FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — LSU’s Claston Bernard is all too familiar with success. The three-time defending SEC champion in the decathlon added another chapter to his illustrious career on Friday night, winning the pentathlon title, as the SEC Indoor Championships kicked off at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Bernard held off Stephen Harris of Tennessee in the 1,000-meter run to win with a total of 4,350 in his first pentathlon, the third best total in LSU history.
“That’s a great accomplishment for Claston,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “Sometimes it’s harder to win when you know everyone is gunning for you. Everyone saw him as the man to beat coming in and he kept his composure and put together five solid events.
“This is a great start to the weekend for us and we hope it will carry over tomorrow and into Sunday.”
Bernard got off to a strong start in the men’s competition, posting second place finishes in each of his first three events.
The senior All-American posted season bests in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.10 and 24-5 1/2 in the long jump to sit in second after two events.
Bernard then grabbed the lead for the first time in the third event of the evening when he came up with a throw of 49-1 3/4 in the shot put, his second best throw of the season.
Bernard then put the heat on the rest of the field with a strong showing in the high jump, arguably his strongest event of the pentathlon. A provisional qualifier in the event already, Bernard posted a winning mark of 7-0 1/4 to move his total to 3,601 and give him a 144 point cushion heading into the 1,000-meter run, the final event of the competition.
Harris applied pressure to Bernard in the 1,000-meter run, finishing fifth, but a late burst from Bernard gave him a sixth place finish and Harris’ three second advantage was not nearly enough to overcome Bernard’s lead.
Bernard’s victory gave LSU 10 points after the first day of competition, good enough for second place overall Tennessee grabbed the overall lead in the men’s competition behind its stable of multi-event athletes, grabbing four of the top eight spots while collecting 20 points.
On the women’s side, Monte Rice finished 12th, while Shamekia Louis placed 14th. Rice was in eighth place heading into the final event, but fell four spots after finishing 13th in the 800-meter dash, the final event of the competition.
Arkansas picked up 20 points in the women’s competition to grab the early lead, while Mississippi State sits second with 8.
The bulk of the SEC Indoor Championships will get underway tomorrow afternoon, as prelims will be held in all track events from 60-800 meters, while finals will be contested in the 3,000-meter run, the weight throw, the long jump and men’s pole vault. Competition will conclude Saturday afternoon.
SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships – 2/22/2002 to 2/24/2002
University of Arkansas
Randal Tyson Track Center, Fayetteville, Ark
Indoor Pentathlon: #1 Women 60 Meter Hurdles Indoor Pentathlon
1, Dee Brown, Arkansas, 8.53. 2, Ruthlyn Granger, Georgia, 8.65. 3, Elisha Williams, Miss State, 8.96. 4, Loren Leaverton, Arkansas, 8.99. 5, Monet Rice, LSU, 9.00. 6, Lakesia Bass, Ole Miss, 9.03. 6, Kristen Mowrey, Kentucky, 9.03. 8, Kristal Walton, Arkansas, 9.10. 9, Jamie Walker, Arkansas, 9.11. 10, Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt, 9.17. 11, Erin Stern, Florida, 9.39. 12, Chelsea Hammond, S. Carolina, 9.45. 13, Farrah Kohorst, Vanderbilt, 9.72. 14, Kyshia Ewing, Vanderbilt, 9.86. 15, Shamekia Louis, LSU, 10.19. 16, Tacita Bass, S. Carolina, 10.93.
Indoor Pentathlon: #2 Women High Jump Indoor Pentathlon
1, Lakesia Bass, Ole Miss, 1.67m, (5-05.75). 1, Tacita Bass, S. Carolina, 1.67m, (5-05.75). 1, Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt, 1.67m, (5-05.75). 1, Dee Brown, Arkansas, 1.67m, (5-05.75). 1, Elisha Williams, Miss State, 1.67m, (5-05.75). 6, Erin Stern, Florida, 1.64m, (5-04.50). 7, Chelsea Hammond, S. Carolina, 1.61m, (5-03.25). 8, Kristen Mowrey, Kentucky, 1.58m, (5-02.25). 9, Kyshia Ewing, Vanderbilt, 1.55m, (5-01.00). 9, Loren Leaverton, Arkansas, 1.55m, (5-01.00). 11, Shamekia Louis, LSU, 1.52m, (4-11.75). 11, Jamie Walker, Arkansas, 1.52m, (4-11.75). 11, Ruthlyn Granger, Georgia, 1.52m, (4-11.75). 14, Monet Rice, LSU, 1.49m, (4-10.50). 15, Farrah Kohorst, Vanderbilt, 1.46m, (4-09.50). 16, Kristal Walton, Arkansas, 1.43m, (4-08.25).
Indoor Pentathlon: #3 Women Shot Put Indoor Pentathlon
1, Kyshia Ewing, Vanderbilt, 12.82m, (42-00.75). 2, Elisha Williams, Miss State, 12.64m, (41-05.75). 3, Dee Brown, Arkansas, 12.61m, (41-04.50). 4, Monet Rice, LSU, 12.42m, (40-09.00). 5, Tacita Bass, S. Carolina, 12.39m, (40-07.75). 6, Kristal Walton, Arkansas, 12.11m, (39-08.75). 7, Jamie Walker, Arkansas, 11.88m, (38-11.75). 8, Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt, 11.43m, (37-06.00). 9, Loren Leaverton, Arkansas, 11.41m, (37-05.25). 10, Farrah Kohorst, Vanderbilt, 11.05m, (36-03.00). 11, Chelsea Hammond, S. Carolina, 10.17m, (33-04.50). 12, Kristen Mowrey, Kentucky, 10.04m, (32-11.25). 13, Lakesia Bass, Ole Miss, 9.99m, (32-09.50). 14, Erin Stern, Florida, 9.49m, (31-01.75). 15, Shamekia Louis, LSU, 9.08m, (29-09.50). 16, Ruthlyn Granger, Georgia, 8.50m, (27-10.75).
Indoor Pentathlon: #4 Women Long Jump Indoor Pentathlon
1, Dee Brown, Arkansas, 6.04m, (19-09.75). 2, Tacita Bass, S. Carolina, 5.99m, (19-08.00). 3, Elisha Williams, Miss State, 5.97m, (19-07.00). 4, Loren Leaverton, Arkansas, 5.69m, (18-08.00). 5, Lakesia Bass, Ole Miss, 5.62m, (18-05.25). 6, Jamie Walker, Arkansas, 5.59m, (18-04.25). 7, Chelsea Hammond, S. Carolina, 5.51m, (18-01.00). 8, Kristen Mowrey, Kentucky, 5.49m, (18-00.25). 9, Monet Rice, LSU, 5.34m, (17-06.25). 10, Ruthlyn Granger, Georgia, 5.27m, (17-03.50). 11, Kristal Walton, Arkansas, 5.23m, (17-02.00). 12, Erin Stern, Florida, 5.19m, (17-00.50). 13, Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt, 5.05m, (16-07.00). 14, Kyshia Ewing, Vanderbilt, 4.99m, (16-04.50). 15, Farrah Kohorst, Vanderbilt, 4.61m, (15-01.50). –, Shamekia Louis, LSU, FOUL.
Indoor Pentathlon: #5 Women 800 Meter Run Indoor Pentathlon
1, Tacita Bass, S. Carolina, 2:20.00. 2, Loren Leaverton, Arkansas, 2:20.34. 3, Dee Brown, Arkansas, 2:25.62. 4, Jamie Walker, Arkansas, 2:26.69. 5, Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt, 2:28.72. 6, Kristal Walton, Arkansas, 2:30.15. 7, Kristen Mowrey, Kentucky, 2:32.13. 8, Erin Stern, Florida, 2:33.88. 9, Kyshia Ewing, Vanderbilt, 2:38.44. 10, Chelsea Hammond, S. Carolina, 2:41.44. 11, Lakesia Bass, Ole Miss, 2:44.43. 12, Elisha Williams, Miss State, 2:44.58. 13, Monet Rice, LSU, 2:47.84. 14, Shamekia Louis, LSU, 3:00.75.
Indoor Pentathlon: #1 Men 60 Meter Hurdles Indoor Pentathlon
1, Jason McAddley, Alabama, 8.02. 2, Claston Bernard, LSU, 8.10. 3, Ryan Davis, Georgia, 8.12. 3, Fred Townsend, S. Carolina, 8.12. 3, David Lemen, Georgia, 8.12. 6, Stephen Harris, Tennessee, 8.15. 7, Kevin Thompson, Tennessee, 8.25. 8, Isaac Robinson, Alabama, 8.31. 9, Brandon Otts, Alabama, 8.40. 10, Daniel Hunter, Miss State, 8.50. 10, Blake Sabo, Tennessee, 8.50. 12, Alex Hritcu, Tennessee, 8.52. 13, Jared Hodge, Auburn, 8.70. 14, Brett Frykberg, Tennessee, 8.83. 14, Matt Poag, Auburn, 8.83. 16, Sean Krawiecki, S. Carolina, 8.90. 16, Greg Sewell, Georgia, 8.90. 18, Willie Mazyck, Georgia, 8.96. 19, LaChristophr Lewis, Miss State, 8.99. 20, Greg Royster, S. Carolina, 9.03. 21, Garry Martin, S. Carolina, 9.66. 22, Kelly Basinger, Georgia, 9.73. 23, Ben Yocum, S. Carolina, 10.09.
Indoor Pentathlon: #2 Men Long Jump Indoor Pentathlon
1, Stephen Harris, Tennessee, 7.61m, (24-11.75). 2, David Lemen, Georgia, 7.47m, (24-06.25). 3, Claston Bernard, LSU, 7.45m, (24-05.50). 4, Jason McAddley, Alabama, 7.26m, (23-10.00). 5, Isaac Robinson, Alabama, 7.18m, (23-06.75). 6, LaChristophr Lewis, Miss State, 7.00m, (22-11.75). 7, Daniel Hunter, Miss State, 6.95m, (22-09.75). 8, Blake Sabo, Tennessee, 6.91m, (22-08.00). 9, Fred Townsend, S. Carolina, 6.83m, (22-05.00). 10, KevinThompson, Tennessee, 6.82m, (22-04.50). 11, Willie Mazyck, Georgia, 6.80m, (22-03.75). 12, Sean Krawiecki, S. Carolina, 6.77m, (22-02.50). 13, Alex Hritcu, Tennessee, 6.71m, (22-00.25). 14, Matt Poag, Auburn, 6.64m, (21-09.50). 15, Greg Royster, S. Carolina, 6.57m, (21-06.75). 15, Brett Frykberg, Tennessee, 6.57m, (21-06.75). 17, Brandon Otts, Alabama, 6.50m, (21-04.00). 18, Jared Hodge, Auburn, 6.24m, (20-05.75). 19, Greg Sewell, Georgia, 6.21m, (20-04.50). 20, Garry Martin, S. Carolina, 6.02m, (19-09.00). 21, Ryan Davis, Georgia, 5.78m, (18-11.75). 22, Kelly Basinger, Georgia, 5.68m, (18-07.75). 23, Ben Yocum, S. Carolina, 5.57m, (18-03.25).
Indoor Pentathlon: #3 Men Shot Put Indoor Pentathlon
1, Kevin Thompson, Tennessee, 15.21m, (49-11.00). 2, Claston Bernard, LSU, 14.98m, (49-01.75). 3, Brett Frykberg, Tennessee, 14.29m, (46-10.75). 4, Alex Hritcu, Tennessee, 13.71m, (44-11.75). 5, Brandon Otts, Alabama, 13.32m, (43-08.50). 6, David Lemen, Georgia, 13.11m, (43-00.25). 7, Isaac Robinson, Alabama, 13.09m, (42-11.50). 8, Stephen Harris, Tennessee, 12.64m, (41-05.75). 9, Blake Sabo, Tennessee, 12.44m, (40-09.75). 10, Jared Hodge, Auburn, 12.26m, (40-02.75). 11, Sean Krawiecki, S. Carolina, 12.25m, (40-02.25). 12, Jason McAddley, Alabama, 11.63m, (38-02.00). 13, Daniel Hunter, Miss State, 11.32m, (37-01.75). 14, Willie Mazyck, Georgia, 11.31m, (37-01.25). 15, Matt Poag, Auburn, 11.17m, (36-07.75). 16, Garry Martin, S. Carolina, 10.94m, (35-10.75). 17, Greg Royster, S. Carolina, 10.52m, (34-06.25). 18, Ben Yocum, S. Carolina, 10.45m, (34-03.50). 19, Kelly Basinger, Georgia, 10.37m, (34-00.25). 20, Greg Sewell, Georgia, 10.26m, (33-08.00). 21, Ryan Davis, Georgia, 10.15m, (33-03.75). 22, Fred Townsend, S. Carolina, 10.03m, (32-11.00). 23, LaChristophr Lewis, Miss State, 9.48m, (31-01.25).
Indoor Pentathlon: #4 Men High Jump Indoor Pentathlon
1, Claston Bernard, LSU, 2.14m, (7-00.25). 2, Stephen Harris, Tennessee, 2.11m, (6-11.00). 3, Brett Frykberg, Tennessee, 2.08m, (6-09.75). 4, Kevin Thompson, Tennessee, 2.05m, (6-08.75). 5, Jason McAddley, Alabama, 1.99m, (6-06.25). 6, Fred Townsend, S. Carolina, 1.96m, (6-05.00). 7, LaChristophr Lewis, Miss State, 1.93m, (6-04.00). 7, Greg Royster, S. Carolina, 1.93m, (6-04.00). 9, Sean Krawiecki, S. Carolina, 1.90m, (6-02.75). 9, David Lemen, Georgia, 1.90m, (6-02.75). 9, Daniel Hunter, Miss State, 1.90m, (6-02.75). 12, Greg Sewell, Georgia, 1.87m, (6-01.50). 12, Alex Hritcu, Tennessee, 1.87m, (6-01.50). 12, Jared Hodge, Auburn, 1.87m, (6-01.50). 15, Garry Martin, S. Carolina, 1.84m, (6-00.50). 16, Brandon Otts, Alabama, 1.81m, (5-11.25). 16, Isaac Robinson, Alabama, 1.81m, (5-11.25). 18, Ryan Davis, Georgia, 1.75m, (5-08.75). 19, Kelly Basinger, Georgia, 1.72m, (5-07.75). 19, Willie Mazyck, Georgia, 1.72m, (5-07.75). 21, Ben Yocum, S. Carolina, 1.69m, (5-06.50). 21, Matt Poag, Auburn, 1.69m, (5-06.50).
Indoor Pentathlon: #5 Men 1000 Meter Run Indoor Pentathlon
1, Kelly Basinger, Georgia, 2:38.27. 2, Garry Martin, S. Carolina, 2:39.02. 3, Ben Yocum, S. Carolina, 2:44.97. 4, Alex Hritcu, Tennessee, 2:47.50. 5, Stephen Harris, Tennessee, 2:48.76. 6, Claston Bernard, LSU, 2:51.58. 7, Fred Townsend, S. Carolina, 2:51.63. 8, Jared Hodge, Auburn, 2:52.61. 9, Brandon Otts, Alabama, 2:52.83. 10, Kevin Thompson, Tennessee, 2:52.89. 11, Brett Frykberg, Tennessee, 2:55.75. 12, Daniel Hunter, Miss State, 2:55.79. 13, LaChristophr Lewis, Miss State, 2:57.28. 14, Greg Royster, S. Carolina, 2:57.31. 15, Greg Sewell, Georgia, 2:59.13. 16, Sean Krawiecki, S. Carolina, 3:00.47. 17, David Lemen, Georgia, 3:01.14. 18, Matt Poag, Auburn, 3:02.47. 19, Isaac Robinson, Alabama, 3:08.35. 20, Jason McAddley, Alabama, 3:08.36.
SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships – 2/22/2002 to 2/24/2002
University of Arkansas
Randal Tyson Track Center, Fayetteville, Ark
Team Rankings – Through Event 37
Female Team Scores
Place School Points
1 Arkansas 20
2 Mississippi State 8
3 South Carolina 5
4 Vanderbilt 3
5 Kentucky 2
6 Ole Miss 1
Male Team Scores
Place School Points
1 Tennessee 20
2 LSU 10
3 Georgia 5
4 Alabama 3
5 South Carolina 1