Four Bulldogs Qualify For Finals At SEC Championships

Thursday, May 12

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

All Day

Mississippi State

SEC Championships (O)

Four Bulldogs Qualify For Finals At SEC Championships

May 12, 2016 | Track & Field

By: hailstate.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Four Mississippi State track and field athletes were able to qualify for the final rounds on day one of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Three Bulldogs qualified for the 800m run finals, which will be held on Saturday starting at 4:40 p.m. For the men, the nation's leader, Brandon McBride, recorded a time of 1:47.38 finishing first in his heat and giving him an automatic qualification into Saturday's finals. His time was the second-best overall.

Leading the women's 800m run Thursday afternoon was Marta Freitas with the second-best time in MSU history, 2:03.92. Ffion Price will compete alongside Freitas in the finals after recording a time of 2:07.30 placing eighth.

Another finals qualifier for the Maroon and White was Vince Castillo in the 400m hurdles. Appearing in his first SEC Championships, Castillo clocked a time of 51.55 finishing sixth.

Competing in her first heptathlon of the year, senior Erica Bougard sees success after day one of the meet as she leads heading into day two.

“I feel pretty good right now,” Bougard said. “I'm confident going into day two and hopefully everything goes well and I can come out with the win again.”

Bougard, the reigning SEC Outdoor Champion in the heptathlon, started the event with a time of 13.38 in the 100m hurdles scoring 1,068 points. She had the best clearance in the high jump clearing 6-00.25 for 1,029 points. Throwing a personal-best 39-10.50, Bougard recorded 671 points in the shot put and ended the day running 23.72 bringing her point total to 3,776.

Entering her second heptathlon for MSU, freshman Zaria Tillman began with a time of 14.62 for 892 points in the heptathlon 100m hurdles. Tillman went on to clear 4-09 in the high jump scoring 566 points before throwing a personal-best 36-04.75 for 601 points. To conclude the day, Tillman recorded a time of 25.8- bringing her point total to 2,874 points capturing 12^th place.

There's no better way to start an event than with a personal-best and that is exactly how Willie Reed started the decathlon. Recording a time of 10.77, Reed finished third overall in the 100m dash scoring 912 points. Reed had a leap of 23-07.25 in the high jump and a throw of 32-05 in the shot adding 1,337 points to his total. After clearing 6-01.50 in the high jump, Reed clocked a personal-best time of 49.68 in the 400m dash ending day one with 3,765 points. He is in ninth going into day two with 3,765 points.

Jaquarius Wilson sits in 13^th place in the decathlon with 3,529 points. He started the decathlon running a time of 11.67 in the 100m dash and jumping 22-05.25 in the long jump for a total of 1,493 points. Wilson went on to throw 43-00.50 for 675 points in the shot put. He cleared 5-11.25 in the high jump for 636 points. With a time of 52.00 in the 400m dash, Wilson finished the day earning 725 points.

Ending the day in the 10,000m run, Shannon Fair posted a time of 36:02.63 to finish 12th, while Andrew Monaghan placed 15th after clocking a time of 31:25.20.

MSU will begin day two of the championships with the heptathlon long jump at 9 a.m. The decathlon will resume at noon with the 110m hurdles.

For more information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@HailState.com).

Women's Results
Heptathlon: 1. Erica Bougard, 3,776 points
MSU: 12. Zaria Tillman, 2,874 points
100mH: 5. Erica Bougard, 13.38 (1,068 points.); 10. Zaria Tillman, 14.62 (892 points)
High Jump: 1. Erica Bougard, 6-00.50 (1,029 points); 12. Zaria Tillman, 4-09 (566 points)
Shot Put: 5. Erica Bougard, 39-10.50 (671 points); 10. Zaria Tillman, 33-03.75 (539 points)
200m Dash: 2. Erica Bougard, 23.72 (1,008 points); 10. Zaria Tillman 25.80 (815 points)

800m Run Prelims: Marta Freitas, 2:03.92Q
MSU: 8. Ffion Price, 2:07.30q; 17. Madison Milhoan, 2:10.30

Hammer Throw: Beckie Famurewa, Kentucky, 210-01
MSU: 11. Brianna Smith, 181-00

Men's Results
Decathlon: Lindon Victor, Texas A&M, 4,309 points
MSU: 9. Willie Reed, 3,765; 13. Jaquarius Wilson, 3,529
100m Dash: 3. Willie Reed, 10.77 (912 points); 14. Jaquarius Wilson, 11.67 (717 points)
Long Jump: 5. 23-07.25 (859 points); 11. Jaquarius Wilson, 22-05.25 (776 points)
Shot Put: 8. Jaquarius Wilson, 43-00.50 (675 points); 14. Willie Reed, 32-05 (478 points)
High Jump: 9. Willie Reed, 6-01.50 (687 points) 13. Jaquarius Wilson, 5-11.25 (636 points)
400m Dash: 5. Willie Reed, 49.68 (829 points); 14. Jaquarius Wilson, 52.00 (725 points)