WholeHogSports
Hogs’ Bailey takes SEC long jump title
Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/65367/
AUBURN, Ala. — Alain Bailey won the long jump and the distance harriers picked up 13 points in the steeplechase for Arkansas Razorback track and field at the SEC Championships at Auburn University Saturday.
The Razorbacks lead the team race with 45 points through six events scored. Arkansas also picked up four more qualifiers for Sunday’s finals, in addition to the two they picked up Friday night.
“ I was really happy with that steeplechase race, ” UA coach John McDonnell said. “ Peter did a great job after running that 10 K last night. We had a good day. We qualified pretty well and we’ve done everything we were supposed to do up to this point.
“ We had a slight setback in the long jump but those things happen. We are still okay for points because we got more in the 10 K and the steeplechase than we thought we would. ”
All it took was three jumps for Bailey, the 2008 SEC Indoor Champion, to lock up the outdoor title for his resume. Marking a leap of 25-2. 5 on his first attempt, he bettered his initial jump and personal best when he leaped 26-0. 75 on his next attempt. He unnecessarily took his third prelim jump and marked a 25-3. 75. He didn’t need to take any of his three final jumps
“ Now I know the feeling of a 26-foot jump and it’s great, ” Bailey said. “ I wanted the win and I wanted 10 points for the team. That was the goal, to take as few jumps as possible. ”
Peter Kosgei and Scott MacPherson had big plans heading into the 3, 000-meter steeplechase and their plan worked. Finishing silver and bronze, respectively, they earned 13 points for the team total. Kosgei, recovering nicely from Friday night’s 10 K, clocked a time of 8: 43. 02, while MacPherson ran for a time of 8: 48. 35, also a personal best.
Mychael Stewart finished sixth in the long jump. His first of four events this weekend, he marked a jump of 24-2. 25. Daniel Quinn fouled two of his first prelim jumps and, trying to be extra cautious on his third attempt, he only managed a jump of 22-7. 75 which did not advance him to the finals.
Arkansas advanced three harriers to the finals of the 1, 500 meters. Andy McClary led the way with a heat win and the second-best finish overall (3: 50. 47 ). Duncan Phillips finished seventh overall and automatically advanced to the finals with a top-four finish in his heat (3: 45. 86 ). Daniel LaCava advanced on time after finishing fifth in his heat and ninth overall. He ran a 3: 46. 54.
“ I felt really relaxed out there, ” McClary said. “ This was a race I could control. I saw how the first heat went and I knew what I had to do to advance. Every time someone made a move, I felt I could go with them and dictate when guys made their moves. ”