LSU Gold

Davidson Third in Heptathlon on Day 1 at SEC's

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
Day 1 Results +0
Davidson Third in Heptathlon on Day 1 at SEC's

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — LSU multi-event standout Shaunette Davidson is in position to earn All-SEC honors for the second time this season as she wrapped up the first day of competition at the SEC Outdoor Championships in third place in the women’s heptathlon.

Davidson ? the reigning SEC indoor champion in the pentathlon ? posted new personal best marks in three out of the four events on Day 1 to finish the afternoon with a total of 3,282 points.

The native of Manchester, Jamaica, kicked off the afternoon by taking third place in the 100-meter hurdles with a new personal record of 14.19 seconds, while she also posted personal bests of 35 feet, 9 ? inches in the shot put and 24.87 in the 200 meters to finish fourth in each event.

Davidson also tied for second place in her specialty event ? the high jump ? but was only able to clear a height of 5-6 ? after entering the meet with a seasonal best clearance of 5-10 ?.

“It was good for me to PR in three events, but I was also looking for a PR or a season best in the high jump,” Davidson said. “I also lost some points in the 200 because I didn’t get out hard enough at the start. I kind of held back in the first 50 meters and that cost me some points.

“I think the high jump caused me to lose some focus because I didn’t do as well as I should have. I had one good throw in the shot, but my mind wasn’t where it needed to be. I’ve got to regroup and hope for the best tomorrow. I’m going to try to come out and PR in the last three events.”

LSU head coach Dennis Shaver said that he was pleased with Davidson’s effort on Thursday despite her mark in the high jump and that the points she is able to score will be critical for the team’s success heading into the weekend.

“You can’t be too upset when an athlete has a PR in three events,” Shaver said. “Shaunette starts off in the long jump tomorrow, and if she can get off to a good start there it could set the tone for the rest of the day. Championship meets are all about accumulating points, and she just needs to go out and do the best that she can to give us a chance on Sunday.”

Davidson was not the only LSU athlete competing in the multi-events on the first day of the conference meet as freshman Eric Radecker scored 3,291 points to finish the evening in ninth place in the men’s decathlon competition.

Radecker’s effort was highlighted with new personal bests in both the shot put (36-0 ?) and 400-meter dash (52.66), while he also earned sixth-place finishes in both the high jump and long jump with marks of 5-11 ? and 21-4, respectively. The Metairie, La., native added a 10th-place finish in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.71.

“Eric was steady today, and it’ll be important for him to just keep plugging away tomorrow,” Shaver said. “He’s in ninth place right now and in a position to really help out our team by scoring some points. Any point he can get is big since he wasn’t projected to score coming in.”

A pair of Tennessee standouts will open Friday’s action on top of the standings as junior Jangy Addy leads the decathlon with a new Day 1 personal best total of 3,975 points, while freshman Nia Ali is on top in the heptathlon with 3,470 in her first career multi-event appearance.

The men’s decathlon will resume Friday at 3 p.m. with the 110-meter hurdles, while the heptathlon will continue with the long jump at 4 p.m. The open field events are slated to begin at 10 a.m. with the men’s hammer throw followed by the meet’s first running event at 6:10 p.m. with the prelims of the men’s 800-meter run.