12.27 in the 800 meters.

Kyle Garland of Georgia won the decathlon with a personal-best 8,196 points, benefiting from victories in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.37 and the discus with a throw of 145-7 (44.37m) to join Bulldogs’ teammate Karel Tilga (8,484) as the only collegiate athletes to surpass the 8,000-point barrier this season.

Following his victory Thursday in the 10,000 meters, Alabama’s Vincent Kiprop showed no signs of slowing down Friday, adding another title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:47.18, the first conference crown in the event for the Crimson Tide since 2006.

Arkansas’ Krissy Gear trailed Auburn’s Joyce Kimeli entering the last lap of the women’s 3,000 steeplechase championship race, before responding with an incredible surge to eclipse both championship and program records by clocking a personal-best 9:38.62, ascending to the No. 11 performer in Division 1 history.

Gear covered the final 400 in 69.97, with Kimeli – who ran 9:37.97 on April 16 to elevate to the No. 10 all-time collegiate competitor – finishing second in 9:47.32.

Arkansas also received a personal-best clearance of 14-10.75 (4.54m) on her first attempt by Nastassja Campbell to win the women’s pole vault title, securing the sixth championship in the past seven conference finals for the Razorbacks.

Fellow Arkansas standout Lauren Martinez and LSU’s Lisa Gunnarsson, the reigning Division 1 indoor pole vault champion, tied for second at 14-8.75 (4.49m), with Georgia senior Kayla Smith also clearing the height to achieve a personal-best effort and finish fourth.

Deborah Acquah achieved a wind-aided effort of 22-3.75 (6.80m) in the second round of the long jump to earn Texas A&M’s first outdoor title in the event since 2013.

Florida freshman Claire Bryant produced an all-conditions career best with a wind-aided performance of 22-0.25 (6.71m) in the third round to place second, with Georgia’s Jasmine Moore taking third with a wind-aided 21-9.50 (6.64m) mark and Gittens finishing fourth, also with a wind-aided effort of 21-6.25 (6.56m).

Tennessee senior Latavia Maines prevailed in the women’s shot put competition with a sixth-round mark of 61-4.75 (18.71m), helping the Volunteers earn their first conference crown in the event since 2012.

The drought was even longer for Alabama in the men’s shot put, with Isaac Odugbesan achieving a 66-4.25 (20.22m) performance in the fifth round, securing the first championship for the Crimson Tide since 1980.

And LSU freshman Emma Robbins made a strong impact in her first outdoor final, producing the first women’s hammer throw crown for the Tigers with a second-round effort of 220-4 (67.17m).