Mullings Runs Away With 100 And 200-Meter Titles At Bulldog Invitational
Complete Men's Results (PDF)
Complete Women's Results (PDF)
AP Agate (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University's outdoor track and fieldteams posted 12 regional qualifying marks at the Bulldog Invitational onSaturday at W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl Maddox Track. Junior Steve Mullings wonthe 100- and 200-meter dashes in regionally qualifying times of 10.06 and20.68, respectively. Seniors Crystal Averitt and Lacey Johnson set a new MSUschool records.
"I knew we were strong on the men's side," said MSU head coach Al Schmidt. "Ireally do think we're that good. Steve (Mullings) did a great job. He had theright amount of wind to help him. He's a great athlete. We had regional markseverywhere today. Our throwers and jumpers did well, too. Give credit toCrystal (Averitt) and Lauren (Johnson). Lacey (Johnson) did an excellent job.The LSU women are really strong. I'm proud of the women.
As a team, the Bulldogs netted 217 1/2 points on the day, finishing in firstahead of LSU (165), Samford (105 1/2), SW Missouri State (86), Louisiana Tech(74) and Alcorn State (10).
Mullings' time in the 100 is the fastest run in the NCAA this season and thirdfastest in MSU school history. The mark ties him with Terry Scott (Tennessee)for the Spencer Stadium record in the event.
The Bulldogs had four runners finish in the top five of the 200, all postingregional qualifying times. In addition to Mullings, senior LaChristopher Lewisfinished second (20.80). Senior Jamel Ashley placed third with a personal-besttime of 20.89 and sophomore Arthur Davis was fifth in 21.01, also a personalbest. Davis won the 400-meter dash with a regional qualifying time of 46.98.
State's 4x100-meter relay team of sophomore Arthur Davis, Ashley, Mullings andLewis won with a regional mark of 40.46.
Freshman Chris Woods captured the meet title in the 800-meter run with apersonal-best 1:53.69, while another freshman ?€“?€“ John Brigham ?€“?€“ won the5000-meter run in 15:03.84.
State swept the top three spots in the high jump. Senior Matt Denton cleared 6-8to win the event over freshman Tim Williams, who also cleared 6-8. FreshmanErrol Blackmon was third with a leap of 6-6.
The Bulldogs fared well in the long jump, going 1-2 in the event. Both Lewis(25-5 1/2) and junior Kendall Pyant II (24-4 1/4) met regional qualifyingmarks. Sophomore Matt Whalen won the hammer with a mark of 185-3, a regionalqualifying mark and personal best.
MSU's 4x400-meter relay team of Kendall Pyant II, freshman Elzie Coleman, Lewisand junior Mitchell Evans placed second in 3:12.81.
Morant finished second in the 100-meter dash with a personal-best time of10.56.Travis McKay took second in the 3000-meter steeplechase (9:32.05). Whalenfinished in second in the shot put competition with a toss of 53-2 1/4. SeniorGedamu Ege was State's top competitor in the 1500-meter run, placing third in4:07.26. Freshman Calvin Wyche competed in the 110-meter hurdles for theBulldogs, finishing fourth in a personal-best 14.77 seconds. Joseph Queen, alsoa freshman, finished third in the pole vault.
On the women's side, Johnson's pole vault of 11-6 record shattered her mark of11-0 1/4 set in 2003. Freshman Natalie Neely also competed in the event,finishing fifth while tying her freshman record set a week ago at 10-6.
Senior Crystal Averitt met a regional qualifying mark in the hammer throw,finishing second with a personal best throw and new school record of 178-11.
Junior Lauren Johnson finished third in the long jump, leaping a personal best19-7, a regional qualifying mark. Averitt also came in third in the discus(143-8).
State's 4x100-meter relay team finished second. Junior Jasmine Walls tied forthird in the high jump, clearing 5-4. Zita Magloire competed in the 800-meterrun, finishing fourth and the 1500-meter where she placed third. FreshmenDominique Rogers and Alexia Hammock competed in the 400-meter hurdles for theLady Bulldogs. Rogers finished third, while Hammock placed fifth. SeniorJennifer Johnstone finished third in the hammer throw.