Mississippi State
SEC Championships (I)
Harris Grabs Provisional Qualifying Mark; Finishes Runner-Up In Pentathlon At SEC Indoors
February 29, 2008 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? Mississippi State junior Marrissa Harris finished first in the 60-meter hurdles, running a school record and personal-best 8.37 seconds to qualify provisionally for the NCAA Championships. The Memphis-native also scored 4, 044 points to finish runner-up in the pentathlon on opening day of the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The event continues tomorrow and is being held at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Facility on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
"It was tremendous (today), said head coach Al Schmidt. "It has been a tough year (for Harris). Her father passed away recently. It has been a tough time for her. She had a personal best in four out of five events. She ran great. She is all-SEC runner up. This is her highest finish. She has scored in her fourth SEC Championship. She has done well. She will go to nationals in March and will have the chance to be an all-American."
Sophomores Bridgette Rose and LaQuinta Aaron placed fifth and sixth in the 60-meter hurdles, both finishing in a personal-best 8.64. Both move into fourth place all-time on the indoor list in the event.
Three Lady Bulldogs notched new personal-bests in the high jump. Harris jumped a personal-best five feet, seven inches and three-fourths to move into fourth all-time and finish second in the event. Youmans leaped 5-05 ? to finish third, while Aaron and Rose posted new personal-bests.
In the shot put, Harris (37-02 ?) and Aaron (36-11 ?) finished in fifth and sixth place, setting new personal-best marks.
Harris and Rose also posted new marks in the long jump to finish in third and ninth place, respectively. Harris jumped 19-10 ?, while Rose propelled herself 17-08.
In the final event of the pentathlon, the 800-meter run, Youmans set a new personal-best, closing out the competition with a time of 2:24.40 to finish third.
The Lady Bulldogs resume action tomorrow to compete in day two of the indoor championships. Live stats can be followed on www.ladybacks.com or www.secsports.com.
SEC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS MSU RESULTS ? FIRST DAY
Randal Tyson Indoor Track Facility (Fayetteville, Ark.)
60-meter hurdles (finals) ? 1. Marrissa Harris, 8.37; 5. Bridgette Rose, 8.64; 6. LaQuinta Aaron 8.64; 13. Dorothy Youmans High jump (finals) ? 2. Marrissa Harris, 5-07 3/4; 3. Dorothy Youmans 5-05 ?; 9. LaQuinta Aaron 5-00 ?; 14.Bridgette Rose 4-10 1/4 Shot put (finals) ? 5. Marrissa Harris, 37-02 1/2; 6. LaQuinta Aaron 36-11 ? ; 13. Dorothy Youmans 31-00; 14. Bridgette Rose, 30-07 ? Long jump (finals) ? 3. Marrissa Harris 19-10 ?; 9. Bridgette Rose 17-08; 14. LaQuinta Aaron 16-02 ?; 17. Dorothy Youmans 14-09 ?; Weight throw (finals) ? 1. LaTisha Rodgers, 83-10 1/4.
